New Media
PR Services: Making The Most Of Your Social Media Presence
by Emily Packard on 09/21/2012
You go to the doctor to assess the health of your body and your bank to evaluate the health of your finances, but how do you measure the health of your online brand? On a regular basis, it is helpful to take a look at your social media presence to make sure that everything is running smoothly and that your intended message is reaching targeted audiences.
Social media evaluation is a valuable PR service, and can assist in determining the future direction of your Facebook and Twitter content. When working to audit your social media brand and presence here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Where are you now?
Analyzing your current social media situation is key in planning where you want to be in the future. You know which outlets you are using, but it is also important to evaluate how you are using them. Think about what type of information is being shared, how it is being presented, and what kind of feedback is being gained. This will help you to figure out where communication gaps exist and why, as well as what audiences you are reaching.
Where do you want to go?
Once you have diagnosed the current “health” of your social media outlets, the next step is to decide how you would like them to grow and develop. Quantifying your desired results helps build a roadmap for the future, but be realistic regarding numbers. Sometimes it is better to have a smaller, more engaged audience than a large, inactive one. Perhaps more critical is to develop goals about what type of content you are sharing, and becoming a social media thought leader in your niche or industry.
What is the best fit to build your brand?
Remember, just because a social media outlet is new or popular, does not mean it is the right fit for building your brand. This is similar to how some PR services work better for a company than others. If you are trying to reach an audience who will become consumers of your brand, Facebook and Twitter might be a better fit than LinkedIn. If you are trying to reach other business with news about your service, or trying to build networking connections, then LinkedIn might be the best avenue for you.
What are others like you doing, and doing well?
You want to maintain a sense of individuality to solidify your social media footprint, but it never hurts to see what other people are doing, and doing well, to find out what could work for your efforts. Take a look at similar organizations and where they are having success, whether it be in presenting information in a certain way, making sure posts contain specific content, or using tools that make posting and reaching audiences easier and more effective.
MMI offers a range of PR services to our clients, and our team members are ready to help you create a solid social media footprint. Check out some of what we do on our social media page, and learn how you can start powerful conversations to tell your story with others.
What do you think are some of the most helpful questions when evaluating social media presence? Let us know in the comments section below.
Photo Credit: webtreats
