10 Tips for Implementing Corporate Social Media Strategies

Navigating the vast social media landscape can be a daunting task – especially if you are just starting out. While there is no shortage of information on the topic, we’ve created a cheat-sheet that will hopefully be of use to newbies and veterans alike.

1. Let go. You’ve already lost control, accept it.
2. Dip your toes in.  Don’t try and swallow the entire social media watermelon in one sitting. Pick one or two initiatives to start with, learn from them, and adjust/ expand accordingly.
3. You can’t fake it. Social media is all about being transparent and authentic.
4. Know your audience. Know their interests and affinities. Monitor their reactions. Adjust accordingly. Rinse and repeat.
5. Be creative. Social media is not about the status-quo. Have fun with the medium and be inventive.      
6. Give more than you take. Trend very lightly with any blatant marketing – offer people something of value. (e.g. information, access, deals)
7. Make it personal. Nobody wants a relationship with a logo. If you have several tweeters – say so. Let your brand stewards have their voice, face and name.
8. Develop guidelines. Create a road map of do’s and don’ts – for employees engaged in social media on behalf of your brand.
9. Don’t assume that social media is free. While many of the applications are free, don’t be fooled – implementing and monitoring a successful social media plan requires a significant time investment ($$).
10. Allocate proper resources. While many of the upfront tasks can be handled by a good agency partner, internal team members should be dedicated to the program’s success. Remember, these people are acting as the voice of the brand, so they should be well informed from all levels including; upper management, sales, marketing, and PR, and clearly know the limits of what is acceptable to say (i.e. not the intern).