Social Media: When it Comes to Marketing Strategy, Just Do It!

A lot of years have passed since Nike rolled out it’s Just Do It! campaign.

The slogan still lives on, though, because sometimes its the advice we need to hear. When it comes to your business strategy, social media is one you need to have on the Just Do It! list.

I know it’s not easy. The social media universe is a crowded and noisy place, and every time you think you have an understanding of what’s happening, a new platform comes out or a major channel revamps the way it looks and functions. It can be real easy to say “I don’t get it” and use that as an excuse for not incorporating into your daily routine.

That’s a huge mistake and your marketing strategy will flop if social media does not have a role.

The thing is, social media is not all that complicated. Yes, it’s dynamic and the changes are fast-paced. But the basic premise is still pretty simple: conversation. Whether it’s personal use or for business strategy, social media is really all about having conversations, and you can’t afford to not have conversations with customers and prospects.

There was an excellent post earlier this week on advice for social media newbies that had some good tips summarized here that will help you improve your social media proficiency:

Experience It

Social media is best learned by jumping in. While we would all like someone to show us how, it’s really something that is learned best by the experience. Don’t worry if everything doesn’t work perfectly at first – I still struggle with Google+ – just start small, observe others and learn.

Mind Over Matter

Don’t let your inexperience keep you from participating. Don’t be afraid to take risks and put yourself out there. Channel your inner-Jedi, overcome your fears and post or tweet your thoughts and expertise. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel.

Shed the past

Don’t let “we’ve always done it this way” get in the way. By it’s nature, social media is all about what is going to happen next. Focus forward. The platforms are constantly changing. Things that worked in the past may not in the future, while past failures may show the way to new opportunities.

Seek guidance

One of the great things about social media is assistance you can get from those who already participate. Having trouble figuring out who you should follow on Twitter or Google+? You can find great starter lists on both platforms that will get you on your way. You can always search the blogs for how-to posts for just about any platform or problem you might experience. When all else fails, do a Google search.

Whether you are a newbie, or have simple been reluctant to incorporate social media marketing into your overall business plan, these tips can help get you over the initial hurdles and get you started.

As our friends from Nike would say: Just Do It!