Social Media Planning for 2020

20 Dec Social Media Planning for 2020

Conquer your Social Media Fears in 2020

Current trends and how to make them work for your business

Are you planning to dive into social media in 2020, but not quite sure where to start? We know it can be overwhelming! You’re trying to figure out which platform to use, what to post, how frequently to post, and whether or not you actually have to be IN the video (or maybe it’s a podcast?!), all while thinking “yikes, this is SO out of my comfort zone!” Amiright?

If this sounds like you, have no fear! 2020 is your year! Here are a few tips to help you get the most effective reach out of social media and decide which approach is best.

1. Know your audience

Make sure you know what platform(s) your intended audience is using. If you have limited time, you’ll want to use it wisely to reach the people who will impact your bottom line. This will keep your posting effective and efficient.

2. Organic reach is where it’s at

If you don’t want to pay to reach people, we’re hearing that LinkedIn and TikTok are where you need to be.

LinkedIn is no longer just a site for job searches; more and more people are using it as a business tool than ever before. Unlike Facebook, LinkedIn isn’t using an algorithm to send you the content THEY want you to see. If you follow someone, you see their content!

TikTok currently has a younger demographic following, but if you recall, it was the ‘kids’ who were on Facebook only a short time ago. Today it’s the older adults. So if you want to keep up with where social media is headed and be able to reach people in the next three to five years, you would be wise to start today and understand how to post on this platform!

Facebook is still a strong contender for small business marketers, but their algorithms are making it harder and harder to reach your intended audience. If you want to reach certain people, you’re going to have to pay to play on Facebook.

If you have a lifestyle brand and you’ve got a strong brand identity, Instagram is where it’s at. Expect to utilize LOTS of photos and be creative with your posts.

3. How much content should I share?

Posting frequency continues to increase – the current recommended number of posts PER DAY is three! Yes, you read that right. Three posts. Every. Single. Day. While instant, in-the-moment posts are what people are looking for, don’t hesitate to use a social media scheduling planner such as Hootsuite or the in-platform scheduling features of Facebook to ensure you’re frequent enough in posting. Your life doesn’t HAVE to revolve around social media!

4. Audio and podcasts

When was the last time you actually clicked on a YouTube video and watched it? While ‘viewers’ are still on the rise, more and more people aren’t actually watching the video, but rather listening to it. Podcasts and audio continue to rise in numbers as people listen to these shows while they multi-task. As of June 2019, iTunes had over 750,000 podcasts with more than thirty million episodes. More than fifty percent of the U.S. population has listened to at least one podcast with about 32 percent of them listening to podcasts monthly (https://musicoomph.com/podcast-statistics/). It’s time to figure out your audio content!

5. Content is king!

In 1996, Bill Gates wrote an essay that claimed ‘content is king’ when describing the future of the internet. That still rings true today. If you’re an expert in your field, you must share content that is relevant and engaging.

While paid ads might attract clicks and visits, you will only retain visitors to your website or social media platforms by providing enough value in the content you share. For that, you need content that communicates value, engages your customer base, and builds your brand. Viewers want to see customer testimonials and they want to hear your business story. For guidance in this area, consider the websites and social media pages you frequent and reflect on why they are valuable to you.

Remember, people want to see unfiltered moments of your day on social media. Understand your customer, know what they like, and provide content that aligns with your mission.

6. So what forms of content should you post?

Engaging copy and written word. Storytelling is a captivating way to engage people. It needs to be concise, yet captivating. From headings and the calls to action to blog posts and downloadable resources, content is at the core of everything you’re looking for online.

Video. People would rather see your business story than read it. It’s more engaging! Don’t hesitate to share your products or services and tutorials so your followers can both shop and learn while they watch!

Visual content. This includes your photos, ads, brand elements, and infographicss.

7. Be authentic.

Whatever you do, be authentic. Be real. Tell your story and no one else’s.

We can help!

For further help in planning your social media strategy, determining the best platform, scheduling your posts and creating engaging content, we’re here to help. Contact us at shelly@em3rgemarketing.com to learn how our team can support you in your social media efforts.

Want to stay in the loop with social media trends?

Iowa social media guru Chris Snider is your man. Follow him on social media: https://www.facebook.com/chrissniderdesign/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissnider2/ and checkout his latest slideshow about creating exceptional video content: https://www.slideshare.net/chrissnider/video-workshop-oct-2019