Social media roundup: 5 must-read social media marketing posts

By Greg Harron | March 1, 2016

The world of social media changes fast.

Here are 5 recent social media marketing articles (and podcasts) that caught our eye, and their main takeaways.

1. A map for the minefield.

For small business owners, social media marketing is a playing field that can result in a lot of wasted time and energy if not approached in the right manner. Common Small Business Social Media Mistakes to Avoid provides great advice addressing some of the most common missteps and how to avoid them as you begin your waltz through the social media minefield. One of my top picks on the list is Mistake #9, Failing to Establish Social Media Metrics. It’s crucial that you have a plan in place to evaluate your social media success.

2. Does size really matter? Quality vs. quantity of followers

How Do You Measure Passion? Figuring The Value Of Social Media Followers is a short-but-insightful podcast that ponders the question of quantity versus quality when it comes to your following on social channels. The focus is now shifting from accumulating larger and larger numbers of followers. Now, it’s more important to cultivate a truly engaged and passionate audience that will help amplify your content. The podcast also discusses what does (and does not) make for a potentially valuable, influential follower.

3. Let’s get visual: Tools for creating quick social visuals

Adding relevant custom images to your social posts can greatly boost engagement. Content with images get 94% more views than content without images. So, having the right resources to quickly and effectively develop visual content is critical to social media success. 20 Killer Blogging Tools for Customizing Your Content is every bit as useful for social content as it is for blogging. The piece offers a nice list of tools for quickly developing custom images to use in social posts.

4. Tweet first, ask questions later (strike that, reverse it).

One of the biggest issues that we see with clients dabbling in social media marketing is lack of method to the madness. Sporadic communications with no clear target or objective won’t get you very far. Before jumping in, take an extra second to aim. It is important to first define who you are talking to, where they are hanging out, what message you want to convey, and what action you want your audience to take. 6 Steps to Create a Bare Bones and Profitable Social Media Plan will help make sure you are asking all the right questions as you formulate your plan to infiltrate the social airwaves.

5. Numbers speak louder than words.

If you are trying to drum up some support from decision makers to invest in social media, you may need to call for a little statistical back-up to help make your case. The impressive stack of stats provided in Pew Research Center’s Social Media Update 2016 can help build a better understanding of the current size and opportunities available across social channels. This article covers a wide span of statistical information related to the current state of social. For example, 70% of the US population now holds at least one social networking profile!

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