SOCIAL MEDIA: BRINGING IT BACK TO BASICS

BY CHLOE NICHOLLS

Traditional media channels

ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS DISRUPTED TRADITIONAL FORMS OF MEDIA

BRAND

HOW CAN BRANDS USE CONTENT STRATEGY TO ENGAGE CONSUMERS AND DRIVE REACH VIA SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS?

#1 Building a community

Using scheduled 'Twitter chats' to directly engage with your followers

Using Pinterest to visually display your products via a mood board

Using video to spread your message

Using Flickr to display your photos & engage with your community

Using influential bloggers as brand evangelists

Using Buzzfeed to sponsor content via native advertising

But what happens when social media goes wrong?

Scheduled Tweets can sometimes contain accidental messaging

Posting images on Facebook that alienate your audience

Original Artwork by Rosea Posey

Or using Facebook as a forum to argue with your customers

I've heard this all before! Give me something new?

Upload your own playlists to Mixcloud

Create your own branded content via Urturn

Use targeted marketing via the GPS mobile app Waze

To recap:● Social Media is a two-way conversation● Using different types of channels with specific targets =

more engagement● Social Media is a great way to engage with your

audience, and get instant feedback about your products ● Although it can be low-cost, Social Media outreach

requires a budget - especially when producing video content and sponsored blog posts

● Don't use Social Media to just sell your product, think of it as an extension of your brand

● Brands should keep an eye out for startups that explore new ways to produce content, increase reach and engagement for their community