Are you wondering how to create a social media marketing strategy? Well buckle up and get ready to learn because this post is going to lay it all out for you in 5 simple steps.
Creating a social media marketing strategy is really quite simple, it’s really just another way of saying make a plan. Having a plan helps you stay on track, measure your results and identify trends and this is exactly what a good social media marketing strategy will do for your business.
In this post I’m going to lay out the 5 steps that you need to take to create the very same plan (or strategy) that I’ve been teaching for over 3 years – and it’s already been proven to work by over 2,000 business owners who’ve already put it to the test, and you can see some of their testimonials below.
So, without further ado, let’s get started on step 1.
Know your ideal customer
Step 1: Create your ideal customer avatar.
A social media marketing strategy is much easier to create if you have a very clear idea of who your intended customer is because it will help you decide on the content you create for your posts and the messaging you put out about your offer.
The very first thing you need to do is create an avatar of your ideal customer (someone who represents the group of people you sell to)
Here’s an example of my ideal client…
Chloe is 47, married and has 2 sons who are 15 and 17. She runs her own business as a life coach helping parents of teenagers talk to their children without becoming overbearing or argumentative.
Her 2 boys want to go to University and she wants to be able to help them fund themselves so that they don’t have to get distracted from their studies by having to worry about getting a job as well.
Chloe knows that to be able to do this she is going to have to grow her coaching business quite considerably but up until now she has relied on referrals for attracting new clients and while this is lovely, there are not enough of them to be able to grow her business quickly enough so that she can support her sons in a couple of years time.
Chloe knows that she needs to get out and do some marketing but doesn’t know where to start. She is looking around for someone to help her.
I feel that I know Chloe as well as I know my best friend. I know what she worries about, I know what annoys her, what frustrates her, what makes her happy and what makes her cry. I know what keeps her awake in the middle of the night and I know what her secret desires are too.
Knowing all this means that I can create content that speaks directly to her about things that I know she will be interested in. For example:
- I know she will want to know how to build her audience on social media
- I know that she will want to know what kind of things to post about
- I know that she will be worried about making a complete idiot of herself
- I know that she will be worried about what other people will think
- I know that she will keep putting off posting that first post because it’s not quite right
- I know that she will feel sick when she does finally hit that publish button and won’t post again for days (or even weeks)
You see, I know Chloe inside and out which means I can create posts and other content that speak directly to her about things I KNOW she is thinking, or worrying about, or dreading.
I can also inspire her to take action by giving her a gentle nudge or a good tip for her to try.
In my social media boot camp there is a video tutorial and worksheet to help you create your ideal client avatar as I have done here with my avatar Chloe.
Being able to create content that speaks directly to Chloe about things she is interested in or concerned about or struggling with is what helps me to connect with her and get engagement from her on my social media platforms.
Now you’ve got your ideal customer avatar sorted it’s time to move on to step 2.
Attract the attention of your customers
Step 2: Attracting your customers attention on social media
Attracting your customers attention on social media isn’t as easy as it sounds. This is because there are literally millions of other people all vying for their attention too, but a good social media marketing strategy will help you break through the noise and be seen and heard by your potential customers.
To be able to be seen, heard and remembered on social media you have to do something to make them sit up and take notice of you – but don’t worry you don’t have to do a stupid chicken dance or anything like that.
A simple way to attract the attention of your prospective customers is to make it crystal clear how you can help them and make sure that message is seen every time they see you pop up on their feed.
The easiest way to do this is to make use of your bio (Instagram) or headline (LinkedIn). Here is the current headline I’m using on LinkedIn…
…Create multiple passive income streams using your current social media accounts. Start by watching my Free Webinar. Just click the link below to watch right now!
It says what I can help with (creating passive income streams) how I do that (by using their current social media accounts) and how they can get involved (click the link below).
Anyone who is interested in generating a passive income for their business or to help out with their family finances would immediately see that this is what I help with and therefore that I am the ideal person to get in touch with.
Think about your own headline or bio. Does it shout out what you do, who you do it for, how you do it or how they can get in touch with you?
In the social media boot camp I go through this in detail in a video tutorial and there is also a worksheet to help you work out the perfect headline or bio for you and your business PLUS a few extra hints and tips too, of course.
What’s more, every time you post, comment or like something on LinkedIn your headline will pop up right next to your profile picture so everyone can always see what you do and how you can help them and every time someone visits your profile on Instagram your bio is right there for them to see.
Okay, so now we have your ideal customer avatar figured out and also how you are going to attract their attention by using your excellent bio or headline. Now it’s time for step 3.
Tell your story
Step 3: Telling your story
Now that we know who we are targeting with our social media marketing strategy, and how to attract their attention as they scroll through their feed it’s now time to help them get to know you a little better.
There is an old saying – people buy from people. It’s corny I guess, but also very true. When was the last time you walked out of a shop because you didn’t like the salesperson?
Helping your potential future customers get to know you, like you and trust you is key to making sales, especially online.
Story telling is a great way to do this and should most definitely be a part of your social media marketing strategy.
Stories are embedded in our psyche. We have been telling stories since man lived in caves. As children we can’t get enough of them and as adults we still love stories which is why we watch soaps, films, reality TV and binge watch a Netflix series in one weekend.
Every one of us is unique. We have unique lives, unique experiences, unique feelings, unique responses, triggers and reactions. We can use this uniqueness to help our audience get to know us as people rather than just business owners.
For example: here’s a bit of mine…
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 the bottom fell out of my world. I was confused, scared no terrified that I might not have much time left in this world.
As a result things I once thought were hugely important became dull and insignificant. Things I once thought were dull and insignificant became hugely important – funny how a brush with the prospect of an untimely death can re-arrange your priorities.
Thankfully I am now cancer free and well again, but those thoughts stayed with me, Those priorities never went back to how they were before.
I want to spend more time with my family doing things I enjoy. I want to spend time with Dave (my part-time cockapoo who belongs to my son the rest of the time). I want to go places I’ve never been and do things I’ve never done. I suddenly had the realisation that there may not be a later.
Because of this I went back to where I started out in business and started building my passive income streams back up so that I could still earn money (which I like because I like to buy nice things) but I didn’t have to sacrifice time – which is the most valuable thing any of us have.
I was still passionate about helping others though and being able to continue to do this was very important to me, so I created an online course that teaches other people how to make a passive income too 🙂
So can you see how I’ve weaved a story about myself into my marketing so that “you” my audience gets to know me on a slightly deeper level. Would you agree that you know me a little better than you did when you started reading this blog post?
You don’t have to share personal information if you don’t want to or if it isn’t relevant to your audience. You can simply tell them why you started your business, what got you involved in what you do, how long have you been doing it, what struggles or challenges have you faced along the way and how did you overcome them?
Telling your own unique story is what will help you attract the people you want to attract and repel the people you don’t. Telling your story will help you make friends and build relationships online which are crucial for making sales.
In my Boot Camp I show you how to create 31 versions of your story so that you have a different one to share every day of the month!
Right, we now have your ideal customer avatar sorted, you know how to attract their attention and how to help them get to know you, it’s now time for step 4.
Prove that you’re the best
Step 4: Prove that you’re the best person to buy from
Now that you have their attention and they’ve gotten to know you a little better it’s time to show them that you are the best at what you do, or your products are the best at what they do and here’s a really simple way to do that…
…share your testimonials!
Yep, it’s that simple and yet many small business owners are worried about doing this because it’s like blowing your own trumpet – well yeah!!!
I mean, if you’re not willing to blow your own trumpet who do you think will do it instead?
This is simply you sharing the positive reviews, comments, feedback and recommendations that your clients/customers have willingly given, what is wrong with that?
Nothing is wrong with that, in fact it’s essential that you do it and here’s why…
…people these days are used to checking reviews before they make a decision to buy. They want to see that what they’re about to spend their hard earned cash on has worked for people just like them.
By sharing your testimonials you are proving to your audience that your product or service does EXACTLY what you claim it does because here are a load of people who will testify to the fact, people who’ve already bought it and loved it.
Testimonials are also, in my opinion, a vital part of an effective social media marketing strategy so please use them wherever and whenever you can in your marketing.
If you don’t yet have testimonials get some. Offer free trials, free samples or free sessions in exchange for some feedback. If you’ve already sold your products or services to people but haven’t received a testimonial then go back to them and ask for one.
Dig around. Copy all your Facebook or Instagram comments, LinkedIn comments or recommendations that mention you in a favourable way. Photograph your thank you cards or feedback questionnaires, gather video testimonials too if you can. Put them all into one folder on your desktop where you can easily retrieve them.
Not only is this a good way to promote and build your business but it’s also a great way of reminding yourself just how great your product or service is – and that will motivate you to promote it even more, so win win.
Share one of these testimonials every day – don’t worry if you don’t have many as you can use a little bit of one rather than the whole thing so you can share it over 2 or more posts, or you can post the testimonial as an image and use different text in the post.
I give you step-by-step instructions on how to do this in my Boot Camp PLUS a few more hints and tips on how to get even more testimonials.
Okay, so now we have decided who we are going to sell to (our ideal customer avatar), we have learnt how to grab their attention and how to help them get to know, like and trust us and now we also now know how to prove to them that we are the best person to buy from. Now it’s time for the 5th and final step.
Get out there and promote your business
Step 5: Get out there and promote your business.
We are now at the final stage of our strategy building. It’s time to start implementing what you’ve learnt and actually get out there and start promoting your business.
This is the scary bit. This is the part when your subconscious starts playing tricks on you and telling you that you’ll look stupid, that people will troll you, that everyone will laugh at you, that your current clients will desert you.
I’ve worked with THOUSANDS of business owners over the last 7 years or so and I’m telling you that this fear is common – normal in fact.
I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t have at least a tiny bit of trepidation before posting their first post on social media and I’ve known people hide in cupboards, throw up, and turn off their social media for a week immediately after posting that first post.
But when they eventually plucked up the courage to look, they actually thought it was a bit of an anti-climax.
No one had ripped them apart, no trolls had invaded their feed, in fact, most people just ignored the post and simply carried on with their day.
So don’t let those nerves put you off posting. No posts = no views = no leads = no sales.
Okay, so what should you post to keep your audience entertained and wanting to see more from you?
Here are 5 things to consider when you are creating your posts
- Does it inform your audience? Is it telling them something new about your product or service or explaining something to them in simple, jargon free terms?
- Does it inspire your audience? Will it entice them to do something, take the next step, complete an action or make a decision?
- Does it educated your audience? Does it teach them something they didn’t know about you, your product or your service, or does it teach them how to do something so that they can get a simple result?
- Does it entertain your audience? Will it make them smile, laugh out loud, cry, think about something more deeply?
- Does it promote your business? Will they know what to do next from the content of your post, which link to click, how to get in touch, how to buy the product your are talking about?
In my Boot Camp I go through the different kinds of content you can create for your audience so that they WANT to hear from you, they engage with you, they become leads and eventually become customers which is exactly what a good social media strategy does.
You should be promoting your business EVERY day.
Some platform are much faster moving than others, Twitter and Instagram for example are much faster paced than Facebook or LinkedIn so they will need more content more often.
There is one simple formula in social media marketing – the more often you post the faster you will make sales.
I know that this frightens some people and they don’t want to make a nuisance of themselves or appear too pushy or spammy and they don’t want to annoy their audience by posting too often – but let me ask you this…
…if someone you followed posted 5 times a day every day would it bother you if what they posted talked to you about things that inspired, educated, informed or entertained you?
Well there you go.
You see it’s the quality of the content that you should be worried about not the quantity.
You need to make sure that you are posting content that resonates with your audience and that inspires them to take the action you want them to take.
If you need help figuring out exactly how to do that then please read on.
Your social media marketing strategy sorted!
Next Step: Get your social media marketing strategy sorted in just 5 days!
If you want a social media marketing strategy that is simple, effective and already been proven to work by over 2,000 business owners who’ve put it to the test my Social Media Boot Camp is for you.
This simple step-by-step online course is designed to help you create a simple yet extremely effective social media marketing strategy in just 5 days!
Yep, that’s right, in just 5 days you will have everything you need to start promoting your business confidently on social media.
Create your own successful social media marketing strategy by following 5 simple steps.
Includes: Video Tutorials, Step-by-Step Instructions, Worksheets, feedback and all the support you can handle.
This course has been built on the feedback from over 2000 small business owners who have completed our extremely successful Social Media Challenge.
By honing in on the techniques from the challenge, we have created a 5-step programme which guarantees a solid social media marketing strategy which will see you selling your products or services online within 90 days.
But don’t take my word for it. Here are some of the testimonials I’ve received from previous students of the course.
As you can see, whether you’re trying to grow your audience, get more leads or make more sales this Boot Camp delivers on it’s promise.
PLUS once you’ve joined you get an invite to join me inside my private Facebook group where you can shout out for extra help or support if and when you need it.
In a nutshell here is what The Social Media Boot Camp offers:
- All the help and support you need to create a successful social media marketing strategy in 5 days
- Step-by-step video tutorials that show you exactly how to do everything
- Guides and workbooks to help you implement the tasks as quickly and easily as possible
- Bonus tasks to help you get even faster results from your social media marketing strategy
- A private Facebook group for any additional help you might need (practical or otherwise)
Sound good?
Of course it does, but I get it, you want to know how much it’s going to cost you.
Well the answer is you can get in the boot camp for an investment of just £27
Yep, that’s not a typo, I haven’t forgotten a zero or anything. £27 for all that, now I’m sure you will agree it’s a total no-brainer, right?
I mean where else can you get all that for such an amazing price?
I know what you’re thinking – if it’s that cheap it can’t be that good, right?
Wrong! It’s that cheap for 2 reasons:
- I am passionate about helping as many small business owners as I possibly can with their social media marketing strategy and by making it affordable for everyone it means I can achieve that goal.
- It’s primarily an online course and although I offer the additional support if it’s needed, it very rarely is because everything you could possibly need is right there in the modules so it doesn’t cost me a single penny to run the course now that it’s up and running.
You’ve seen the testimonials from those who’ve already taken it. You’ve seen the results they’ve got. This social media marketing strategy has already been PROVEN to work and by over 2,000 business owners who are just like you.
They followed the steps, they implemented what they learnt, they saw the results. It really is that simple!
So what are you waiting for? Get in there now and start creating your very own successful social media marketing strategy – and in just 5 days!
Click here to get started right now!
I an’t wait to show you just how quick and easy creating a successful social media marketing strategy can be.
See you in there 🙂