If you’re running a print on demand business like Printdoors.com, you likely have specific goals you want to achieve, whether they’re short-term, long-term, or somewhere in between. Like any other ambitious business owner, you can’t just sit back and wait for success to come knocking – you need to go out there and get it!
With competition becoming more intense every day, social media is an excellent tool to help you reach your goals. It’s easier than ever to connect with a large audience and promote your business through various social media platforms. In fact, around 80% of marketers consider social media to be a vital part of their business strategy and invest in paid ads to reach potential customers.
However, before you start spending money on ads or creating content, you need a solid plan to make sure your efforts don’t go to waste. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you seven steps to develop a goal-oriented social media marketing strategy that will help your print on demand business succeed. So, let’s get started!
Why social media marketing?
Okay, but before we get into something more serious but fun, let’s answer one question — why social media marketing?
Well, for starters, social media marketing expands the reach of your print on demand business in ways that other marketing channels can’t. With 4.62 billion users from different parts of the world, it’s easier than ever to find your target market and turn them into lifetime customers.
What’s more interesting is that these people don’t simply see your brand as some random company — social media enables you to show them the human side of your business. You can do this by sharing stories, related content, and even a behind-the-scenes look at your company.
The question now is, how do you successfully execute a social media marketing strategy that will help you do this and achieve your goals? Let’s find out.
Step #1: Set goals
While one of your main goals is obviously to increase sales, social media marketing can help you in other areas of your business. Of course, it’s tempting to target all of these at once, but that may just leave you feeling overwhelmed and scattered. That’s why it’s important to focus on one or two goals first before moving on to others.
Identify your KPIs
With your goals set, it’s time to identify key performance indicators, or KPIs. These are the metrics you will use to measure whether you are achieving your goals.
For example, if one of your goals is to increase brand awareness, your KPI might be the number of appearances or the coverage your posts get. On the other hand, if you are trying to increase traffic to your website, your KPI might be the number of clicks you get from social media links or the number of visits to your website.
Not sure what KPI to use? Here are some social media KPIs you should track, according to Hootsuite:
- Click-through rate/rate. This measures the number of clicks on your call-to-action phrase divided by its total number of displays. A high click-through rate means that your audience is interested in what you have to offer.
- Amplification rate. This measures the number of times your content has been shared or retweeted divided by your total number of followers. With higher magnification, you can assume that your content resonates well with your audience because they are willing to share it with their own followers.
Step 2: Know your customers
Now that you have identified your goals and how you will ensure they are achieved, it is time to understand your target market.
If you already have a customer list, this is a good place to start. If not, then you can create buyer personas or avatars that are semi-fictional representations of your ideal customer. This will help you get inside their heads and understand their needs, needs, and pain points.
Here are some questions you can ask when creating a buyer role:
Who is your target audience? (Demographic statistics)
In any type of marketing, identifying the target audience is always a must. You can’t just target everyone and expect results. Knowing the demographics of your target audience is especially important for social media marketing, as it will help you determine which platforms to use.
What are their interests? (Psychology)
In addition to specific demographics, you should also consider the psychological profile of your target audience. This includes their interests, hobbies and lifestyle. Try to put yourself in their shoes and understand what kind of content they would be interested in.
For example, if your target audience is college students who value time and money but still want to look good, you might want to consider creating content about affordable and convenient fashion tips. You can create IG stories that show how they’ve designed your store’s custom tote in different ways, or show how they’ve paired your T-shirt with items they already have in their closet to create great school attire.
Step 3: Get ready with the right tools and platforms
In addition to choosing the right platform, you should also have the necessary tools to help you with social media marketing. Today, there are many social media management tools that can make your life easier.
For example, BuzzSumo is a great tool that lets you view the most popular content on any given topic. It can also help you gauge how your content is performing compared to competitors.
Need help arranging and publishing content? Then you can try MeetEdgar or Hootsuite. These tools are designed to help you save time by letting you automate social media posts.
Determine your budget
Well, before subscribing to any of these tools, let’s go back to your social media platforms. How much would you pay for that?
Of course, organic growth is not impossible. But if you want to speed up the process, then you need to be prepared to spend some money.
According to WebFX, these are the lowest possible daily budgets for paid advertising on some of the most popular platforms in 2022:
- Instagram: $1 for displays, $5 for engagement (likes, views, shares, clicks, etc.)
- Facebook: $1 for displays, $5 for engagement (likes, views, shares, clicks, etc.)
- Pinterest: $2 per day for displays, $0.10 per day for participation/clicks
- YouTube: $10 per day for paid ads
Step 4: Create a social media content plan
Your goal-oriented plan is nearing completion. The only thing missing is your social media content plan and the content itself.
The best way to solve this problem is to create a content calendar. This will help you develop a content strategy and ensure that all of your posts are aligned with your goals. For a step-by-step roadmap, read our all-in-one guide to creating a content calendar.
When creating your content calendar and actual posts, consider the following:
The platform you are using
As we mentioned, every social media platform is different. This is why you need to consider the specific platforms you use and take advantage of each platform when creating content.
For example, if you use Instagram, you should take advantage of the visual nature of the platform and post pictures and videos. On the other hand, if you use Twitter, you should focus on creating short and compelling tweets.
Your target audience
What are the trends in your target audience? What kind of content are they most likely to engage in? How long does their attention span last? Create a content calendar with these questions in mind.
Your brand identity
Creating compelling campaigns or content is much easier if you have a strong brand identity to work with. If you haven’t already established your brand, now is a good time to do so.
Review your goals and think about what you want your brand to be known for. Is your goal luxury or high-end image? Or do you want to be known for being fun and approachable?
Your competitors
What kind of content are your competitors Posting there? Take a look at their social media accounts and see what works for them. Then, try to come up with something better (we know you can * wink *).
Step 5: Know what works and what doesn’t
So, so far, you’ve been following all the steps we’ve outlined, and you still haven’t seen any results. What gives it?
Well, that’s probably because you’re not tracking your progress. Without proper tracking and analysis, it can be difficult to determine what works and what doesn’t. Remember the KPIs we talked about in step one? Now is a good time to check them out.
In addition, you can use a number of analytics tools from the social media platforms themselves. For example, Facebook Insights lets you track progress and see how posts are performing.
There is also Google Analytics, which can be used to track traffic from all social media channels.
Finally, don’t forget to ask your customers for feedback! They are the best person to tell you what they want and how you can improve your product or service.
Make changes to improve results
Changing your social media strategy doesn’t mean that all your previous efforts have gone to waste. It’s not you, and it’s often the fast-changing landscape of social media. What works today may not work tomorrow. Sometimes a few tweaks are all it takes to get the desired result.
You might also consider hiring a content creator or graphic designer to help you with your social media content. A little help from an outsider’s perspective can go a long way!
Step 6: No man is an island — Collaborate!
When it comes to help, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything yourself. Partnering with other businesses or influencers in your industry can help you reach a whole new audience.
For example, if you sell environmentally friendly products, partnering with an environmental group would be a great way to spread the word.
This will not only help you reach a larger audience, but also enhance the credibility of your brand. After all, if you’re working with a well-known organization, it must mean you’re doing something right!
Step 7: Keep at it. Don’t give up
Once you see your hard work paying off, pat yourself on the back! But don’t rest on your laurels. The key to social media success is consistency.
The most important thing is to keep creating great content and interacting with the audience on a regular basis. Make more contacts and strengthen the ones you already have. Remember that your followers are more than just numbers – they are real people who are interested in what you have to say and sell.
Conclusion
As a print on demand business like Printdoors.com, you’re always looking for ways to improve your business, whether it’s short-term or long-term goals. With social media becoming more competitive every day, it’s important to have a solid plan to reach your target audience. Social media is an effective tool to expand your reach, find your target market, and show the human side of your business. To achieve your goals, you need to execute a social media marketing strategy successfully. Start by setting goals and identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success. Know your customers and create buyer personas to understand their needs and interests. Then, choose the right social media platforms and use the necessary tools like BuzzSumo, MeetEdgar, or Hootsuite to help you automate social media posts. With a well thought-out plan, you can improve your print on demand business with products designed by Printdoors.com.
