January 19, 2015
In 2015, this is a given. Even if you don’t WANT to include social media as a part of your communications plan, you NEED to include social media as a part of your communications plan.
An effective social media strategy has to be carefully designed, though. It can’t be a “throw it on the wall and see if it sticks” philosophy, and the person in charge of implementing your strategy shouldn’t be tapped just because he/she has a Facebook page or a Twitter account. Aside from the importance of the actual messaging that sends calls to action or impacts your brand image, think carefully about how the social media pieces fit together.
Although these are basic questions, it’s amazing how often they’re overlooked.
- What social media channels do you include?
- How do you include them?
- How do you tailor communications through them?
Not every social media outlet works for every audience. Not every social media channel is right for every person or business. Think about the endgame. What results do you want to achieve?
Part of understanding what to include in that social media plan is knowing your target audience.
What works to reach soccer moms may be different than what appeals to NASCAR dads.
Teens and young adults look for and see things differently than their parents.
Boomers versus Gen Xers versus Millennials versus Generation Z? Those are vastly different audiences if for no other reason than the generational culture that surrounds each of them.
A self-described “19-year-old male attending The University of Texas at Austin” recently offered a public service to marketers and folks contemplating adding or changing a social media strategy as a piece of a communications plan. In a two-part series, he offered the low-down on what teens think about social media channels you know and love, the ones you may have just heard about, and others that only give you a “deer in the headlights” look.
While teens may not be your audience, this “Actual Teen” illustrates the importance of knowing your audience and how to connect with them.
Want to read what he has to say?
Part 1: “A Teenager’s View on Social Media”
Part 2: “What Teens Really Think about YouTube, Google+, Reddit and Other Social Media“
