40 Tips to Tame the Social Media Beast in the Age of AI and Modern Tech

You are not alone if you feel that your social media and digital marketing program has become overwhelming. Whether you're struggling to keep up with rapid technology changes such as AI, lacking team coverage or executive buy-in, or simply underestimated the needs of managing a "simple LinkedIn business page page," these challenges are common.

Do These Sound Familiar?

• LinkedIn business page needs updating and a growth plan to maximize the opportunities.
• Lacking engagement, responding to LinkedIn comments, tweets, comments on Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Bad dreams of reputation nightmares thanks to AI keeping you up at night. You wish you knew what people were saying about you.
• Need to figure out why your brand is not properly represented in generative AI programs such as ChatGPT.
• Need to better understand what results AI tools such as ChatGPT are providing when your prospects ask about you and your company.
• Wish you had time for real social media advocacy.
• Tweets flying out of control.
• Board of directors complaining about brand inconsistency.
• Continuous social media network changes confusing your social media team.
• Wish your content team knew how to embrace AI as an "assistant" vs replacement to their roles.
• You have no idea of the passwords to most of your social media accounts.
• Social listening, how do you do that again?
• You have no escalation plan for a PR or reputation management crisis.
• ROI, measuring results, what is that?
• Struggling with whether to get on new platforms or stick with existing ones.
• Competitors are always copying you.
• Blog site performance has hit the ground due to all the traffic.
• Live event coming up, and you need to integrate social but don’t know where to start.
• Need to implement the integrated email marketing and CRM program you purchased last year.
• Content marketing program really needs structure.
• You need to get a life. Weekends are owned by stress, worry & social media.
• Friends, kids, fun? What's that?
• Team hesitant to adopt new technologies like AI.
• Boss not on board with modernizing social media strategies.
• Need to train sales team on new social media strategies.
• Need to finish or work on the brand culture program to align internal and external messaging.
• Need to hire a contract fractional CMO.
• Need to rework the tech stack.
• Need to relaunch the employee social media advocacy program.
• Need to refresh the brand.
• Need to update SEO strategies with the introduction of AI.
• Need to conduct new focus groups to gather customer feedback for new products and marketing launch.
• Need to research target markets, buyer personas, and competition.
• Need to reposition your product, business and /or entire brand in the market.
• Need to develop a growth plan and present it to executive management and/or the board of directors.
• Need to develop an AI employee usage policy to minimize risk.
• Need to prioritize a pilot program for marketing and sales teams to adopt AI.
• Brand consistency is lacking and brand equity is at risk because of all of the above.

If the above resonates with you, take a deep breath. There is hope. I promise you that it is possible to tame the wild social media and artificial intelligence beast.

Here are some tips to get you started:

40 Tips to Tame the Wild Social Media Beast in the Age of AI and Modern Tech 2024

1. Embrace Imperfect Perfection: Accept that social media will never be perfect. Focus on progress, not perfection, and don't expect your team to be perfect either. The image I used in this article created by OpenAI's ChatGPT is a perfect example of "perfection is the enemy of good." ha
2. Focus on Your Goals: Your job is not to make everyone happy. Prioritize your business goals and results.
3. Don't Skip the Planning: Develop a solid business plan with goals and objectives. Align your social media efforts where they can have the greatest impact. If you need help, consider outsourcing or consulting.
4. Slow Down to Speed Up: Quality over quantity. Take time to plan, organize, and train your team. Effective social media takes time to develop.
5. Eliminate Random Acts of Marketing (RAMs): If it’s not in the plan, budget, or has no metrics to measure results, it’s a RAM. RAMs eat ROI for breakfast and will drain your resources.
6. Know Your Audience: Understand who they are, what they need, and how you can help them. Conduct surveys, research, and engage with your audience to stay relevant.
7. Prioritize What Matters: Stay focused on your plan and goals. Avoid getting sidetracked by less important tasks.
8. You Can't Do It All at Once: Set priorities and focus on the most important tasks first. You don't have to do everything immediately.
9. Balance Art and Science: Know the tools but also understand the art of social media. Focus on building real human connections and relationships.
10. Data-Driven Decisions: Use data to guide your content strategy. Analyze what works and make informed decisions.
11. Get Hungry for Data: Implement a measurement system to make decisions based on data. This will help control the beast.
12. Conduct a Social Media Audit: Assess your current efforts to understand what's working and what needs improvement.
13. Integrate Your Efforts: Avoid siloed social media programs. Integrate your social media with overall business goals to achieve better results.
14. Use the Right Tools and Technology: Invest in tools that help measure engagement, conversion, sentiment, and ROI. Get help if needed.
15. Embrace AI and Automation: Use AI tools for social listening, content creation, and customer service to save time and improve efficiency. AI can help predict trends, analyze data, and personalize content, making your social media efforts more effective.
16. Hire a Fractional CMO: If you lack strategic leadership, consider hiring a contract fractional CMO to guide your marketing efforts and drive growth.
17. Develop a Brand Culture Program: Align your internal and external messaging by developing a comprehensive brand culture program. This will help create a cohesive brand experience for your customers and employees and ensure the heart and soul of your brand resonates boldly and authentically.
18. Refresh Your Brand: Periodically review and update your brand to ensure it remains relevant and resonates with your audience. This includes visual identity, messaging, and overall brand strategy.
19. Address Bottlenecks: Identify and fix inefficiencies. Streamline processes and eliminate time wasters.
20. Make Time for Important Discussions: Ensure your team is aligned with the plan, goals, and execution details. Regular, focused discussions are key.
21. Shift Mindsets and Smash Limiting Beliefs: Encourage your team to embrace new technologies and strategies. Overcome resistance by demonstrating the benefits of AI and modern tools. Get buy-in from leadership by presenting data and success stories.
22. Train Your Sales Team: Ensure your sales team understands and utilizes social media strategies effectively. Training can help them leverage social media to engage with prospects and close deals.
23. Rework Your Tech Stack: Ensure your technology is up-to-date and supports your social media and marketing strategies. Integrate tools to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
24. Relaunch Employee Advocacy Programs: Empower your employees to be brand advocates on social media. Provide training and resources to help them share company content and engage with their networks.
25. Update SEO Strategies with AI: Leverage AI to enhance your SEO efforts. AI can help identify trends, optimize content, and improve search rankings. Ensure your brand is well-represented in generative AI programs like ChatGPT.
26. Conduct Focus Groups: Gather customer feedback through focus groups to inform new product development and marketing strategies. Use these insights to refine your approach.
27. Research Target Markets and Personas: Conduct thorough research to understand your target markets, buyer personas, and competition. This information is crucial for effective marketing and positioning.
28. Reposition Your Brand: If needed, reposition your product, business, or brand in the market. Use research to guide your strategy and ensure it aligns with market demands.
29. Develop a Growth Plan: Create a detailed growth plan and present it to executive management or the board of directors. This plan should outline your strategies for scaling and achieving long-term success.
30. Develop an AI Usage Policy: Establish guidelines for AI usage within your organization to minimize risk and ensure ethical practices. This policy should cover data privacy, transparency, and responsible AI use.
31. Pilot AI Programs: Prioritize pilot programs for marketing and sales teams to adopt AI tools. Test and refine these programs to maximize their effectiveness and ROI.
32. Implement Influencer Marketing Campaigns: Leverage influencers to amplify your brand message. Develop a strategy to identify, engage, and collaborate with influencers who align with your brand values.
33. Enhance Customer Support with AI: Utilize AI chatbots and virtual assistants to provide timely and efficient customer support. This can improve customer satisfaction and free up your team for more complex tasks.
34. Create Interactive Content: Develop engaging content such as quizzes, polls, and interactive videos to captivate your audience and encourage participation.
35. Utilize Social Commerce: Integrate shopping features on social media platforms to allow customers to purchase directly from your posts. This can drive sales and improve the customer experience.
36. Monitor Competitor Activity: Keep an eye on your competitors' social media strategies. Learn from their successes and failures to refine your own approach.
37. Stay Updated on Social Media Trends: Regularly review industry trends and updates to stay ahead of the curve. Adapt your strategies to leverage new features and best practices.
38. Foster Community Engagement: Build a strong online community by encouraging discussions, responding to comments, and hosting live events. Engaged communities are more likely to advocate for your brand.
39. Measure Sentiment Analysis: Use sentiment analysis tools to understand how your audience feels about your brand. This can help you address concerns and improve your overall strategy.
40. Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your social media content is optimized for mobile devices. With a significant portion of users accessing social media on their phones, mobile optimization is crucial for engagement and reach.

Bonus Tip: Prioritize and Plan for Peace of Mind

Don't feel pressured to do everything at once. Slow down to speed up by building a solid plan that is clear on goals, timelines, and prioritizes the right strategies and tactics that will help you achieve those goals. A well-thought-out plan will provide clarity and direction, allowing you to tackle each task methodically and effectively.

Need Help?

If you need help with any of this, reach out. We're here to help you tame the social media beast and achieve your goals with confidence and peace of mind.

How is Your Beast?

Do you have a wild social media beast in your business? Acknowledge it, then deal with it. Share in the comments what your beast is! We as the Brand With Soul community can help one another!

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