If you’ve got a solid SEO strategy in place and your online directory still isn’t ranking highly in Google search results, then a lack of social media awareness could be to blame.
Many directory publishers are under the impression that organic traffic alone is enough to sustain their businesses. That may be true in some cases, but the vast majority of directory publishers need to step it up with a solid social media strategy if they want to build momentum and generate sustainable revenue from their websites. The challenge in creating an effective social media plan is often knowing where to begin.
Building a social media profile for a traditional local business, like a restaurant or a clothing store, is easy. Plenty of tools are available to help small business owners do just that. But directory publishers have a unique set of challenges as the owners of online businesses, and specific goals that they need to reach before they can consider their social media efforts a success. Getting profiles set up across all the major social media channels is just the first step.
If the thought of scheduling posts on Twitter and running ads on Facebook leaves you feeling overwhelmed, or if you’re not even sure which social media tasks you should be doing in which order, then keep reading for a step-by-step social media checklist designed specifically for directory publishers.
First Steps for Directory Publishers
Directory publishers who are still in the earliest stages of creating a social media strategy should begin by completing the following tasks:
- Creating profiles across all relevant social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn
- Ensuring all branding, logos, and images are consistent across social profiles
- Promoting new social pages with links on all directory pages, as well as in any email newsletters
- Researching the best posting times to maximize post views based on target demographics and the social media channels you’re posting on
- Promoting new social pages with paid advertising campaigns
Daily Social Media Activities for Directory Publishers
Directory publishers should be doing the following tasks every day:
- Replying to comments across all social media channels
- Monitoring mentions of the directory on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
- Reviewing the established posting calendar
- Researching industry-related keywords and hashtags
Weekly Social Media Activities for Directory Publishers
Directory publishers should be doing the following tasks at least once each week:
- Brainstorming new content and updating the posting schedule for the week
- Visiting competitors’ social media pages and tracking which of their posts are receiving the most interaction
- Reviewing any paid campaigns and tracking the results
Monthly Social Media Activities for Directory Publishers
Directory publishers should be doing the following tasks on a monthly basis:
- Collecting monthly statistics across all active social channels
- Analyzing which strategies are working and which are not
- Comparing monthly page statistics against competitors’
- Researching upcoming industry events and related news items that could be used on social channels
Quarterly Social Media Activities for Directory Publishers
Directory publishers should be doing the following tasks at least four times per year:
- Reviewing branding and remedying any inconsistencies across social channels (for example, updating profiles with new logos or company descriptions)
- Evaluating the past quarter’s KPIs
- Setting goals and defining KPIs for the next quarter
- Using a tool like SEMrush’s Social Media Poster to understand the demographics of your Facebook audience
- Running audience analysis to ensure the right demographics are being targeted with any paid campaigns
Our goal in creating this social media checklist for directory publishers is not to make anyone feel overwhelmed. By making these tasks a regular part of your routine, the hope is that you’ll be able to easily stay current with the latest trends and be more likely to reach your target goals, whatever those goals may be.
