4 Best Practices for Social Media Managers
One thing is sure to happen once the world recovers from COVID-19 – more businesses will embrace going digital. That means more opportunities for social media managers and digital marketers. Social media analytics show the number of people using social media worldwide will grow to nearly 4 billion users in the next three years. That’s a lot of people you could reach with just one post.
Before companies start reaching out and asking for help, you’ll want to ensure you are up to date on some of the best practices for social media managers.
Here are four essential social media practices:
1. Claim Your Client's Business On Their Social Media Accounts
Many overlook the simple step of claiming social media accounts. This practice will help improve their online visibility and create the opportunity to engage with potential customers who are talking about their industry.
Your client may already have a Facebook business page or LinkedIn page; however, having a presence on sites like Yelp, Yahoo, or Google Business can help. Also, try to put the company’s website on industry-specific platforms. For example, if you work for a hospitality service or hotel, set them up on Booking.com. If you’re working with a restaurant, get them plugged into OpenTable.
Remember to claim their websites on social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Any way to lead customers back to the company’s main website is a plus.
2. Respond To Customer Reviews
Developing a meaningful relationship with customers, followers, fans, and even the nay-sayers is essential. Responding to reviews is a way to build that relationship and has a long list of benefits, including:
- Displays credibility
- Shows the company cares about its customers
- Creates a line of communication
- Builds productive relationships with customers
- Potential customers can view the company’s responsiveness
It’s easy to respond to positive reviews, but make sure you’re also responding to negative reviews. Be kind, be informative, and, most importantly, let the customer know their voice is vital to your client’s online community. A caring and professional response is an easy way to give critics a reason to return.
3. Share Customer Reviews
Sharing reviews is your chance to show prospective customers how many people love your client’s business, product, or service. If someone posts a positive review, share it on Facebook or Instagram. If you can, tag that customer and publicly thank them for their support. Giving customers a shout-out can reinforce their positive experience and keep them engaged in the long run.
Instead of focusing on promotional content or paid advertising, take advantage of user-generated content. This can inspire brand trust, add authenticity, and enhance your word-of-mouth marketing.
One last benefit of sharing customer reviews is that it can boost online visibility. Some SEO software companies list reviews as one of the top factors in local internet searches. So, collecting and sharing 5-star reviews can significantly impact a company’s ranking.
4. Automate Social Media Content
Automation can bring your social media game to a whole new level! Not only is it convenient, but it can also help save time. And if an emergency comes up, your content will post automatically to your accounts.
Scheduling content in advance allows you to focus on other responsibilities like community management and content creation. Automation can also create a cohesive voice across all social media platforms. You’ll be able to schedule similar content and coordinate posting schedules. Plus, your audience will begin to rely on you for consistent, regular content (which will keep them around).
Another significant benefit of automation is finding a platform that tracks and manages analytics on social media accounts. Some platforms also tell you the best times to post content and the times your followers are the most active. This is an invaluable service for monitoring customer behavior and engagement.
Wrap it up
Social media has grown into a powerful tool and consistently generates a long list of marketing opportunities. It can increase brand exposure, improve a company’s reputation, instill consumer trust, and enhance a company’s marketing plan. Companies should look towards social media to gain an edge in their respective industry, and hopefully, they reach out to social media experts to help them.
Written By
Jalisa Haggins
Jalisa is the Founder and CEO of Live Your Basics. She can tell you the best brunch spots in cities across the USA, she’s an avid traveler, and is always listening to a new audiobook. You can connect with her on Instagram @jalisalicious.