Social media is a wonderful way to get your company message across to a targeted audience, and should be part of your overall marketing strategy.

But do you know exactly what’s involved in a social media campaign and how to get started? In this article, we’ll show you what you need to do to create a social media campaign that really works.

1)    Make a plan

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Find an objective for each campaign you do, and with each one share a mix of engaging and relevant links, content, videos and polls. Work out how many posts you’ll do per day or week, and make sure you respond to comments and engage with your audience.

Make sure your plan focuses on the call to actions you would like potential clients to take.  Not just willy nilly random posts that are on topic but won’t help you build a list or fill a webinar/seminar.

2)    Choose your platforms

There are lots of different social media platforms and they all work differently. You don’t have to use them all, but you shouldn’t limit yourself to only one or two either. Think about where your target market is most likely to be, and try a few to see what works for you. When you have the right mix of platforms, your campaign is likely to be more successful.

Not only think about the platforms that might work best for you but have a think about what groups your target audience are in, where do they read blogs, chat on forums, etc.

3)    Create a calendar

Whether it’s a simple excel spreadsheet or some fancy online software, having an editorial calendar will allow you to plan your posts and stay focused. It’s a place where you can plan when you’re going to post on your different platforms, what you’ll post (updates, links and content), and who is responsible for posting (if you’re working in a team).

4)    Know your voice

When your audience sees your posts, they’re looking at the content you’re posting as well as the tone of voice and language you use. Whether you realize it or not, every time you post, your audience is deciding whether or not they’ll do business with you. If you can find a voice that represents your business and lives up to the expectations of your audience, you’ll be on the right track to building trust.

Consistency plays a big part in your messaging.

Successful long-term social media campaigns don’t happen overnight, they take planning, time and effort. If you plan well and stick to your plan, there’s every reason your campaign will be a huge success.

And once you have successfully launched the first one, what will you work on next while that campaign is online still working for you and your business? Using a social media campaign to help promote your online campaigns is a great way to build mini sales teams that work 24/7.

Find out how Online Marketing can help your business with this free download called A Beginners Guide to Inbound Marketing.