erwin subjection: 9-Step Social Media Plan for Business Owners

Inescapable. Last year social media?s impact on B2B and B2C communication, advertising, and information gathering was irrefutably inescapable. According to Techcrunch, ?there are now more devices connected to the Internet then there are people on earth.??

This explosion of mobile technology has enabled the assimilation of social media into our everyday lives. Consumers are watching TV with their Droids, iPhones, and iPads. As a result, they are online more often, and for longer amounts of time.

As a brand looking to connect with these consumers, your evolution into online marketing has become, dare we say it again?inescapable.

It is time to enter the social media arena and join your target market on the web. They are already there sharing experiences with others about brands, products, and services, so why not join the conversation?
?

2013 Online Marketing Plan Whether your brand is just getting started with online marketing or re-aligning for the new year, the following foundation is essential before incorporating social media into a comprehensive and complete online marketing plan.
?

9-Step Process for Social Media Success

So where does social media fit into all of this?

Social media is the enabler of the internet. Its role is to magnify your existing online presence and amplify ALL of your other branding and marketing efforts. It plays a key role in delivering qualified traffic to the top of the online sales funnel.

Social media allows brands and consumers the rare opportunity to join online conversations, where they can ask and answer questions, offer product guidance and ultimately forge deeper customer-brand relationships. An ongoing process that is continually building upon itself.

Begin by reviewing your business objectives and goals for using social media. Then use the steps below to incorporate social media into your marketing plan and most importantly, work your plan.
?

	Choose Your Channel- This is the entry point for your brand. Identify the 3 best social channels to meet your business objectives and create an account on each. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google+ are the main channels to consider. ?
	Brand Your Profile- It is essential that you present a unified branded appearance across all social media profiles. Use your company logo and branding from your website, and take the time to properly create a professional profile tailored to each social channel requirements. ?
	Build a Baseline by Listening- Build your brand?s voice by listening to what your market is saying, discover their pain points and establish a baseline for what they are interested in. For more information read ?Listen Up! It Is The Key To Social Media Success? and download our Social Listening checklist. ?
	Keep Your Competitors Close- Locate the competition and observe how they use social media. Note their successes and failures, and apply that to your social media strategy. ?
	Connect With the Connectors- Connect with influencers, industry players and relevant news sources. Follow the social activity of current clients, suppliers and affiliates. ?
	Calendar Your Content- Develop a content strategy and editorial calendar. The more you recommend, share and create content, the more you influence others online. ?
	Schedule for Sharing- Maintain a posting schedule that includes: SEO optimized headlines, featured website content, email campaigns, blog posts, relevant news stories and company milestones into your timeline, posts and tweets. ?
	Track and Measure- Maintain an analytics spreadsheet that benchmarks the growth and activity of each social channel. ?
	Report, Review and Refresh- Report and analyze monthly reach, activity and engagement. Compare results with objectives and adjust as needed.