Six Tips for Managing Social Media for a Business, Client or Brand

Have a good calendar

This may seem like common knowledge, but many people just fly by the seat of their pants when it comes to social media. This can be attributed to the fact that personal accounts tend to involve less planning and more spontaneity. Having a schedule in place is imperative to maintaining a consistent flow of content. No need to get too fancy – even free, commonly used programs like Google Sheets can work. Programs like this allow you to color code sections, map out each day of the month and gives you the option to “hover” over text boxes to see more details.

Alternate post content

Variety is the spice of life. Try to switch things up now and then, alternating from the typical boomerangs and classic photos to some info graphics. Sharing articles and blogs are also a great way to add variation and ensure your page has a nice flow to it. If you only post one style of content, your followers are likely to get bored.

Have a defined aesthetic

To create a unified brand image, it can help to determine a common filter, color scheme or theme in terms of content. Make sure your brand logo and colors are in the profile picture area. Doing so establishes consistency and creates a cohesive social media presence.

 @ihavethisthingwithfloors                   @hbgoodie                              @sugaredandbronzed

Engagement is key

While having artfully crafted posts and trendy articles are a crucial part of social media, it is called social media for a reason. It’s a key part of a business’ social media, yet frequently forgotten. To grow your following and gain credibility, try to set aside time each day to like, comment, share, and engage with other people’s posts. This engagement and interaction is the key that many people forget about.

Coordinate with brand managers from other companies

At times, it can be difficult to get people to like or repost your content. If you have friends in the same industry, a product partnership, or anything else that will connect you to others on social media, reach out and see if you can plan something that will highlight both brands. For example, you can send card, small package, or a cupcake (literally anything) to someone at their office and have them post about it and tag you. Then you can reshare that content.

The Hoyt Organization lost a bet with the Castle Group over the Super Bowl outcome. So we had to send them a treat box from Los Angeles. This was a cute way to get cross posts and followers for both profiles. 

Be respectful if you get message and/or backlash

Some brands are more prone to customer service issues than others (like McDonalds or American Apparel) and when people reach out to complain or praise your brand, you need to respond with respect. The rule of thumb is to simply ignore a message is if it’s extremely hateful or if it’s actual spam.

You can follow THO on Twitter and Instagram @thehoytorg.