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Best Social media strategies for Startups


The most important thing for any startup to be successful is to create a loud buzz around its products and services that too while staying within limits of their measly marketing budgets. Social media plays a very vital role when it comes to startups gathering customers and investors in order to achieve success.
Social media marketing is no longer an optional marketing platform. Over the last few years it has become a necessity. Brands and businesses are using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to build brand awareness, to generate and distribute content, to acquire customers and to build an after-sales relationship.  Though most businesses understand the importance of having a social media marketing strategy, below are the best tips to plan, execute and maximize your social media ROI:

Before launching your Product or Service
Before the launch of your product or service, plan your social media strategy. You need to consider -
1.    What are the primary goals you’re going to try and achieve using the social media platforms?
Most brands look at achieving either one or more of the below mentioned goals:
·      Build brand awareness
·      Content Distribution
·      Lead generation
·      Customer acquisition
2.    Once you’ve defined your goals, the next step is to choose the platform through which you will be able to reach the maximum number of your target audience.
a.    Facebook – With over 1 Billion users, is usually the preferred choice of most brands for building brand awareness and content distribution and lead generation.
b.    Twitter – With over 302 active users, is a preferred platform for brands that’re looking to engage the customers on a one-to-one basis and get their feedbacks and complaints.
c.    YouTube – If your startup has some spare change and brand awareness is your primary goal. Then YouTube can be your best friend. You can create high quality engaging videos/content for users to share and start conversations about your brand.
d.    LinkedIn – Unlike Facebook, which is for the masses, LinkedIn is for professionals. It is a preferred platform for startups that are in the B2B domain. If you’re looking for investors, advisors or partners, LinkedIn is a platform that you should definitely be on. 
3.    Now that you’ve your social media accounts live, you should share information of your startup with your audience. Beta test your products and services with them and ask them to share their feedback and suggestions on their concerns. Many startups provide free samples or gift vouchers or premium membership to consumers in exchange for their feedback and suggestions. This can immensely help you to improve your deliverables when your products launch. This strategy also helps you spread the word about your upcoming product or service launch.

Before launching your Product or Service
Now that you’ve launched your brand, it’s time to up the ante. You need to now implement and execute the social media strategy you’ve planned.
Content: Use relevant content to build followers amongst your audiences. Remember, more relevant the content is to your brand and audience, the more likely it’s for them to share it with their peers. Create a community of loyal followers; try giving them brand ambassador status. Since, we always tend to trust the reviews of our friends than that of a 3rd person.
Engage: Use content to engage your followers. Ensure you’re listening to their queries, concerns and feedback. Revert to them as soon as possible. Appreciate their feedback. Reward them for their time and patience.
Evaluate: From time to time analyze your strategy. Evaluate, if you’re getting the kind of response and engagement you had planned. Think, of what might have gone wrong or how you can improve it.
Experiment: Don’t just stick to a single social media marketing strategy. Be willing to experiment, but don’t compromise on your brand’s ideology and integrity. Don’t shy away from using content, which you feel might be controversial. You never know, what can make your content go viral. Remember, there’s no thumb rule when it comes to social media marketing strategy. Every campaign needs to be customized as per your needs, goals, budgets and target audience.

What are the other tips do you think, startups can use when developing their social media strategy. Please feel free to leave comments below.
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