The dos and don’ts of social media in 2016

Here are a few social media tips you should take on into the New Year.

1. Do create a social media calendar

If you haven’t already, starting to plan out the majority of your social media posts or themes is a good thing to do to stay organised. There are many readily available calendar templates online – try searching for Hootsuite’s version.

2. Don’t avoid new social media platforms

Switch your routine up a bit for 2016. If you’ve been thinking about trying Snapchat or Instagram, now is the perfect time to give them a go. Trying out a new platform gives you the opportunity to engage with your audience in a new way. This can keep them interested in what you are doing. Set goals for the next six months – what do you want to get out of it? Does it fit with your brand? What type of message will it enable you to share with your audience? If it doesn’t work out, at least now you know!

3. Do focus on visuals

There’s no avoiding it – social media in today’s world is primarily visual. You should try to spend some more time learning how to create stunning visuals for your social media posts. Canva and Picmonkey are both great tools to use to create images to catch people’s eyes. Try creating infographics and re-purposing old content.

4. Don’t avoid giving yourself a social media budget

Unfortunately you really do have to pay to win on social media nowadays. According to research, only 9% of your followers on Facebook will actually see thing things you post. This is because Facebook wants you to pay for the reach you used to achieve for free. Boosting posts on your platforms will help you reach a larger portion of your audience and grow your following.

Read and comment on the original Social Media Today article.