There are hundreds of social media platforms on offer, making it vital for brands to choose the right channel to socially connect with their target market.

Consumers expect brands to listen and respond in an authentic manner, they no longer want a faceless corporation, making it essential for brands to build a social media community for their fans.

Social media is a powerful tool that has the potential to build brand awareness and promote brand loyalty, but only when it’s done right.

Here are some essential rules to keep in mind:

1. Remember your objectives

When developing content, more does not mean better! Don’t post just for the sake of it, keep your key messages in mind and develop content that is going grab your consumer’s attention and force them to think about your brand.

2. Your content needs to be worth sharing

Brands need to produce useful compelling, interesting and share-worthy content. It’s all about producing content that will go viral to build your brands online profile.

You can think about your audience in two ways:

Your initial audience – those you can reach directly

Your ultimate audience – those who your initial audience can reach for you

A good social media manager will develop content that will reach the brands’ ultimate audience and in turn, these fans will become the sales force.

3. Your website is your hub

Social media is where you build trusted relationships with stakeholders, but you need to always send them back to what you do – your website. Share blogs and videos through social media that will send stakeholders back to your website.

4. Find your online champions and use them

You need to think of your fans as storytellers not just receivers of your content. You need to develop content that people are going to want to retell. This is how social word of mouth begins.

5. Keep your community engaged and informed by asking your stakeholders for their opinions.

Social media is where people go to be social, so let them! Let your community provide you with information by encouraging feedback and opinions. Crowd sourcing your ideas will both build consumer loyalty and allow you to take advantage of the collective wisdom of your audience.

Always keep in mind it’s not a number game, impressions don’t convert, but influence does!

15 Years of Fame