In today's digital age, having a strong social media presence is crucial for any business. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just getting started, these best practices will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of social media and achieve your goals.

1. Define Your Goals
Before diving into social media, it's super important to establish clear goals. What do you want to achieve? Whether it's increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or generating leads, having specific, measurable objectives will help guide your posting strategy.
2. Know Your Audience
Understanding your target audience is key to creating content that resonates. Research to identify your audience's demographics, interests, and online behavior, do some competitor analysis and see what works or not for your competitors or pages alike. Use this information to tailor your content and choose the right platforms.
3. Choose the Right Platforms
Not all social media platforms are created equal! Each has its own unique audience and features. Focus on the platforms that align with your business and where your target audience is most active. For instance:
TikTok: Excellent for short, engaging videos, showcasing your brand's personality, and educational content.
Instagram: Ideal for visually-driven content and engaging all age groups. It's a great way to showcase your brand's portfolio and what you have to offer.
Facebook: Great for reaching a broad audience and sharing a variety of content types.
LinkedIn: Best for B2B marketing and professional networking.
Twitter (X): Perfect for real-time updates and engaging in conversations.
Pinterest: Perfect for sharing visual content and DIY projects. It's ideal for businesses in fashion, food, home decor, and lifestyle industries.
4. Create Quality Content
Content is king in the world of social media. Aim to create high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience. Mix up your content types, including images, videos, infographics, and articles, to keep your feed interesting and dynamic. Keep your videos short, remember the average watch time is 6 seconds!
5. Be Consistent
Consistency is crucial for building a loyal following. Develop a content calendar (we love AirTable) to plan your posts in advance and maintain a regular posting schedule. This helps keep your audience engaged and ensures your brand remains top-of-mind.
6. Engage with Your Audience
Social media is not a one-way street. Engage with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Encourage conversations, ask questions, and show appreciation for your audience. Building relationships with your followers can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy.
7. Utilize Analytics
Data is your best friend when it comes to social media. Regularly review your analytics to understand what's working and what's not. Use insights to refine your strategy, optimize your content, and make data-driven decisions. Read more about how to understand your platform's analytics.
8. Stay Up-to-Date with 787 social scoop
The social media landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest trends, algorithm changes, and best practices. Subscribe to 787 Social's Weekly Social Scoop where we bring you top industry reads and trending videos and sounds to keep your knowledge current and apply to your page. Delivered every Sunday at 3 pm CST!
9. Always Repost to Your Story
Make sure to always repost your feed post to your story to increase impressions and views. Adding an engagement tool like a poll or question box can boost audience loyalty and engagement. Keep track of responses to align your content with audience preferences.
10. Always Respond to Comments
Ensure that each comment on a post is liked and/or commented back to. Make your responses engaging—start a conversation! Encourage discussions, ask questions, and show appreciation for their feedback to foster a sense of community.
11. Build Community Engagement
Build relationships with industry influencers, target audience accounts, and thought leaders within your niche by engaging with their content daily. This can leverage their audience and credibility for increased exposure.
12. Utilize Hashtags + SEO Keywords
Use relevant and trending hashtags to increase the discoverability of your content. Research popular hashtags within your niche and incorporate them strategically into your posts to expand your reach and attract new followers. Additionally, add top 20 SEO keywords into your screen text and captions to optimize your content for search engines and reach your target audience more effectively.
13. Include Collaborators and Tags
By including collaborators and relevant tags in your posts, you can significantly boost their visibility and broaden your content's reach across various audiences and niches. Collaborators bring fresh perspectives and followers, while tags ensure your content reaches users interested in specific topics or themes.
14. Add Call to Actions
Make sure each of your posts prompts your followers to take action. Craft a clear and distinct call to action that directs your audience toward specific and meaningful engagement. Whether it's liking, sharing, commenting, visiting a website, or making a purchase, the call to action should guide your audience effectively - trust us if you tell them what to do, they will listen!
15. Always Use Trending Audios When Posting Reels or TikToks
Leveraging trending audios can increase the visibility and engagement of your reels or TikToks. Stay on top of trending sounds and incorporate them into your content. (psst... subscribe to our Weekly Social Scoop for weekly trending sounds)
16. Engage with Your Audience Before and After Posting
Don't post and ghost! Engage with your audience before and after posting to build a stronger connection. This practice can boost your post's performance and foster a loyal community.
17. Invest in other forms of marketing
While organic reach is valuable, investing in paid social media advertising or influencer marketing with an agency (cough...us!) can amplify your efforts. Use targeted ads and creators to reach a wider audience, promote specific campaigns, and achieve your business goals faster.
18. Be Authentic
And last but very not least, BE AUTHENTIC!! Authenticity is essential in building trust with your audience. Be genuine, and transparent, and show the human side of your brand, trust us that's what people love and want to see!! Share behind-the-scenes content, tell your story, and connect with your audience on a personal level.
By following these best practices, you'll be well on your way to mastering social media and achieving your business objectives. Remember, success doesn't happen overnight, but with dedication and the right strategy, you can build a strong and impactful social media presence. Have questions? Leave below or book a call with us here!
Happy posting!
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