6-Step Plan for Social Media Mapping

Putting It All Together

For a successful social media strategy, you need to have a plan.  As the publisher, you control the power to distribute your content through social media platforms such as blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, just to name a few.  Most businesspersons are overwhelmed with all of the options and how and which to implement.  Social Media Mapping outlines the potential of each social media tool and outlines a strategy to implement them and achieve results for your business.

Step 1 – Value of Social Media

• Develop Understanding of SM and Online Community – How can you gain traction for ideas and grow your network to benefit your company?
• Determine Goals – What does your company want to accomplish with SM?
• Evaluate Social Media – Is it a good fit for your company/institution?

Step 2 – Social Media and Your Business

• Determine Organization’s Changes to Adopt Social media
• Demonstrate Value Added – How will you gain support for this new, often misunderstood initiative within your company?
• Determine your Social Media team – Who will design and implement your SM strategy?
• Determine your Audience – Who do you want to reach?
• Determine Competition’s SM Activity

Step 3: SM Tools

• Choose SM Tools – Select the tools that will support your goals.  Setup the Applications – Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, blogs
• Train SM team on Using the Tools – profiles, frequency, professional image
• Guide SM team on Marketing the Tools – How to build and communicate with your target communities?
• Leverage Current Marketing – Use SM to augment current marketing efforts

Step 4: Content Development

• Develop and Post Content Consistently
• Develop Action Responses – How do you direct the user’s response: user-generated feedback, promote conversations, connecting with networks?

Step 5: Content Distribution

• Apply widgets to drive viral action
• Develop Search Engine Optimization strategies
• Integrated Social Media Strategy – Design, implement and manage your social media and integrate it with traditional advertising, online solutions and business networking

Step 6: Feedback

• Prepare for Feedback – How will your company respond to positive and negative feedback? What are the potential effects (positive/negative) of SM on the company?
• Evaluation and Adjustment – What is the effect of the SM strategies? What are the changes in the SM landscape that affect your strategy?
• Determine ROI -What is the return on investment in social media?

We have written an expanded document on Social Media Mapping.  We can serve as consults, coaches and trainers when implementing this mapping  plan.

Click here to download our Social Media Mapping Paper

Contact us for more information or for a consultation.