Using Social Media Strategy to Target Your Market

20 Sep

Using Social Media Strategy to Target Your Market

Knikkolette Facebook, How-To, Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Strategy, Triberr, Twitter, Videos 12 0

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How can you target your market with social media strategy?

Social media strategy is simple once you get the hang of it. This post is focusing on your target market. Do you know who your target market is? Let’s say for the sake of this post, you sell cupcakes in Atlanta, GA. Now that you have that information, do you know who your target market is? Initially you would say anyone who likes to eat cupcakes, right? Not necessarily. If you don’t ship your cupcakes, then you sell your cupcakes to a local market so you will need to remember this in your social media strategy when you are posting your tweets or placing your Facebook ad.

I’ve recorded an example of how to place a Facebook ad for your convenience:

I want to make a slight adjustment to the video where I’m explaining impressions the cost is price per 1000 impressions, not cost per impression. I wanted to make sure I clarified that before moving forward to the next section.

You can get really creative with your Facebook ads in your social media strategy because of the way Facebook allows you to customize their advertising. You can place several ads simultaneously to see which gets the best response. I’ve known companies who place the exact same ad except they used a different image and they received a much better response for one image over the other.

Now let’s talk social media strategy using Twitter to target your market.

We’ve already talked about using hashtags (#) and Twellow to target your market on Twitter, so I bet you’re wondering how ELSE can you target your market on Twitter? Social media strategy has a lot to do with strategic social networking or networking with other individuals in the same field. They also have the same target market as you and if they are doing their job correctly, you can deliver your message to their audience by being networked to them. Don’t look at it in a negative manner, because they should be doing the same thing. If they know what they are doing, they are connecting to other professionals in their field (you) and they are delivering their message to your followers (your audience).

Now, let’s say for instance we bring the Atlanta cupcake company back into the picture. We are targeting individuals who live in the Atlanta metro area, who can purchase cupcakes. (Remember we are only targeting Atlanta metro area because we don’t ship our cupcakes.) This is where we go back to using hashtags (#) and Twellow.com but we also use the search feature for Atlanta or Atlanta, cupcakes or Atlanta, bakery. We get creative. As we use the search and find a search that works – we save our search so we can use it to use for the future.

I know your brain in churning, thinking of other creative ideas how you can use Twitter or Facebook to your advantage in your social media strategy. I’ve only listed a couple here. I’m even guessing you’re thinking of ways you can use Youtube, Google+ or some other social media platform. I would love to hear your ideas!

Atlanta cupcakes facebook social media strategy target market twitter

12 Responses to Using Social Media Strategy to Target Your Market

Janelle Jensen
September 22, 2011 at 9:58 am
Since we’re on the subject of cupcakes (oh dear, I’m getting hungry) I’d also like to add something regarding hashtags. Not only can you insert hashtags into your posts to reach your target audience but don’t forget that you’re counting on the fact that people who are interested in that particular hashtag, ie. #cupcake are clicking on it to find similar interests. You can use that to your benefit to expand your target audience.

For example, if I were a cupcake seller in Atlanta (stomach growling), I would search out other keyword hashtags, such as #icing #Atlanta #hungry #dessert and see what other people are tweeting and using those hashtags in their tweets, expressing their interest in what I have to offer. I can then follow those people. They may follow back, or they may not, but it can expand your audience with members with shared interests.

Okay, I hope that made sense. I’m off in search of food…

- Knikkolette
  September 22, 2011 at 2:32 pm
  Excellent example Janelle! Thanks for the feedback and for sharing your ideas…
  
Paul Morin
September 22, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Hi, Knikkolette. This is a very informative post, from couple of perspectives. First, in working with many small businesses in my career, I’ve come to learn that very few really understand the concept of going after a “target market”. The preference is to think, EVERYONE loves cupcakes, so then EVERYONE must be my market … if I can sell just one cupcake to EVERYONE (or even half of EVERYONE!), I’m going to make a TON of money. As you know, the real world does not work this way. Small companies do not have the resources or the budget to go after EVERYONE. In fact, even medium to large-sized companies would struggle to do so, and even if they could, it wouldn’t likely be a good use of resources. Niche marketing is usually the way to go. Second, you describe very specifically how to go after target markets with the two most popular social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter. Again, as you point out, the key here is to harness the power of the internet and social media to go after very specific niches, including getting very focused geographically. You can go after several, but each niche you go after is going to have its own set of very specific, nuanced needs. Thanks for a great post. I look forward to seeing more about how to really use the power of social media to get VERY targeted in your marketing and sales efforts. Paul

- Knikkolette
  September 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm
  Thanks for the feedback Paul ~ coming from you as an expert in business that means a great deal!
  
Sherrie Koretke
September 22, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Knikkolette,
You got my stomach growling with the cupcake business as an example. Yum.
Anyway, I love the videos walking us through how to do Facebook ads. Following written instructions when using Facebook can be tough.
You do have my mind churning on what to do next!
Sherrie

- Knikkolette
  September 22, 2011 at 11:12 pm
  Thanks so much for the feedback Sherrie ~ I’m glad you liked the video.
  
bonnie squires (@bonnie67)
September 22, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Hi

I enjoyed this very much. I learned allot
from it. It all most like ebay search. I’ve
found over the last 10 years people only
search ebay by looking for i or 2 words
but just like above if you reword what your
looking for you will come up with all new things
in your search listing.

Thanks for sharing and letting me learn new things.
Bonnie

- Knikkolette
  September 22, 2011 at 11:16 pm
  Bonnie, thanks so much for watching the videos & taking the time to comment on this post. I liked your comparison to e-bay – people can be creatures of habit.
  
Sandra McLeod Humphrey
September 22, 2011 at 8:16 pm
I agree about the importance of defining your target market and thanks so much for sharing your social networking skills with us. As a novice when it comes to social networking and social media, I really appreciate your sharing your expertise with us!

- Knikkolette
  September 22, 2011 at 11:18 pm
  Thanks Sandra for taking the time to comment. Everyone starts out as a novice and eventually you will be teaching others.
  
Karla Campos
September 29, 2011 at 9:41 am
Hi Knik this is great, a friend of mine was looking for this information. I was going to make my own video but now I don’t have to, I appreciate this very much!

Keri
September 29, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Knikkolette,

Delicious goodies allllways grab peoples’ attention!

Great post for the small business owner. Great approach with solid information.

Terrific job!!

~Keri