Click Return Talk The 7 C’s of Social Media
Navigating the world of social media marketing can be daunting, especially for beginners. To streamline your social media efforts and ensure success, you can follow the framework of the 7 C’s of social media. These principles will help you build a robust and effective social media strategy that resonates with your audience.
Let’s dive into the 7 C’s of social media marketing:
1. Community
The first step in any social media strategy is understanding your target audience.
Ask yourself:
1. Where do they spend time online?
2. What social media channels do they use?
3. How do they communicate on these platforms?
Before you start engaging, listen and learn about your community. Identify where conversations about your brand or industry are happening. For instance, a B2C brand like Oreo may find a significant community on Facebook, while a job seeker may find LinkedIn more beneficial. Understanding where your community interacts is crucial for a successful strategy.
2. Content
Once you understand your community, focus on the content you will share.
Your content should:
1. Highlight your expertise and interests if you are building a personal brand.
2. Demonstrate thought leadership and provide value to clients and prospects if you are a company.
3. Content should be relevant and engaging to your audience, helping to establish your authority and build trust.
3. Curation
Content curation involves finding, organising, and sharing valuable content from other sources. This not only keeps your feed active but also provides value without always creating new content. The balance between curated and original content is essential; research suggests a 60-40 ratio, favouring curation.
4. Creation
Creating original content is crucial for establishing your brand’s voice and identity.
This can include:
1. Blog posts
2. Videos
3. Images
4. Infographics
An editorial calendar can help you plan and maintain a consistent posting schedule. Finding the right balance between creation and curation keeps your content fresh and engaging.
5. Connection
Connecting with your audience is about more than just sharing content; it’s about building relationships.
Understand what your audience enjoys and engages with:
1. Use tools like buyer personas to tailor your content and approach.
2. Monitor engagement metrics to see what resonates.
3. Effective connection fosters a loyal community that supports and advocates for your brand.
6. Conversation
Engagement is the heart of social media. It’s not enough to put out posts and content; you must also participate in conversations:
1. Respond to comments and messages.
2. Initiate discussions and ask questions.
3. Show genuine interest in your audience’s feedback and opinions.
This two-way communication builds trust and strengthens your community.
7. Conversion
Ultimately, your social media efforts should lead to measurable outcomes, whether it’s increased sales, brand awareness, or customer loyalty.
Your social media strategy should align with your business goals, focusing on:
1. Raising awareness
2. Driving sales
3. Building loyalty
For personal branding, success can be measured by increased visibility within your network, landing job interviews, or achieving career advancements.
By following the 7 C’s of social media marketing—Community, Content, Curation, Creation, Connection, Conversation, and Conversion—you can build a comprehensive and effective strategy. These principles ensure that your social media efforts are focused, engaging, and aligned with your overall business objectives.
Ready to elevate your social media game? Start implementing these 7 C’s today and watch your online presence thrive.
For more information on Social Media, SEO, PPC and Web Design contact us here at Click Return.
