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7 Essential Steps to a More Effective Social Media Marketing Strategy.

Companies and teams that don’t note ideas and plans on papers in a systematic way. It’s easy to forget it on daily routine tasks. Without social media strategy, you’re wasting money, time, and efforts!

Before starting a social media strategy, you’d better evaluate your current business situation and benchmark it compares with the market directions, customers, and competitors. Social media strategy is a summary of goals and plans that you aim to achieve on social media. If you can measure it, you can improve it. So, the strategy guides your actions and evaluates successfully or failing steps on every campaign, ideas, post, reply, and comment that serve overall business goals.

1- Set S.M.A.R.T Goals:

Set social media goals that align with your business objectives.

Smart goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound Goals

For example: gain 150 new customers via Facebook campaign in 20 days, here you should consider that the important to track meaningful metrics like as clicks, visits. Sign up. Not vanity metrics such as likes and shares.

 

2- Get to Know Your Audience Better:

Working to know who are your audience by gathering real-world data. And avoid assumptions!

Audiences can be split by many factors, such as demographic, geographic, and behavioral. Here are the most common ways to segment your audiences:

Age, gender, location, income, lifestyle, values, and interests. Then creating a persona.

Create a Byer Persona

A buyer persona helps you to understand your audiences needs and goals better. This makes it more comfortable for you to craft content or tailor your story and deliver the right message for services and products that they’re want to buy.

Create professional, customizable buyer personas in minutes with free tool generator via HubSpot

 

3- Research and Analysis Your Competition:

The competitive analysis to conduct all information about your competitors is a crucial step to understand the strength and weakness point for your company compared with competitors.

In addition to looking forward opportunities and avoid threats that pose a threat to the company.

It’s a SWOT Analysis with an online perspective.

Many tools can help you to find your main competitors, such as:

likealyzer: It’s a free tool for analyzing Facebook pages and discover similar pages on the same category or industry.

Buzsumo: A content discovery tool that tracks all topics and most engaging and shared content related to your audience or industry.

 

4- Conduct a Social Media Audit:

Evaluate your current efforts helps you to get feedback, what’s working and what’s not?

Which social networks your target audience uses?

What’s, is the most engaging content for them?

How does your social media presence look compare to that your competitors?

For more accurate information, you can use social media analytics tools such as Facebook insights to evaluate your page and audience or paid tools like Fanpage Karma and Socialbakers.

 

5- Social Media Setup Checklist

Setup Accounts and improve your profiles, at first determine the proper social media platforms for each account that you have then fill out all profile fields with using keywords, contacts and use images that are correctly sized for each platform. Check social media images sizes Cheatsheet from social media today.

Optimize your Facebook pages with a checklist for filling out all fields, and here, your ultimate guide for Facebook page audit.

 

6- Inspiration

The inspiration is the magic key for an attractive social media presence, and we talked before about how to find the most engaging content. Now follow up all competitors, make a list, and watch it daily, take notes for each type of content they deliver, how they engage with their customers. Ask your internal team what are our customers are looking for?  Finally, you can see even your follower what they will like to see and encourage them for comments and share your content.

Follow Hashtags on Instagram: following related hashtags on Instagram inspire you with creative ideas and to stay updated with the latest trends.

Follow trends on Twitter: Twitter provides to discover trends in each country, watch it, and engage with related and positive trends, topics, and hashtags

Create a new Facebook list: You can use lists to organize your friends on Facebook. Using a listing, you can post an update for specific people, like your coworkers or friends who live near you to stay updated with they’re posting.

 

7- Create a Social Media Content Calendar

Creating consistent content for social media require creating a social media content calendar that helps you to determine when are you posting, which topics, tips and tricks, and content format.

Remember, consistency is the key. Content calendar aligning your long-term strategy and enhancing your planning and time management with the team.

A content calendar helps you to avoid missing important dates. Check the content calendar template via Hootsuite.

 

Now after applying each of these steps, you’ll have a complete social media strategy. BrandsCave is the digital marketing agency delivering social media marketing services, check our services.

The 2019 Ultimate Instagram Hashtags Guide

Choose the right hashtags that align with your overall business goals drives higher engagement to your posts. It’s not about the number of hashtags that used; it’s about related ones. Because when people are interested in your business, they’re more likely to act on your posts.

Users come to Instagram to be inspired and discover new things they care about, including content like videos, images, and stories from celebrities, brands, and businesses. Explore how using hashtags on Instagram can help you grow your business to reach prospective customers.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Instagram hashtags guide, let’s take a step back to what’s hashtag?

What’s Hashtag?

It’s a combination of words, letters, numbers, and emoji with the pound sign # in front of it (e.g., #Dubai, #Expo2020) categorize and organize content and make it more discoverable easier. When you click on a hashtag, search or discover it you’ll see a page with all posts tagged with it like this because it’ll be clickable and being part of the content.

The best practices when using hashtags on Instagram.

Let’s share with you my effective secret way of organizing and using all of the hashtags that you’re going to want to be using.

Picking the Right Hashtags

Brainstorming:

If you have trouble to find, relevant hashtags for your posts start to brainstorm and pouring out your all thoughts on papers, write down all ideas on your mind that related to your audience, products or trends. But remember the most relevant hashtags for your audience will attract the ideal customer. Remember that irrelevant hashtags have a negative result, clog your account with incurious and unengaged followers, spam and bots that leaves random engagement like comments or likes.

Check the image below for brainstorming example, and my apologies for my poor handwriting 😀

how to choose hashtags

Location of Hashtags

The most common question: where I put hashtags?

Should be on the photo or video caption or in the comments below?  (take care that you previously prepared hashtags to be the first comment) For the chance to showing up on at the top of hashtag hub. On my perspective I’d prefer to add hashtags on at the end of the description to keep it clear and short and not to compete with your hashtags, maybe users click on one of them before ending read the caption.

How many Hashtags can you add?

On Instagram, you can include up to 30 hashtags on a regular post, and up to 10 hashtags on a story. Remember If you try and use more, your comment or caption won’t post. Did you use 30 hashtags before? The best practices add 5: 7 hashtags on average because more than it will is shown spammy!

According to an analysis by Track Maven and HubSpot, posts with nine hashtags receive the most engagement.

Number of hashtags

But that doesn’t mean you should tag every post with a bunch of hashtags. Again, they must be relevant to the content and your audience or using a popular hashtag.

Things to keep in mind for best practices form Instagram help center page:

  • When people with private profiles tag posts, they won’t appear publicly on hashtag pages.
  • Numbers are allowed in hashtags. However, spaces and special characters, like $ or %, won’t work.
  • You can only tag your posts. You can’t tag other people’s photos/videos.
  • You can use up to 30 tags on a post. If you include more than 30 tags on a single photo/video, your comment won’t post. (as we mentioned earlier)

Following Hashtags

A new feature that Instagram added in 2018 that you could follow hashtags on Instagram to stay connected with interests or business you care about it. Before you follow hashtags, take your time looking at creative content, then follow the best for your business.

So, there’re two significant benefits for the following hashtags:

  1. Keep updating with your competitors or industry by watching them.
  2. It’s an open window to view your target audience.

Keep Your Hashtags Ready to Post.

We mentioned earlier that you should categorize your hashtags to be ready for copy and paste it quickly, by using a productivity app like google keep or notes. I’m using Samsung notes. And keep your hashtags list updated That saves not only your time but also avoid mistake. One of our client Amer Business Bay’s Hashtags Categories as an example:

Instagram hashtags Categories
Instagram hashtags Categories

Keep your brand hashtags short.

Keeping your brand or business hashtags short will make it remember easier keep your hashtags short as you can for example #SanFranciscoHealthyFood you can abbreviate it int #SFhealthFood.

 

Add Clickable Hashtags to Your Instagram Bio

Now you can now add clickable hashtags to your Instagram bio, that makes easier to build an Instagram bio that converts to website visits or related posts.

Instagram bio hashtags
Instagram bio hashtags

Using Instagram hashtags is a great way to connect with ideal customers, find valuable content created about you by your followers, and help you to build long-term relationships with them.

 

Ready to get our digital marketing package, including Instagram marketing management? 

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The 8 key Elements of Designing a Business Plan for Creative Agencies

Designing a creative plan is the cornerstone of creating a business plan, and most likely, if you start it right, it will become your mainstay for continuing this work domain and ultimately you will reach your strategic goals. We’ll show you an easier way to start creating your business plan, with smart key steps that should not be daunting to achieve its goals.

So, what is the business plan?

The business plan aims to walk your business in the right direction and document your ideas and business visions. It is a structural tool that can keep you and your team on track. The first purpose of the Business Plan is to define the business aspirations. Secondly, we must answer the question “Are these aspirations possible for your current economic situation?” Thirdly, your business plan is a necessary tool to identify the steps you will take to reach your main goal. When you start making plans for your business, it takes your entire mind to put it all together first, then start wiping out the wrong parts. Do I tell you something clever? Think of your business plan as a book of your own.

You know the end “the goal”, but now you have to include the method and stages you will reach to this desired end. You will need to be able to deliver this business plan to investors, partners, banks, lawyers, etc., so it is important to maintain a specific vision. But because we are in a creative field, do not be afraid to play with planning and colors, but do not make the ideas of madness! Make it readable, clear and professional to the extent of being achievable on the pitch.

Key Elements of the Business Plan

  1. Executive summary

    A short one page of your business. It includes the background behind your work, your job, your vision, your logo, and your message. Keep it short and aim straight. The rest of the action plan will go into more detail.

  2. Target Customers / Ideal Clients

    This is where you will explain who is targeting your business, who are ideal clients; their personalities, what they love to do, how old they are, what level of income they have, and what they are willing to spend on your products and / Or services. The questionnaire is definitely a good idea to help gather information about your ideal customer.

  3. Competition / Competitive Advantage

    This is where you will determine who your competitors are, what their strengths and weaknesses are, their business structure, your competitive advantage, or what makes your idea better and different from their ideas.

  4. Human Resources

    If necessary, this is where you will document the data you need to manage your business, the skills you need, the amount of experience they have, the amount you can pay, etc. This section is a duty to put into your business plan, and when the time comes to add new employees, you will definitely add this section to your business plan. It would be wise to add a description of the trainees here if you plan to enroll trainees soon. This will lay the foundation for what they will be responsible for.

  5. Vendors

    This is where you will determine which external sources will be necessary to manage your business. Are there any products you should purchase weekly (accessories, papers) or are you using certain products for your customers (USB drives, cards, chargers, boxes, packaging materials)? Put all these items here and their costs, and what category falls under (supplies, customer gifts, packing/shipping, etc.). You will need this financial plan later on, but this section will explain in detail all the costs.

 

  1. Marketing Plan

    Will show you how to get your products and/or services in front of your ideal customers. What are the files of the social media platforms of them? are they bloggers? do they read a specific blog? do they attend conferences? All these things will help you know where, when and how to find your ideal customer. Your marketing plan is actually a very different document from your business plan, but putting general ideas here is very important.

  2. Operations

    This is where you document how to accomplish the task in the most effective way. What is your routine for your projects? What is your order since the first time you talk to the client, and when the final product is delivered to him, describe your operations as if you were teaching 5000 people how to work in your company, Trust everything!

 

  1. Financial Projections

    This is where you will determine the amount you need to open/manage your business and where you will get the money. Most creative companies are able to start their businesses with smaller budgets because they tend not to need real estate. Set your financial expectations here, how many products do you want to sell?, and how much does each of your products cost?, What is the annual total? How much did you spend on supplies? What is your profit for the year? You want to be able to convince an investor of why and how your business will make money, so be realistic.

Get in touch with BrandsCave’s team to learn more about designing creative business plans!

 

11 killers Copywriting Secrets

These copywriting secrets can help you grow your business. It can be challenging to craft your own message, but when you get it right, your marketing can work wonders. Every business wants a website that brings in new customers, but not everyone gets there. 

This is how. By implementing these easy copywriting secrets into your copy, you can drastically improve results. 

11 Copywriting Secrets to Learn 

No Such Thing as Writer’s Block – A lot of people new to writing talk about writer’s block, and the difficulty of overcoming it. Here’s a little secret. Treat yourself like you don’t have the luxury of getting stuck. When you feel unsure, just write. You have a job to do. That job is to provide the type of content that turns casual readers into customers. 

That may mean walking away for 10 minutes before your head explodes. It may mean writing down ideas when you’re away from the computer. It may also mean just doing what you set out to do – write. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You can always edit or determine what’s publishable later. 

Try setting a marginal goal for yourself – even if it’s something like 200 average words a day. That way there is minimal pressure. 

Write with Your Customer in Mind – Sometimes it’s hard to get out of our own heads when we write our website copy or blogs, and that can be a problem. There’s something at play here called the knowledge gap. You may think what you’re storing away in that brain of yours is uninteresting or dull. You may think everyone knows what you know. But the truth is, if you’ve gone into business, you’ve probably accumulated a significant amount of specialized knowledge along the way. 

Your customers will find that interesting as they shop in your industry. But there is a catch. It needs to be written in a way that appeals to them. Picture yourself out for coffee with a prospect. You’re not going to bore them with $10 industry terms. You won’t spend too much time on inside baseball concepts. You’ll talk to them in a clear and concise manner, about the benefits they’ll see from your service. You’ll do this because of the immediate feedback of their eyes glossing over if you slip into industry mode. 

While the feedback isn’t immediate in your writing, you can picture yourself in a similar situation as you put your words down. Write to that ideal customer. Do it in a way that will appeal to them. 

Read Everything You Can Get Your Hands On – Chances are you can find highly repetitive blog posts, articles or copywriting within your industry. People are regurgitating the same boring tips, tricks and industry factoids left and right. Some of it is popular because it’s true. But if you’re not offering anything different, your reader may move on. 

Hopefully, you’re still passionate about what you’re working on. The way to keep that passion flowing is to read everything you can get your hands on – both inside your industry and out. This is where new ideas flow from. This is what gives you the ability to stand out and differentiate yourself in a meaningful manner. 

Reading and applying that information allows you to connect useful ideas. 

Solve Problems and Provide Value – Your customer comes to you with a very specific problem in mind, and they are looking for a solution. If you’re not directly addressing that problem, they may move on to someone who is. This can mean a few things when writing your marketing copy. 

First, in your website copy, it’s always good to identify the problem in the first few sentences. This shows that you understand. You know that it can be difficult. But it’s not enough to just identify. You’ll have to position yourself as the solution. Make sure the reader understands whatever product or service you’re selling is the perfect way to solve their problem. 

You can also identify problems and provide value in your blog posts. What are some of the routine problems your customers might face? Your blog can be filled with specific tips, tricks, and strategies to help them solve these problems. 

Take Pride in Your Work – It’s not enough to provide a prolific amount of content. That content needs to be useful and valuable. It needs to be well-written enough that your customers can easily read it. Take your time. Do it right… 

Spelling and grammar count. The countless grammar mistakes, spelling errors and typos may not mean much to you, but they’ll distract from your ultimate message. You don’t want readers walking away with any other thought in their head, but “How do I buy?” 

Your marketing content can become a reader’s first impression of your business. Make it a good one. Improving your spelling and grammar is one of the more unglamorous copywriting secrets out there, but it’s one of the most critical. 

Make it Different – It doesn’t really matter what industry you’re in. The web is more crowded than it’s ever been before – and that includes your industry. If your stuff is just like everyone else’s how do you plan on grabbing your readers’ attention? 

Implementing new ideas is one way to differentiate, as I mentioned above. Another method to improve your blog posts is to include appropriate personal anecdotes. Let your readers get to know you a little bit. It’s ok to be the business obsessed with Cubs baseball (it’s even socially acceptable now!). It’s ok to mention that you’re a dad, a dog owner, or an avid music fan. Drop these things where you see appropriate. 

Too many businesses and business owners feel like they have to be 100 percent formal all the time. Sharing these personal details establish likability and trust. They allow for the potential of a more meaningful relationship. That’s always a good thing. This is how you stand out. 

 Utilize Calls to Action – Whether you’re writing website content, blogs or landing pages, your copy should never just end. Even though this is considered marketing, the goal is still to sell. If your blog post was well written, your readers aren’t going to get angry about a promotional line at the end. 

If you’re writing a web page or landing page, it’s time to go deeper with your calls to action. Remind your reader of your best benefit or selling point. Maybe the way they are doing things today is ok, but it could truly be better with what you provide. 

A strong call to action gives people an emotional push. It makes it 100-percent clear what you want them to do. You’re in business. Calls to action help you make the most of your copy. 

Write a Thought-Provoking Headline – Your headline is what people will use to determine whether or not they want to read your copy. You can have the best material you’ve ever written, and if falls below a subpar headline, no one’s going to read it. Spend some time writing a headline that catches people’s attention. 

You can grab people by mentioning your strongest benefit, or provoking their curiosity. You can grab them by making a commanding promise (but then you better keep it). There are several strategies out there for writing a headline that sells. While it’s a small amount of real estate, it’s the most important part. This is a skill that it literally pays to learn. This is one of the most important copywriting secrets for your business. 

Choose Your Words Carefully – It’s been proven that readers are attracted to certain words. Free is a powerful word. So is new. Make sure you understand the words that will provide an emotional charge for your readers, and use them in your headlines and in your copy. 

There are also phrases that can be extremely powerful. Deep down, people want to feel supported and connected. They want to know that the problem that drove them to seek help is not unique to them. Because of that, the phrase “You are not alone” is one of the most powerful phrases you can work into your copy. 

Test New Material – While writing great copy is an art that can be mastered, determining the most effective results can be a science. There are plenty of great resources out there to give you insight on how to A/B test your copy. The basic idea is that you can test two versions of your copy against each other to determine the most effective. 

Try out different headlines or calls to action. You can try out different graphics or writing styles. Virtually anything is testable. Here’s a word of caution, however. Test one thing at a time. If you throw too many variables into the mix, you’ll never know exactly what your readers found more attractive. When you can be precise in the differences, the more successful approach is repeatable. 

You Can Always Hire a Copywriter – It can be complicated to create a message that resonates with your customers. You can keep working on the craft, or you can hire an experienced copywriter who has worked many projects just like yours.