Back to Business: Getting an A+ in Social Media

After a busy summer period, September means back to school and back to business. With the final quarter fast approaching, now is the perfect opportunity to make sure you have everything in order before we head towards some key marketing opportunities in the calendar. From ensuring you have the right equipment to making a great first impression, it's important to be prepared so that you achieve top of the class results for your business!

☑️ Check You Have the Necessary Equipment

Preparation is key to success. In the constantly evolving social media landscape, it's vital that you have all of the necessary tools and equipment to get started:

• The platform mix that worked for you a year ago might not anymore. With networks constantly pivoting, they may have become more or less relevant for your business. It's always a good idea to do some audience research and find out what platforms your customers and clients are most active on.

• Now is the perfect time to check that you have all of the physical equipment you need ahead of the busy period. Whether you use a phone or a camera for capturing photos and footage, investing in a tripod, microphone or ring light could be the move that takes your content to the next level.

• The software you use is just as important as the equipment. Ensure that you have go-to options for editing both images and videos. There's plenty of free options available, but you may choose to invest in higher quality software.

  
  

☑️ a Quick Knowledge Refresh

Great students always do the summer reading to keep their knowledge up to date. Social media marketing should be no different. Check you're doing everything possible to get the best results from your content:

• Every now and again platforms will change the optimum dimensions for posting on their network. You don't want your posts to be cut off in grid or look messy in feed, so it's usually best to go straight to the platforms themselves as most will have guides to help you.

• Short-form video remains the most engaging form of content, giving you the opportunity to grab attention and visibility. Videos under 30 seconds tend to perform best across networks, and if you can get them under 15 seconds you're much more likely to boost your view count.

• Familiarise yourself with what action it is that you want your audience to take. Whether it's clicking through to your website or sending you a direct message, ensure that you make this obvious with a clear and concise call-to-action in your posts.

☑️ Make a Great First Impression

You have just 1.7 seconds to grab the attention of the average social media user scrolling on their phone, proving that first impressions really do matter. Here's some key ways you can stand out online and stop the scroll:

• Ensure your posts contain images or videos that are eye-catching. It's often a good idea to feature a person on a photo or at the start of a video. Whether its a colleague or a customer, it can help the content to feel more relatable to your audience.

• You might not want to launch a rebrand at such a busy time for your business, but it's a great opportunity to make sure that your profile pictures and cover photos are all up to date. Make sure that any imagery you use is consistent to boost brand awareness and recognition.

• Use this opportunity to also check that all of your information is up to date. You don't want anyone clicking on to your profile and finding links that don't work anymore, so check that all bios are updated with the most recent information.

☑️ Use Your Planner - Stay Organised

Just like keeping track of your schoolwork, social media presents so many opportunities that it can be hard to keep on top of them. Make an effort to keep your social media calendar updated and ensure you're staying organised:

• Plan your content ahead of time. If you've not already planned for Q4 and how you're going to lead into to it, take the time now to make sure you have a comprehensive content strategy in place.

• As well as more obvious events like Black Friday and Halloween, occasions such as International Dog Day can present key marketing opportunities for your brand. Do your research and incorporate the days most appropriate for your brand.

• Most platforms have the option to schedule content and this can help you to stay organised and spend time on your social media marketing when suits you best. There's also external scheduling software that you can use to help you keep track across multiple platforms.

☑️ Don't FORGET YOUR HOMEWORK

If you're ready to take your social media marketing to the next level, you can advance your skills and get certified all in the same place thanks to the OCOCADEMY Foundation training course. Our training programme equips you with all of the skills and confidence you need to drive real results from your digital marketing. Progress at your own pace and benefit from expert advice. Our team will be with you every step of the way on your social media learning journey. 

Ready TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS AND SUPERCHARGE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY?

The OCOCO Media team are here to help. Contact us today to book your complimentary consultation and discover how we can help you achieve long-term results.