Photo by mikebaird
ocial media is like exercise? That might seem like a very odd analogy, but it works. Read on…
The most common barrier to launching a social media campaign is the question “when will I have time?” Whether it is a small business or a large corporation, companies understand a social media campaign requires dedication and time to execute effectively. My response? If you want to market your company and get involved in social media to benefit your company, you will find the time.
Just like exercise—at first it seems like a daunting task and something that might not show instant results, but it must be done. Usually you create an exercise regimen. You determine when you are going to exercise, for how long and what you will do once you get started. Creating a social media calendar can serve the same purpose. Create a plan at the beginning of the month keeping in mind the overall goals of the campaign and then execute daily. Either delegate the responsibility to someone else (wouldn’t it be great if you could do that with exercise), or plan to do it everyday around the same time. Plan the work, then work the plan.
As with exercise, you will see some initial benefits (increase in energy/instant online feedback) and the first glimmer of success should keep you motivated. The more you do it and the better you adhere to the plan, the more likely you will achieve success. Also, be sure to keep a pulse on your actions and success. For instance, if you exercise everyday and aren’t losing weight, maybe your food consumption is a little off. It’s the same with social media. If you are executing and there is little to no response, maybe a change in tactics should be considered. Maybe the persona of the social accounts is too stiff or maybe the audience still doesn’t know you have a presence. By keeping an eye on the action, you will know if tweaking is necessary.
And just like exercise, sometimes it take a little longer to see direct results, but once you do, it is exhilarating. When someone says, “Wow have you lost a few pounds? You look slimmer!” you feel an instant uplift. You will feel the same way when you start seeing an increase in buzz around your brand or when someone posts an unprovoked message praising your company and now you get to see it and have the tools to respond. It can all be a major rush and exciting to see your efforts pay off.
Jen Cohen is a social media and marketing maven knocked down many times in 26 yrs. Something Creative http://somethingcreativemarketing.com
Tags: Blogging, Business, community, content creation, conversation, Marketing, Social Media
