85 Social Media Strategies

In a digital world where ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ can make or break a business, your social media strategy is the digital heartbeat of your brand. But with the ever-changing landscape of social platforms and the endless wave of algorithm updates, it’s crucial to stay on top of your game. Here, we compile a list of 85 effective social media strategies that are the building blocks to elevate your online presence. Whether you’re a newbie to the hashtag world or a guru in the art of click bait, there’s something for everyone on this comprehensive list.

­

The Power of A Strong Social Media Strategy

Before diving into the myriad of strategies, let’s reiterate why having a rock-solid social media plan is non-negotiable for any business. Social media is where conversations happen, needs are expressed, and brand loyalties are formed. A strategic approach not only amplifies your message but ensures that it resonates with the right audience, at the right time, and in the right way. It’s the difference between merely being seen and making an impact.

­

Initializing Your Social Media Game Plan

It’s important to recognize that no two businesses are alike, and the same goes for social media strategies. Tailoring these methods to your niche and brand personality is key. Here we present 85 social media strategies spanning across different platforms and target audiences. Feel free to mix and match to suit your unique brand DNA.

­

Setting the Stage for Success

Let’s start by setting the right foundation for your social media endeavors. This section focuses on the planning and basics of any successful strategy.

­

1. Identify Your Goals and Objectives: Before you post, think about what you want to achieve. Is it brand awareness, increased sales, or community building? Each goal will require a different approach.

2. Know Your Audience: The golden rule of marketing applies to social media as well. Know who you are talking to, their age, location, interests, and pain points.

3. Pick the Right Platforms: Not every social media platform is right for your business. Find out where your target audience spends their time.

4. Competitor Analysis: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing right (or wrong).

5. Create a Content Calendar: Consistency is key, and a content calendar can help you stay organized and on track.

6. Use Analytics to Your Advantage: Every platform provides insights into your posts’ performance. Use this data to fine-tune your strategy.

7. Experiment with Posting Times: Test out different posting times to see when your audience is most engaged.

8. Optimize for SEO: Use keywords in your profile, content, and hashtags to increase visibility on social media searches.

9. Set a Budget for Paid Advertising: Sometimes you have to pay to play. Set specific budgets for each platform to run ads that align with your goals.

10. Build an Online Community: Foster engagement by responding to comments, starting conversations, and creating a space where your audience feels seen and heard.

11. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your followers to create and share content related to your brand. It’s a win-win—it boosts engagement and provides free advertising.

­

Platform-Specific Strategies

Each platform has different attributes and engaged user bases. Here are some platform-specific strategies to consider:

­

Facebook

12. Focus on Storytelling: Share human-centric stories that allow your audience to connect with your brand emotionally.
13. Use Facebook Live: Live videos attract 6 times more interactions than regular videos. Use this feature to showcase behind-the-scenes, product launches, or Q&A sessions.
14. Host Facebook Groups: Start a community group around your brand’s niche. It’s a great way to build a loyal following and share valuable content.
15. Create Events: If you’re hosting an event, create a Facebook event for it. It increases visibility and allows attendees to share the event with their friends.

Instagram

16. Craft a Aesthetic Feed: Instagram is a visual platform. Create a consistent aesthetic that aligns with your brand’s identity.
17. Utilize Instagram Stories: Stories are a great way to share temporary content, behind-the-scenes, or interactive polls.
18. Instagram Reels and IGTV: Leverage these features for more interactive and longer-form content.
19. Work with Influencers: Partner with influencers relevant to your brand. Their audience can become your audience.
20. Use Hashtags Wisely: Research and use relevant and trending hashtags to increase discoverability.

Twitter

21. Engage in Timely Discussions: Jump into relevant, trending conversations to increase your visibility.
22. Leverage Twitter Chats: Join or host a chat to engage with your community and industry peers.
23. Frequent Updates: Twitter is fast-moving. Post often to stay on your followers’ feeds.
24. Promote Retweetable Content: Shareable content can attract new eyes to your brand. Make sure your content is worth retweeting.
25. Use Lists: Create and subscribe to lists related to your industry. It’s an excellent tool for monitoring trends and engaging with relevant accounts.

LinkedIn

26. Share Expertise: LinkedIn is a professional platform. Share thought leadership content and industry insights.
27. Connect with Professionals: Connect with industry peers, thought leaders, potential customers, and employees.
28. Publish on Pulse: LinkedIn’s publishing platform, Pulse, can give you a voice in your industry.
29. Participate in Groups: Join and be active in groups related to your niche.
30. Use LinkedIn Ads: Reach professionals through targeted ads and sponsored content.

Pinterest

31. Pin Consistently: Pinterest rewards consistency. Pin regularly to keep your boards fresh.
32. Optimize Pin Text and Descriptions: Use keywords to make your pins more discoverable.
33. Create Pin-Worthy Images: High-quality, vertical images with text overlays perform well.
34. Utilize Rich Pins: Enable rich pins to provide more information and increase clicks.

YouTube

35. Create High-Quality Videos: Quality trumps quantity on YouTube. Invest time in creating informative, entertaining, or inspirational videos.
36. Optimize Your Channel: Your channel description, categories, and tags should be SEO-friendly.
37. Leverage YouTube Cards and End Screens: Encourage viewers to take action, whether it’s to watch another video, subscribe, or visit your website.
38. Engage with Your Community: Respond to comments and ask for feedback to create a community around your channel.

TikTok

39. Understand the Platform’s Tone and Style: TikTok has a specific tone. Understand it before creating content.
40. Participate in Hashtag Challenges: If the challenge resonates with your brand, join in! It boosts visibility and engagement.
41. Educational Content: Share tips and behind-the-scenes to give your audience value.
42. Humor Works: If it aligns with your brand, use humor. TikTok loves a good laugh.

Snapchat

43. Behind-the-Scenes: Snapchat is great for showing the face behind the brand.
44. Exclusive Offers: Create snap-only deals or offers to incentivize followers.
45. Sponsored Lenses and Geofilters: Engage your audience with branded lenses and filters.

General Social Media Strategies

What works on one platform might not work on another, but there are a few general strategies that work across the board.

Hashtag Strategies

46. Create Branded Hashtags: These can encourage user-generated content and easily categorize your posts.
47. Trending Hashtags: Jump on board with popular, relevant hashtags, but ensure they align with your brand.

Engagement Strategies

48. Ask Questions: Questions are a great way to start a conversation. They can increase engagement and give you valuable customer insights.
49. Run Contests and Giveaways: This is a great way to create a buzz and reward your audience.
50. Featuring Customer Reviews: Share positive feedback and testimonials to build trust with potential customers.
51. Interactive Stories: Use sliders, polls, and question stickers in your stories to engage your audience.

Visual Strategies

52. Invest in Photography and Design: High-quality visuals make a big difference. Invest in good photography and design.
53. Color Psychology: Understand how colors can influence emotions and use them in your visual content.
54. Create Templates: Make use of design templates for consistent and professional-looking content.

Content Strategies

55. Educational Posts: Share knowledge related to your industry. It positions you as an authority.
56. Entertaining Content: Share jokes, memes, or light-hearted content to keep your audience engaged.
57. Inspirational Content: Motivate your audience with success stories and positive messages.
58. Share Milestones and Anniversaries: It fosters a sense of community and achievement.

Video Strategies

59. Optimize for Silent Viewing: Most videos on social media are watched without sound. Use captions or visual cues to convey your message.
60. Evoke Emotion: Use storytelling and music to create an emotional connection with your viewers.
61. Tutorial Videos: Teach your audience something new. It’s highly engaging and valuable.
62. Q&A Sessions: Address common questions and concerns in a video to increase transparency and trust.

Marketing Strategies

63. Segment Your Audience: Use social media tools to segment your audience and target your content effectively.
64. A/B Testing: Test different approaches to see what resonates better with your audience.
65. Embrace FOMO: Create a fear of missing out with limited-time offers and content.
66. Cross-Promote Content: Share your social media posts across platforms, but tailor them to fit the audience and style of each.
67. Collaborations and Partnerships: Team up with complementary brands or influencers for wider reach and credibility.

Conversion Strategies

68. Strong Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Your posts should have a clear CTA—whether it’s to like, share, read more, or buy.
69. Optimize Landing Pages: Ensure that your website or landing pages are mobile-friendly and that they deliver what was promised in the social media post.
70. Social Proof: Showcase how many people are interacting with your content or have bought your products to encourage more to do the same.

Customer Service Strategies

71. Public Responses to Inquiries and Issues: Use social media as a customer service tool by responding to comments and messages promptly.
72. Deal with Negative Feedback Gracefully: Turn negative feedback into a positive situation that showcases your brand’s commitment to customer satisfaction.

Account Management Strategies

73. Account Takeovers: Let an influencer or team member take over your account for a day to provide fresh content and a different perspective.
74. Implement an Approval Process: If you’re working with a team, ensure that there is a review process for all content before it’s posted.

Crisis Management Strategies

75. Have a Plan In Place: Know what you’ll do and who will do it if a social media crisis occurs.
76. Be Transparent and Direct: If an issue arises, address it head-on and provide regular updates.
77. Utilize Tools for Monitoring: Use social media listening tools to catch issues early.

Customer Retention Strategies

78. Build Loyalty Programs: Reward your repeat customers with exclusive deals or sneak peeks.
79. Share User Stories: Feature customers and their stories to make them feel appreciated and connected to your brand.

Advanced Social Media Strategies

For those who are ready to delve deeper into their social media efforts, here are some more advanced strategies to consider.

Data-Driven Strategies

80. Use Algorithms to Your Advantage: Understand how different platforms prioritize content and use that knowledge to increase your visibility.
81. Personalize Content: Use data to create hyper-targeted content that speaks directly to individual segments of your audience.

Integration Strategies

82. Integrate Social Media with Your CRM: Use your CRM to track social interactions and link them to customer profiles.
83. AI-Driven Chatbots: Use AI to provide instant responses and customer support on social media.

Longevity Strategies

84. Community Building: Focus on sustained community building rather than short-term campaigns.
85. Continuous Learning: Stay informed about new social media tools and trends, and be willing to adapt your strategy.

­

­

Conclusion

Remember, social media is not a one-size-fits-all tool. To truly thrive, you need to develop and tailor your strategies to your specific business and audience. This exhaustive list is just the beginning—engage, adapt, and evolve as you navigate the social media arena. With these strategic approaches, you’re poised to not only stay relevant but to soar above the crowded digital space. Social savvy, here you come!