Getting Started on Social Media

Are you looking to create a social media account? If so, you should plan in advance what kind of messages you want to send, what kind of audience you want to build, and what you goals are.   

Define your goals

How does social media fit with your overall organizational goals? Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. 

Determine your audience

With so many social media networks out there, you may be tempted to join them all. By narrowing your audience, you can connect with the right crowd and network.  Ask yourself: what is your current relationship with your audience? 

Platform

With your key audience and goals in mind, what platform(s) will serve you best? 

Sustainability

Can you spread your message without creating a new account? Will you be able to use the account year-round? Will you have enough content to maintain consistency in posting? How will you grow your following? 

Staffing

Who, specifically, is going to find, create, and post content and monitor your channels?

Content

What, specifically, are you posting/sharing, and why? What strategies or models (either internal or external) do you plan to utilize and/or follow? 

Frequency

How often will you plan to post static content, videos, new photos, etc.? Decide in advance how much time you are going to spend on each platform. Be consistent in your posting and post strategically rather than constantly. Utilizing a content calendar can be very helpful. 

Voice

The content of your post sets the tone for your audience and their interactions with you. Be consistent across all channels. While it’s ok to be less formal on social media, make sure all updates have a unified tone. 

Monitoring & Evaluation

For each of your channels, you will need to take the time to respond to posts/questions and engage with your audience. In addition to monitoring your channels, you will need to determine how you will evaluate your success for each channel.