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Social Media Marketing Strategy<br /><ul><li>Social Media has become an effective tool for businesses to launch their marketing strategies. In comparison with advertising and public relations, social media is a two-way communication to build a bond with customers by getting their engagement. While companies large and small are rushing to explore the use of social media, there is a need for a proper strategy to gain success and avoid unexpected results. CITATION Jas091 1035 (Falls, 2009)

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The following is a sequence of steps that marketer should consider when developing a social media marketing strategy. </li></ul>Define your goals and objectives<br /><ul><li>Many companies and organisations get involved in social media without any clear goal or purpose for it. Before jumping into this space, businesses have to identify their expected result:

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Enhance more brand awareness CITATION Ant11 1035 (O'Flynn, 2011)

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Monitor brand reputation and image CITATION Shr11 1035 (Gupta, 2011)

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Help recruiting CITATION Kor11 1035 (Johnson, 2011)

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Increase sales CITATION Ant11 1035 (O'Flynn, 2011)

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Keep it SMART CITATION Nic10 1035 (Shin, 2010)

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Do research

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It is essential to find the most popular social media channels of your target audiences. For example there is no point to create a Facebook fan page in Japanese market where Mixi is the biggest social networking site. It is a complete waste of time and effort if marketers choose inappropriate platforms to establish their marketing strategy because it will not help them reach their most potential audience group. CITATION Jac11 1035 (Kaupenberg, 2011)

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For internal research, it would be an advantage if some of your staffs have some previous experiences in this scope. Moreover, adjusting current website or any other social media tools that your company uses is really important. CITATION Jer11 1035 (Reis, 2011)

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Learning from your competitor would be a wise approach to perfect your strategy. It is a right time for benchmarking. CITATION Jac11 1035 (Kaupenberg, 2011)

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Build a bridge to your customer

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Once obtaining your social identities on social networking sites, staying consistent is the backbone of success and also the only way to get audience’s attention. Stay connected and keeps updating! CITATION Jas091 1035 (Falls, 2009)

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To build up and strengthen relationship with customers, marketers need to trigger the conversation with them, keep on track and quick respond to any comments related to their business. Marketers should be patient and get the feedbacks with a constructive attitude. Many social media campaigns fail in maintaining their interaction with customer as it decreases customers’ engagement obviously. Observing and sharing! CITATION Nic10 1035 (Shin, 2010)

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To improve your reach, just hold a strong connection with big influencers in your industry. These influencers can be big brands which are well-known or famous bloggers or simply celebrities. CITATION Dav111 1035 (Spark, 2011)

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Define your measures of success

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It can be defined by increase in sales volume, level of public awareness, recruitment and so forth. CITATION Nic10 1035 (Shin, 2010)

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Changes in your business networks and number of valuable feedbacks are also measures to your marketing strategy success. CITATION Jac11 1035 (Kaupenberg, 2011)</li></ul>Evaluate and control<br /><ul><li>By analysing result and considering valuable feedbacks, your business performance will be improved clearly. CITATION Jac11 1035 (Kaupenberg, 2011)

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Social media world develops at a rapid pace thus your social media must adjust quickly in order to adapt the situation. Moreover, fast response contributes enormously to your social marketing strategy success. CITATION Jer11 1035 (Reis, 2011)</li></ul>Bibliography BIBLIOGRAPHY Falls, J. (2009, 6 16). www.socialmediaexplorer.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Social Media Explorer: http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/the-key-to-developing-a-social-media-strategy/Gupta, S. C. (2011, 6 15). www.netvani.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Netvani: http://netvani.com/blog/?p=207Johnson, K. (2011, 3 29). www.versantsolutions.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Versant: http://www.versantsolutions.com/share/blogs/?id=4294967315&blogid=91Kaupenberg, J. (2011, 6 8). www.vimm.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Vivid Image: http://www.vimm.com/5-step-social-media-strategy/O'Flynn, A. (2011, 8 18). www.logicpath.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Logic Path: http://logicpath.com/blog/general/using-social-media-to-increase-sales-and-brand-awarenessReis, J. (2011, 6). www.learnthat.com/. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Learn That: http://learnthat.com/2011/06/5-step-social-media-strategy-planning-process/Shin, N. (2010, 7 21). www.socialmediaexaminer.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Social Media Examiner: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-steps-for-a-successful-social-media-strategy/Spark, D. (2011, 3 2). www.prdaily.com. Retrieved 10 16, 2011, from Ragan's PR Daily: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Need_a_social_media_strategy_Heres_your_7step_plan_7385.aspx<br />