10 Things I’ve Learned about Managing and Executing Social Media Strategy

I have managed social media budgets, strategy and execution with budgets of $50 and budgets of upwards of a million dollars the past 10 years. I’ve learned a lot in that time and it would take me a full novel to speak to all of the tactics that can be used for maximized optimization (hint hint) so I’ve been thinking about putting out this top 10 list to get your brains spinning…

1. You absolutely, without a doubt, must have some sort of content strategy for your website that parallels the objectives of your social media strategy.
2.  That being said, almost NEVER only post a link directly to content on your website on social media (especially Facebook).
3.  Powerful images are needed, and custom preferred.
4. Powerful, custom videos are the ultimate promotional tool on social media.
5. Facebook prefers you to upload your videos directly to their platform rather than posting a youtube or vimeo link.
6.  Instagram stories are great for brand awareness.
7. Snapchat is not a place you should be unless your products or services are relevant to it’s user base (you’d think this would be common sense)
8. A Facebook acquisition strategy can be of very limited budget and still over time become one of your most powerful data sources.
9. Stop worrying about the amount of followers you have on instagram vs the amount of people you follow, and start worrying about how many of your followers engage with your posts.
10. A strict content calendar on social media will not work. You need to be loose and open to change.

I could get into specific details on every single one of these tactics, but you can trust that I understand the difference between impression and reach, and click through vs engagements (and everything in between). But I’m seriously saving that for my book.

Merry Xmas