Five Steps to your Social Media Success

The power of social media and its impact on our lives has been key discussion point among marketers, strategists and casual users alike. Driven by its high internet usage, Dubai has become the hub of social media and technology-based marketing initiatives in the Middle East. Marketers and agencies in the area have dozens of channels to choose from, it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones.

Looking at the technology lifecycle image below, Dubai's market is at the early majority stage. With one of the highest Internet penetration rates (93.2%), businesses catering to this region can make strides with social media marketing... if done effectively.

In my previous blog, I discussed some of the top tips for running successful digital marketing campaigns in Dubai. If you're new to social media, I suggest reading that post before checking out this one to ensure you set you expectations appropriately before taking the plunge.

If you're ready to launch dynamic, fully-rounded campaigns, I recommend you get started with these steps:

1) Know Your Audience

Today's consumer, known as the "social generation", strives on their connections, content and community. So it's important you understand the messages that resonnate with them while keeping the tone of your business. If you'd like to read more, check out our post on buyer personas.

2) Channels Aren't One-Size-Fits-All

Social media marketing isn't easy. If you share unique content once a day on three channels that amounts to 15 pieces of content a week. This can take 8 to 10 hours per week! We recommend not copying and pasting content from one social channel to the other since each audience expects different types of experiences.

To ensure your posts connect to your company goals, make sure you have your ideas, images and flow planned at least a week in advance.

3) Visuals and Sizes

Recent studies have found that visuals are more effective at engaging with audiences than any other type of content. With that in mind, you need to make sure your images complement your social messaging and have the right design. Keep in mind that different platforms have different sizing standards.

For example, our Facebook timeline guide shows you the dimensions you need to use so that your posts appear correctly on all devices. You'll find a wealth of guides for other social platforms quickly with a simple Google search.

4) Don’t Forget the Hook

While it's important to share "snackable" content, businesses should not forget that they need to use social media to drive business results rather than sharing fun pictures. To paraphrase Gary Veynurchuck, businesses need to have a punchy sales-driven message every so often to drive the lead funnel (and keep Sales at bay). I can't agree more and recommend his book “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” if you'd like to read more about his direct content creation approach.

5) Monetize Your Social Media

After putting so much of your time into creating brilliant social media content, you should make sure it pays off! With targetted spending, you can drive more exposure to the audience you're trying to reach. While some marketers may complain they're not getting organic reach, the reality is that organic reach on social media channels is an uphill battle.

There is no harm in spending money to push your content into the newsfeed of your consumers or prospects. In fact, this wil drive your return since you'll be seen by new leads. Consider it an investment in your strategy!

If you'd like to learn more about social media best practices, I'll be sharing advice at a Social Success seminar on 14 September and will cover the tools and techniques that can help businesses succeed. Sign up to secure your spot.