When it comes to social media analytics, the key is for you and your social media agency partner to know how to listen. What does it mean to listen? Listening is finding out what your target market is saying in the social media landscape. It is not a one-time process. It should be an ongoing activity (ideally part of the services offered to you by your social media agency) which provides you vital information about your market.
So how do you become socially in tune? Here are four tips from the Social Media Examiner.
1. Find out who your target audience is. This is a familiar social media marketing advice that is critical yet often overlooked. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that everyone is on Facebook or on Twitter. There is a strategy required to engage your market online. That’s what your social media agency is for. Consider the factors that can affect your target market’s social media preference such as age, class and even location.
2. Find out who the influencers are. According to research, there is more value in the type of people who “follow” you or add you as friend. Using social analytics, you can find out which ones are actively sharing your content and links. Facebook and Twitter are top of mind choices but these are not the only ones. For example, if you are looking for inputs from fashionistas, it would do you and your social media agency well to look at top fashion blogs. The main takeaway here is that knowing who your influencers are can help you tighten your social media battle plan.
3. Find out your keywords and trends. There has to be sync between what you think are your important keywords and what language your target market is using. For the latter, social analytics can be your best tool and your social media agency can be on top of that process. This seems all too simple and almost irrelevant but refining your keywords will also mean refining your social media marketing message.
4. Form a social business strategy. This is the part where you and your social media agency sit down to merge what you gather when you listen and what you need to do and achieve in terms of your business’ social media aspect. Take note that the task of listening via social media is a task you can share with other members of your company. The more ears are attuned, the more messages you will hear.
Are you the listening kind of company? We want to know what you think!