Tag: social media

93% of internet users have at least one social media account, which makes social media an excellent opportunity to connect with your audience, no matter what type of business you run.

But when you need to manage social media accounts while also writing content, marketing across other platforms, and running every other aspect of your company, it can be a bit like trying to juggle a dozen balls in the air. 

Thankfully, there’s a wide range of social media management tools for business that can help you run your social media, so you can focus on what’s most important.

In this helpful guide, we’ll help you decide on the best social media management tool for your business. We’ll explore ten of the best options, look at the key features you should keep in mind, and answer your burning questions about social media management software. 

1. Jetpack Social

Jetpack Social is one of the best social media management tools for WordPress website owners, allowing you to easily share your content on various channels. This social media management plugin is trusted by tens of thousands of WordPress site owners, who collectively share over one million posts a day.

Jetpack Social has easy-to-use tools that allow you to schedule posts to publish at the date and time your audience is most engaged on a particular platform. Plus, it enhances your content strategy by making it easy to reshare posts for the perfect stream of evergreen media on your feed.

Social media posts with images create up to 2.3x higher engagement than those without. Jetpack Social’s image generator enables you to always include the perfect graphics with your posts. It will automatically look at the images in the post and select the ones in the best dimensions for each social media platform. If your post includes a video, Jetpack Social will also allow you to share this directly on your social media post.

Simply sharing links to a post on your site likely won’t get much attention. But when you upload a curated image and take the time to add a bit of written context, suddenly that post is much more alluring to followers. 

Jetpack’s tools mimic this curated approach to social media while streamlining processes so social media managers (or small business owners) can work much more efficiently. 

Jetpack Social also works perfectly alongside the social sharing tools in the Jetpack plugin, which automatically add buttons for visitors to share their favorite content on their own profiles with just a few clicks.

Created by the team behind WordPress.com, Jetpack Social is a safe, robust, solution for WordPress sites. It integrates seamlessly with the latest version of WordPress and is supported by true WordPress experts.

Key features of Jetpack Social:

• The ability to post and share your WordPress site’s content to Facebook, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Mastodon
• Tools to customize the content of your posts
• Options to reshare existing content
• A scheduler for auto-posting 24/7
• Unlimited shares (paid plans)
• An image generator (advanced plan)
• Multi-image sharing (advanced plan)
• Video sharing (advanced plan)

Pros of Jetpack Social:

• Jetpack Social makes it easy to share your WordPress website’s content on social media, enabling you to expand the audience for your content beyond your site visitors.
• You can manage your social media sharing from within your WordPress dashboard.
• The plugin’s scheduling feature enables you to post your content at the time that’s best for your audience, without having to be online.
• Jetpack Social allows you to share the best images or videos from your post along with custom text, which creates the illusion of manually-created social media posts. 

Cons of Jetpack Social:

• Jetpack Social is designed to make sharing your website’s content with followers simple, but it won’t share posts with content that’s not already on your site.  

Ease of use

Jetpack Social is user-friendly. It guides you through the process of connecting your social accounts, so you can begin using the plugin and sharing your posts within minutes of installation. You can also take advantage of documentation, along with email and live chat support from Jetpack’s Happiness Engineers.

Pricing

Jetpack Social’s free plan allows you to share up to 30 posts per month. The Basic plan allows unlimited sharing for just $3.99 a month, and the Advanced plan unlocks all features, including image sharing, for only $12.99 a month. 

2. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a popular social media management tool that helps you coordinate your social media profiles from one centralized dashboard. 

It offers a wide range of features, including post scheduling, which helps ensure your content lands in your audience’s social media feeds at the most effective times. Hootsuite also provides tools to curate content from across the web, which you can then share on your social media profiles. 

From your Hootsuite dashboard, you can edit and create images for your posts that follow the best practices and required sizes for each platform, and then preview how each one will appear. You can also use Hootsuite for social media monitoring through a centralized feed, and it enhances social media ‘listening’ by alerting you to mentions of your brand or chosen keywords.

Key features of Hootsuite:

• A tool to post and schedule content across multiple social media platforms
• Previews of how your posts will look on each social media platform
• Support for a range of platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn
• The ability to curate content from across the web to use in your posts
• Built-in image editing
• Video upload and sharing tools
• Social media tracking and analysis

Pros of Hootsuite:

• Hootsuite provides detailed analytics on your social media activity, so you can see how your content is performing across different platforms, helping you make data-driven decisions and refine your social media strategy.
• Hootsuite allows you to monitor and post to all of your social media accounts from one platform.

Cons of Hootsuite:

• While Hootsuite has a plugin that allows you to post to WordPress from your Hootsuite dashboard, you can’t auto-share your WordPress posts to your social media profiles, meaning you have to create a manual post in Hootsuite for each new piece of content you add to your site or use a limited third-party plugin.
• You can’t manage your social media posts from within your WordPress website.

Ease of use:

Hootsuite has a large number of features that can be daunting at first. However, a comprehensive help center is provided, as well as email and live chat support so you, or your social media manager, can get up to speed quickly. 

Pricing:

The Hootsuite Professional plan allows you to manage up to ten social media accounts and costs $99 a month.

3. Buffer

Buffer is a well-known social media management software tool that offers a range of features to help individuals and businesses manage their social media accounts.

Buffer was initially created to allow users to write and schedule posts across various social media platforms, and this functionality remains at the platform’s core. Buffer’s paid accounts now also allow users to interact with their audiences from directly within the platform and analyze their posts and their followers’ engagement with them on social media. 

Buffer has also recently launched a set of AI features that help you grow your social media audience across a range of platforms by repurposing your existing content. 

Key features of Buffer:

• Social media post scheduling
• The ability to share the same posts across multiple platforms
• Social media analytics (paid accounts)
• Hashtag management (paid accounts)
• Tool to view social media comments, engagements, and mentions (paid accounts)
• AI features for post creation and repurposing 

Pros of Buffer:

• Buffer has a streamlined interface that makes creating and scheduling posts simple. 
• Buffer’s AI features allow you to automatically repurpose high-performing posts to create new content.

Cons of Buffer:

• You aren’t able to automatically share your website’s posts from within Buffer, meaning you have to either use a third-party workaround or create separate posts to share your content. 

Ease of use

Buffer has a simple interface that’s easy to use. A detailed knowledge base is available, as well as email support for all users.

Pricing

Buffer has a limited free plan that allows you to plan and publish posts to 3 social media platforms. Its essential plan unlocks more features, including engagement tools and analytics, for $6 per month per social media account. 

4. Tailwind 

Tailwind is a unique social media management platform specializing in sharing visual content on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. As well as support for manual scheduling, Tailwind can help take the guesswork out of posting by automatically scheduling your posts when your audience is most likely to be engaged.

The platform also helps you create on-brand social media posts using its built-in editor — you can add text, images, and videos, and Tailwind will then automatically resize your content to fit the dimensions of each social media platform. 

Tailwind also provides detailed analytics, allowing you to track impressions, clicks, saves, and other metrics to see how your visual content performs. 

Key features of Tailwind:

• Post planning and idea generation
• Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook post scheduling 
• Auto-scheduling to engage your audience at peak times
• Image and post-creation tools
• Hashtag suggestions
• Post analytics
• AI tools to write copy that accompanies your images
• Email marketing features 

Pros of Tailwind:

• Tailwind includes advanced post-creation tools that allow you to build optimized image-based posts for each platform by uploading images, videos, and text.
• Tailwind features advanced analytics, which allows you to track your Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram posts and discover which types of posts gain the highest level of engagement. 

Cons of Tailwind:

• As Tailwind focuses only on image-based posts on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook, it may not be suitable for those looking to share text-based posts and content from their website on their social media channels. 
• Tailwind does not support automatic posting from WordPress websites, meaning you need to create a social media post in Tailwind for everything you want to share.    

Ease of use

Tailwind’s social media management platform is user-centric and intuitive, making creating and scheduling image-based posts simple. There’s also a comprehensive help center, and email support is offered to all users.

Pricing

Tailwind’s Pro plan, which allows you to connect one Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook account, costs $12.99 per month. The Advanced Plan includes more resources and additional accounts for $19.99 a month.

5. Revive Old Posts

Revive Old Posts is designed to help you automatically share your website content with social media followers.

Revive Old Posts helps you share and bring visitors to your old content by automatically resharing posts at your chosen interval. The premium versions of the plugin can also help you automate the scheduling and sharing of posts from the WordPress dashboard. 

Key features of Revive Old Posts:

• Support for a range of social media accounts, like Facebook, LinkedIn, and more
• Automatic sharing of posts, pages, and custom post types at set intervals
• The ability to add categories or tags as hashtags
• Custom post scheduling (premium)
• A URL shortener with click tracking (premium)
• Custom post variations (premium)

Pros of Revive Old Posts:

• Revive Old Posts allows you to drive traffic to your older blog content by automatically resharing links, which can help keep a consistent social media presence.

Cons of Revive Old Posts:

• Scheduling of social media posts is not available with the free or basic premium subscription, meaning you’re restricted to sharing posts when they’re published and then at a set interval.
• Revive Old Posts does not allow you to customize your social media posts completely. While the premium plans allow you to create custom messages for your posts, these are always used in rotation with your default post structure.
• Revive Old Posts does not automatically select the best image from your posts to share.

Ease of use

Revive Old Posts is simple to use. Once you have connected your social media accounts, the plugin will automatically start sharing your old posts. Some of the advanced features of the plugin require additional configuration, but a knowledge base is available. The plugin authors also offer email support to premium users.

Pricing

Revive Old Posts is a freemium plugin. The basic free version is available from the WordPress plugin directory. Premium plans start at $75 a year, and plans that incorporate custom scheduling start at $149 a year.

6. Later

Later began life as an Instagram-only social media management tool for small businesses, but has evolved over time and now supports a wider range of social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok. Later allows you to create, schedule, and publish social media posts through its mobile app and web platform using an intuitive visual content calendar to drag and drop images and posts to schedule them.

Later also features a range of built-in content creation tools, which help you create compelling posts for each platform, as well as tools that allow you to source, repurpose and share relevant user-generated content for your brand.

Key features of Later:

• The ability to plan, schedule, and publish posts across a range of platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest
• A visual social media content calendar
• Content creation tools
• User generated content (UGC) curation tools
• Social media analytics
• A ‘link in bio’ tool, which allows you to provide a collection of links or a shoppable Instagram feed in your social media account bios

 Pros of Later:

• Later’s visual content calendar offers a clear view of your scheduled content and allows you to drag and drop posts to reschedule or re-use them.
• Later’s content creation tools allow you to take an image and turn it into an effective Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest post in a couple of clicks. 

Cons of Later:

• While Later now offers support for a wider range of platforms, its tools are still geared towards businesses who primarily want to share image-focused content with their followers.
• Later limits the number of posts that you can publish per month to each platform.
• Later doesn’t support auto-publishing of your WordPress website’s posts and pages, meaning you’ll need to manually create a post and upload your images in Later to share your website’s content.

Ease of use

Later offers an easy-to-navigate interface centered around a visual calendar, which makes fairly intuitive. Email support is offered to all users.

Pricing

Later’s Starter plan costs $18 a month and allows you to connect a single account per platform and allows for 30 posts a month for each one. Their advanced plan costs $40 a month for up to three accounts per platform and 150 posts a month.

7. Social Engine

Social Engine is a WordPress social media management tool that allows you to create, schedule, and manage your social media posts from within your WordPress website. 

Social Engine allows you to automatically schedule and publish new posts and pages that you’ve created on your site, as well as re-post older content to help fill the gaps in your social media schedule. 

The plugin also has a fully-featured social media calendar which allows you to create and schedule all of your social media posts — even those with content other than existing posts or pages on your site — in a single location.

Key features of Social Engine:

• Social media post creation and scheduling
• Support for a range of social media networks, including Facebook and Instagram
• The ability to automatically post your website content
• Tools to customize your social media post content
• The ability to automatically reshare old posts and pages (premium)
• LinkedIn and Pinterest support (premium)
• Social media statistics (premium)

Pros of Social Engine:

• Beyond support for promoting what’s already on your WordPress site, Social Engine also allows you to create, schedule, and publish separate content. So it can function as a complete social media management tool.
• Social Engine enables the automatic resharing of old posts and pages to help you drive traffic to your site.

Cons of Social Engine:

• Social Engine requires you to create your own free developer accounts with each social media network, which it then uses to post on your behalf.
• While Social Engine offers support for images, it won’t automatically select the best image from your WordPress posts or pages when sharing them.

Ease of use

Once configured, Social Engine is easy to use. However, some users may find the process of creating social network developer accounts and entering API keys into the plugin confusing. Email support is offered for paid plans, and the plugin developer is active on the WordPress support forum.

Pricing

There’s a free version of Social Engine available from the WordPress plugin directory. The premium plan costs $29 a year for a single site and offers support for additional social networks, as well as analytics and automatic post re-sharing.

8. Blog2Social

Blog2Social is a popular WordPress social media management software tool that allows you to turn your website’s posts and pages into social media posts. Blog2Social lets you select individual posts or enable auto-posting, which will automatically share your posts once they’ve been published.

Blog2Social also includes a scheduling tool that allows you to schedule posts in advance, and its ‘Best Time Manager’ will automatically analyze your social media accounts and select the optimum time for each one. 

Social media managers can also easily cross-post content between different social media networks by creating customized templates that follow the best practices for each network.  

Key features of Blog2Social:

• The ability to share your WordPress posts and pages on social media
• Automatic sharing of posts and pages when they’re published (premium)
• Support for a range of networks, including Facebook and LinkedIn
• The ability to automatically reshare posts (premium)
• The option to create posts from any text, image, or link 
• Auto-resharing of old posts (premium)
• Post scheduling (premium)
• Customizable post formats for each social media account (premium)

Pros of Blog2Social:

• Blog2Social allows you to schedule and share any text, link, or image, which means it can be used to manage all your posts from within your WordPress site.

Cons of Blog2Social:

• While Blog2Social supports the inclusion of images in your social media posts, it won’t automatically select the best image for each network. 
• Sharing videos with Blog2Social requires an additional paid add-on, even for premium users.

Ease of use

Blog2Social guides you through the process of connecting your social media profiles, which makes getting started with the plugin easy. Some features, including setting customized post templates for different networks and automatically sharing old posts, require additional configuration that some users may find confusing. A knowledge base is provided for all users, along with email support for all premium plans.

Pricing

Blog2Social has a limited free version available from the WordPress plugin directory. Premium plans start at $11 a month for the ‘smart’ plan, which includes post-scheduling. The ‘Pro’ plan costs $16 a month and adds additional features, including sharing images and support for additional social media networks.

9. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a popular social media management platform that combines a range of post creation tools with powerful analytics.

Sprout Social allows you to create a unified inbox that combines posts, comments, and interactions from all of your social media accounts. You can also schedule posts and re-use them across different accounts and Sprout Social will suggest the best time to post them on each one.

Sprout Social’s analytics tools allow you to track engagement, conduct social media monitoring for brand mentions, analyze social media performance, and generate detailed reports about your social media strategy and engagement.

Key features of Sprout Social:

• Support for Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and other popular networks
• A unified social media inbox
• Social media post scheduling
• WooCommerce integration
• Post creation and optimization tools
• AI-powered engagement tools
• Advanced social media analytics

Pros of Sprout Social:

• Sprout Social offers a set of AI-powered engagement tools that help you automate tasks such as replying to followers and sharing user-generated content.
• Sprout Social’s WooCommerce integration allows you to add product links, images, and information to your social media posts.
• The analytics and reporting features within Sprout Social allow you to monitor the impact of your social media strategy. 

Cons of Sprout Social:

• Sprout Social is considerably more expensive than the other tools in this guide, making it only suitable for companies with large social media marketing budgets.
• While Sprout Social allows you to share WooCommerce product information, it cannot automatically share your WordPress website’s posts and pages.

Ease of use

Sprout Social offers a range of advanced features that can make it overwhelming to simply share your website’s content and posts with your followers. To help users adjust to the platform, Sprout Social offers a comprehensive resource center, knowledge base guides, and email support to all users.

Pricing

Sprout Social’s standard plan, which allows you to connect to five social media accounts, starts at $249 a month. The professional plan starts at $349 a month and adds advanced analytics and an unlimited number of social accounts.

10. CoSchedule

CoSchedule is a popular social media management platform that’s based around a marketing calendar that allows you to see all of your social media and website posts in one place. 

Using the calendar, you can schedule content across multiple social media channels, as well as see when you have new posts scheduled to go live on your WordPress website.

CoSchedule allows you to create social media content from within the WordPress editor, so you can schedule posts to share your website content on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other popular social media channels. CoSchedule also offers a ‘ReQueue’ feature which automatically fills any gaps in your social media schedule by republishing previous posts.

Key features of CoSchedule:

• A calendar overview of scheduled social media posts and website content
• Unlimited posting to Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and other major social media platforms
• Team collaboration tools (paid accounts only)
• An AI writing assistant
• Basic social analytics (paid accounts only)

Pros of CoSchedule:

• CoSchedule integrates with a range of content management systems, including WordPress, which allows you to see your scheduled website posts and create social media posts to share them with your followers.
• CoSchedule will analyze your social media accounts to help you determine the best times to post your content.

Cons of CoSchedule:

• CoSchedule’s social media analytics features are limited compared to other similarly-priced options.
• While CoSchedule’s ReQueue feature can help fill gaps in your social media schedule, it does this by re-posting previous posts without changing them, which could result in your social media accounts becoming stale and repetitive.

Ease of use

CoSchedule’s calendar-based approach makes it simple to schedule content, but some of the advanced features require a significant amount of configuration. CoSchedule offers a knowledge base and email support to all users.

Pricing

CoSchedule offers a limited free plan, which allows for the scheduling of five posts at a time. Unlimited posts and additional features are available in the ‘Pro’ plan, which starts at $29 per user per month.

A comparison of the best social media management tools

	Jetpack Social	Hootsuite	Buffer	Tailwind	Revive Old Posts	Later	Social Engine	Blog 2 Social	Sprout Social	CoSchedule
Built for WordPress?	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Automatically share your website’s posts and pages?	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Schedule social media posts?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	On some pro plans	Yes	Yes
Re-share old posts with one click?	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Customize social media post content?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
Share your post’s images on social media?	Yes – automatically when sharing	Manually	Manually	Manually	Yes	Manually	Manually	Yes	Manually	Yes
Cost	Limited free version. Premium plans start at $3.99 a month.	From $99 a month.	Limited free version. Premium plans start at $6 a month per social media account	From $12.99 a month	Limited free version. Premium version starts from $75 a year.	Premium plans start at $18 per month.	Limited free version. Premium plan is $29 a year.	Limited free version. Premium plans start from $11 a month	From $249 a month.	Limited free version. Premium plans start from $29 a month

Frequently asked questions about social media management tools

What features should I look for in a social media tool for my business? 

When looking for a social media sharing tool for your WordPress website, it’s important to make sure that it’s affordable and easy to use. You should also consider if it was built specifically for WordPress and check out the options for support. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, compare it against a list of your most critical features and make sure it checks all the boxes.

Affordability 

Social media management tools have a wide range of price points, with some costing as much as $249 a month per user. Jetpack Social, on the other hand, offers a range of affordable plans starting at just $3.99 a month.

Ease of use

It’s important that your social media management tool is easy to use. Some services offer many different features that are only used by a small section of users but which can make the platforms more challenging to navigate and use. 

However, other social media management services, such as Jetpack Social, offer all the features most businesses need to share their website content on social media with a user-friendly interface that takes the hassle out of the process.

Built for WordPress

If your website is built on WordPress, then you’ll want to ensure that your social media management tool is built specifically with the needs of WordPress site owners in mind. For example, Jetpack Social was created specifically for WordPress by Automattic, the team behind WordPress.com.

Great support

When choosing which social media management tool to use, it’s important to consider the level of support offered. For example, Jetpack Social users can connect to Jetpack’s team of expert Happiness Engineers by email or live chat for help with the plugin.

Delivers the features you need

With so many different features offered by social media management services, you must ensure the tool you choose delivers all the features you need to manage your social media without complicating your life with things you’ll never use. 

For example, most WordPress website owners will find that Jetpack Social offers the perfect set of features to help them boost the reach of their posts on social media. 

How do I choose the right social media management tool for my business?

After reading through the popular options in this article, it’s probably clear that companies using WordPress for their website will want to choose Jetpack Social. It offers everything a business needs to share their website’s content on social media.

If your business doesn’t use WordPress, the best social media management tool will depend on the features your business is looking for and what platform or content-management system your website is built on. 

How do I integrate a social media management tool with my website or blog?

Some social media management tools, such as Jetpack Social, are made specifically for WordPress and will integrate smoothly with your WordPress site. When you install Jetpack Social, you’re guided through connecting your social media profiles, and then the plugin will get to work automatically. 

Can social media management tools help me manage multiple social media accounts?

Yes, social media management services can help you manage multiple accounts. For example, the leading service in our review, Jetpack Social, will automatically share your website’s posts in the best formats for Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumbler, and Mastodon.

Which social media platforms do social media management tools generally support?

Each social media management tool supports its own set of social media software, but most integrate with Facebook. Some tools, such as Jetpack Social, also support other platforms, including LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Mastodon, whereas other tools focus primarily on visual platforms, such as Pinterest and Instagram. 

Can a social media management tool help me automate my social media posting process?

Yes, some social media management tools allow you to automate your social media posting process. For example, Jetpack Social can post new site content when it’s published or automatically post pre-scheduled posts at the time of your choosing. 

Can I customize my messaging when using an automated social media management tool?

Some social media sharing tools only allow you to share links to your content. However, other tools such as Jetpack Social allow you to customize content included within posts, so you can speak more directly to followers and boost engagement.  

Jetpack Social: The leading social media management tool for WordPress

With its perfect combination of affordability, ease of use, and seamless WordPress integration, Jetpack Social is the leading social media management tool for WordPress. It’s poised to become a powerful partner for your business.

Jetpack Social provides all the important features your WordPress website needs to reach the world. Sign up for your Jetpack Social account today!

On the internet, it’s increasingly difficult to make a lasting impression. But for business owners, it’s absolutely critical to turn passersby into regular followers and, eventually, loyal customers.

You can’t just create a bunch of stale social media profiles and expect success. You have to cook up an entire experience to be remembered. One of the key elements to create this experience is a social media kit. 

So let’s roll up our sleeves and delve into the world of social media kits together.

What is a social media kit?

A social media kit is your brand’s superhero costume. It’s what makes you recognizable in the sea of digital noise. More specifically, it’s a collection of brand assets, guidelines, and tools that define how your brand should appear and communicate on social media.

It’s the blueprint for your online identity. It contributes to consistency, clarity, and cohesion across all social media platforms — and in the digital world — that’s no small feat. 

What does a social media kit include?

Think of your social media kit as a well-stocked toolbox. It holds everything necessary to build and maintain your online brand image. It includes items like your brand story, visual identity (logos, colors, fonts), social media bio templates, content guidelines, and so much more.

But it’s not just a static collection of brand elements. It also includes guidelines for engagement, content planning tools, and key performance indicators. It’s a dynamic system that evolves with your brand and keeps your online presence sharp and engaging.

Google Drive is a great solution for compiling assets and sharing them with the right people. You can determine permissions ideal for your organization — such as granting “read only” access to contractors, but allowing edit permissions for your main team.

A social media kit can include, but isn’t limited to: 

• Stats about your company, stakeholders, and leadership team
• Quotes from leadership or endorsements 
• Approved logo and graphic files in every possible format
• Approved photos and videos (raw and edited) that can be shared at will by the social team
• Pre-made graphic templates for each social platform 
• Instructions for engagement with comments 
• Brand voice and editorial guidelines  
• Examples of successful posts and ideal language
• Your social media and marketing editorial calendar
• KPIs (key performance indicators) by which success can be measured

What are the benefits of having a social media kit?

1. Brand uniformity and consistency

Your social media kit is the thread that ties your online presence together. With it, your brand can project a united front, a consistent image across various platforms. 

Imagine your brand as a choir. Without direction, each singer might still sound good, but they’re all singing different tunes. With your social media kit as the conductor, each platform is singing in harmony, creating a melodious brand symphony.

2. Efficiency in content creation

With a social media kit on hand, your content creation process becomes streamlined and efficient. You’re no longer starting from scratch each time, but building upon a well-structured foundation. This also saves you valuable time when training or working with new team members.

3. An enhanced business image

A well-crafted social media kit helps you build a strong, professional business image. It shows that your brand is organized, forward-thinking, and attentive to detail. It sends the signal that you’re serious about your digital presence, and that you value the experience of your online community.

4. Clear communication of brand values

Your social media kit helps articulate your brand values, mission, and unique selling proposition. It tells your audience not just who you are, but also why you exist and why they should care. It gives your brand a voice and an identity that goes beyond logos and color schemes.

5. Improved crisis management

No brand is immune from a social media crisis. But with a social media kit, you’re better prepared to handle it. You have guidelines on how to respond, how to communicate with your audience, and how to maintain your brand integrity, even in the face of controversy.

6. Enhanced content strategy

Your social media kit is the compass that guides your content strategy. It helps you plan and develop content that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your audience. It’s the roadmap that directs you towards content that not only drives engagement but also builds brand trust and loyalty.

Your social media efforts should aid the ROI of your content marketing program by promoting new posts and reviving old, still-relevant content. The social media team should also be in tune with the broader marketing and editorial schedule so that posts can go out in a way that supports and adds value to the overall marketing team.

7. Better team collaboration

A social media kit isn’t just for your audience; it’s also a guide for your team. It ensures everyone is on the same page, working towards the same goals. It fosters effective communication and collaboration within your team, leading to a stronger, more unified brand presence.

8. Effective measurement of success

Your social media kit also helps you define key performance indicators (KPIs), setting benchmarks for success. Understanding this information helps you make strategy decisions moving forward, and ultimately helps you find more success.

How to create a powerful social media kit in 15 steps

1. Define your target audience

Creating a social media kit starts with understanding your audience. Who are they? What are their interests, needs, and challenges? Where do they spend time online?

Once you find your target audience, you can direct all of your social media content to meet their specific needs. You can use language and imagery that appeals to them. And you can focus your efforts on the platforms they actively use.

Here’s a guide on how to find your audience. 

2. Create memorable personas of your ideal customers

Beyond demographics, it’s important to delve into the psychographics of your target audience. Create customer personas, detailed profiles of your ideal customers that help you visualize and empathize with them.

This also helps keep your entire team informed about who they’re communicating with and directing their posts to. And use images in your personas, even if they’re just stock images — faces go a long way!

3. List your company’s values, mission, and USP

Your social media kit needs to reflect who you are as a brand. Your values, mission, and unique selling proposition (USP) should be clearly articulated. It’s the heart and soul of your brand, the core of your brand narrative. And, ultimately, it should be considered with each social media post.

4. Ensure your brand positioning and audience are in sync

The magic happens when your brand positioning aligns with your audience’s needs and wants. Your social media kit should reflect this alignment, creating a bridge between your brand and your audience.

5. Build a captivating brand narrative for your bios

Your bio is more than just a few lines about your brand. It’s a micro brand story that should captivate and connect with readers. It should be consistent across platforms, yet tailored to each one’s character limits and tone.

6. Develop a recognizable visual identity

Visual identity goes beyond logos. It involves colors, typography, graphic styles, profile pictures, cover images, post templates, and more. Visuals are a language that speaks volumes about your brand, even before a single word is read.

In your social media kit, define these elements. Include specific HEX codes for your brand colors. Add examples of stock images and graphics that fit with your story. If you have existing social media posts, you can even include some of them as a guide for team members to go by.

7. Establish a unique brand tone and voice

Your brand tone and voice set the mood for your social media presence. They should reflect your brand personality, resonating with your audience and differentiating you from competitors.

Include examples of phrases and words you do and do not use, to avoid any confusion.

8. Build your social media copy templates

Having ready-made copy templates saves you time and ensures consistency. They’re like the quick-start guides for your social media posts, giving you a base to build upon.

For example, if you run an ecommerce store, you might have a template for new product announcements, one for customer testimonials, and one for flatlays of existing items. When you’re ready to post something from one of these categories, you can just pull the template, switch out the text and imagery, and you’re good to go! 

9. Decide on social media management tools

Navigating the social media landscape without the right tools can be daunting. Social media management tools help you schedule posts, engage with your audience, track analytics, and more.

This is where Jetpack Social comes into play. Designed specifically for WordPress, Jetpack Social provides you with a suite of tools that help you manage your social media presence efficiently and effectively.

Automatically share new content, send posts to multiple platforms at the same time, schedule posts in advance and more. 

10. Assemble a list of relevant and important hashtags

Hashtags are signposts that guide people to your content. A list of relevant hashtags is a must-have in your social media kit, helping you maximize your content’s reach. 

However, you won’t use every hashtag every single time because each one’s relevancy will vary by post. Likely, though, there will be at least a few that work for almost every post. 

You can research the best hashtags in a number of ways. Look at what competitors are using. Which hashtags are trending? What do your ideal influencer partners use? 

You can start typing hashtags into platforms like Instagram and get some instant data on the number of times it’s been used. You want a variety of highly-used and moderately-used hashtags. The popularity is an indication of how often people use that term to find posts. 

You want enough popularity that it stands the possibility of driving traffic, but not so much that your post is just a tiny blip on your audience’s radar. 

11. Establish guidelines for user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool for brand engagement and trust-building. Your social media kit should include guidelines on how to encourage, manage, and use UGC effectively.

This might include photos of people using your products, testimonials from clients, or links to followers’ blog posts that were inspired by you.

12. Decide on key performance indicators (KPIs)

To know if your social media efforts are paying off, you need a yardstick. That’s where KPIs come in. They could range from engagement metrics — including likes and comments — to more complex ones, like conversion rates and customer lifetime value. Decide on the KPIs that matter to your brand and include them in your kit.

13. Create a social media policy

This is a blueprint for your team, partners, and contractors. It’s a clear policy on what to post, how to engage, and how to handle sensitive situations. This isn’t just a guideline; it’s your brand’s rule book for social media conduct.

14. Explain how to handle negative comments and reviews

Not every interaction on social media will be roses and rainbows. You need a plan on how to handle negative comments and reviews. How do you respond? When do you intervene? When do you step back? This is crisis management in action, and it needs a dedicated section in your social media kit.

15. Append your content calendar to your media kit

A content calendar is your social media strategy at a glance. It shows what, when, and where you’ll post, helping you maintain a consistent presence. Your content calendar should be a living document, continually evolving with your brand.

Make your mark

A social media kit isn’t just a document. It’s a statement that says you’re here to make a mark, to engage, to resonate, and to build a brand that’s loved and remembered. It’s a toolkit for training, consistency, and success. 

So, get out there and start crafting your social media kit. And remember, Jetpack Social is here to make your journey smoother, easier, and more successful.

Frequently asked questions about social media kits

1. Why is a social media kit important for my business?

To win customers online, you must first gain attention. A social media kit helps you stand out. It ensures consistency, boosts efficiency, enhances your brand image, and allows for effective crisis management, to name a few benefits. 

2. How often should I update my social media kit?

Your social media kit isn’t a set-and-forget it tool. As your brand evolves, so should your social media kit. As a rule of thumb, revisit your kit every six months, or whenever there’s a significant change in your brand or market. 

3. What is a social media content calendar, and how do I create one?

A content calendar is your posting plan. It shows what content you’ll share, when, and on what platform. Creating one involves understanding your audience’s content preferences and behavior, defining content categories, choosing a posting frequency, and scheduling posts ahead of time. For a more in-depth understanding, see our detailed guide on how to create a winning social media content calendar.

4. What types of content should I post on my social media accounts?

Regardless of the type of social media content you create, the golden rule of content creation is this: offer value. 

This could be in the form of information, entertainment, inspiration, or a combination of these. Your content should align with your brand identity, resonate with your audience, and spur engagement. If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a collection of social media post ideas every business can use as a baseline.

5. Can I use tools to streamline content scheduling and posting?

Absolutely! Social media management tools like Jetpack Social can do the heavy lifting for you. They allow you to schedule posts, engage with your audience, and more. It’s your faithful companion in the bustling social media landscape.

6. What is Jetpack Social, and how can it help my business?

Jetpack Social is a WordPress plugin that offers a suite of social media management tools. It’s designed to streamline your social media efforts, saving you time and boosting your efficiency. Jetpack Social is your one-stop solution for effective social media management.

Jetpack Social: Elevate your brand with automated social media posting

Jetpack Social takes the guesswork out of social media management. With its scheduling feature, you can plan your posts ahead of time and publish them when your audience is most active. You can share your content across multiple platforms, broadening your reach without additional effort.

More importantly, Jetpack Social integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it an excellent choice for businesses running their websites on this platform. With Jetpack Social, you don’t need to jump between your website and multiple social media platforms; you can manage everything right from your WordPress dashboard.

Imagine you’ve just published a blog post. You’re thrilled about it and can’t wait to share it with your audience. Without a tool like Jetpack Social, you’d have to manually log in to each of your social media platforms, create a post, and hit publish — and do it all over again for every new piece of content.

But with Jetpack Social, you can automate this process. It lets you share your new posts to your social media accounts simultaneously, right from your WordPress site. This means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time creating amazing content and engaging with your audience.

And that’s not all. Jetpack Social also comes with an auto-post feature that lets you automatically share your posts on social media whenever you publish new content. There’s no need to set reminders or worry about missing out on peak engagement times. Jetpack Social handles it all for you.

In a nutshell, Jetpack Social is an all-in-one solution for your social media needs, designed to make your life easier and your social media efforts more effective. Learn more about Jetpack Social here: https://jetpack.com/social/

In an increasingly disjointed world, photographs are the currency of human connection. They invite us to see the world from a unique perspective. They share moments, create emotions, and let us tell our stories without a single uttered word. For photographers, each image is a work of art, an expression of creativity, a narrative waiting to be shared. 

But what is art without an audience? 

Social media platforms have opened a world of opportunities for photographers, democratizing the art and business of photography. They offer a stage to present to a global audience, garner instant feedback, and build a community.

At the same time, the vast landscape of social media can be overwhelming. From Instagram to Flickr, each platform has its own best practices and unspoken rules. Choosing the right platform and curating the right content can be daunting. 

But this is where we step in to provide you with a detailed roadmap to navigate the journey — a roadmap tailored for photographers.

The eight best social media sites for photographers

Before diving into the platforms, let’s consider the key factors that should guide your choice of social media platforms. It’s not about being in every place; it’s about being in the right place. 

You want to choose platforms where your target audience is most active, that align with your style of photography, and that cater to your business goals. Also consider the ease of use, the tools and features available, and how well you can integrate the platform into your existing workflows.

1. Instagram

Instagram and photography go together like the lens and the shutter. Born as a photo-sharing app, Instagram has become a go-to platform for photographers.

Advantages for photographers

Instagram’s visually-driven nature is ideal for photographers. It offers various features such as filters, stories, reels, and IGTV that are perfect for showcasing and experimenting with your work. Its user-friendly interface and vast user base provide an opportunity to reach a global audience.

Best practices and strategies

Use hashtags intentionally to increase your content’s discoverability. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages. Make the most of Instagram’s multiple post formats — photos, carousels, stories, reels, and IGTV. 

Content ideas

Post a mix of your best shots, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and your creative process. Use stories for interactive content such as polls and Q&As. Share a photo series on IGTV or reels to showcase your editing process.

2. Tumblr

Tumblr’s blogging format is a unique choice, and an effective one for photographers.

Advantages for photographers

Tumblr’s emphasis on community and sharing makes it a great platform to build a dedicated fan base. Its blog-like nature allows for more in-depth captions, offering you a chance to delve deeper into your creative process.

Best practices and strategies

Regularly interact with the community by reblogging other people’s posts, responding to messages, and participating in discussions. Customize your Tumblr page to reflect your photography style.

Content ideas

Share photo essays, series, or narratives. Use the platform to provide insight into your artistic process or to discuss photography techniques.

3. Behance

Behance is like a virtual exhibition for photographers, where you can showcase your work in a professional format.

Advantages for photographers

Behance’s focus on creative portfolios makes it a perfect platform for showcasing your best work. The network of professionals on Behance can provide valuable connections and feedback.

Best practices and strategies

Keep your portfolio updated with your latest and best work. Engage with the Behance community through comments and appreciations. Make sure your profile is complete and represents your personal brand.

Content ideas

Showcase your best work, highlight your creative processes, and share your experiences in your industry. 

4. Pinterest

Pinterest, the digital vision board, is an underexplored gem for photographers.

Advantages for photographers

The platform’s emphasis on visuals and discovery makes it a treasure trove for photographers. It’s a perfect place to not just showcase your work but also to discover new inspiration and trends.

Best practices and strategies

Use SEO-friendly descriptions and hashtags to enhance discoverability. Create various boards for different types of work or inspirations. 

Content ideas

Share your photography, behind-the-scenes, photography tips, mood boards, and inspirations. 

5. Facebook

Despite the rise of new platforms, Facebook remains a behemoth and a necessary platform for photographers.

Advantages for photographers

Facebook’s vast user base and versatile post formats make it a must-have platform for photographers. It’s excellent for community building, client engagement, and event promotion.

Best practices and strategies

Make use of Facebook groups to connect with other photographers and potential clients. Regularly engage with your followers through likes, comments, and shares.

Content ideas

Share your latest work, behind-the-scenes, photography events, client testimonials, and promotions.

6. YouTube

In the era of visuals, YouTube’s focus on video content presents a unique opportunity for photographers.

Advantages for photographers

YouTube can enhance your brand through the power of video, enabling you to present your work, personality, and knowledge in a dynamic format. It’s also a great platform for monetization.

Best practices and strategies

Consistency is key on YouTube. Regularly upload videos, engage with comments, and promote your channel on other platforms. 

Content ideas

Share photography tutorials, gear reviews, vlogs, project walkthroughs, and time-lapse videos of your editing process.

7. TikTok

The rising star, TikTok, is not just for dance routines and lip-syncing.

Advantages for photographers

TikTok’s emphasis on short, creative videos makes it a fun and refreshing platform for photographers. Its algorithm also provides a fair chance for your content to go viral.

Best practices and strategies

Keep videos short and entertaining. Make use of trending songs and hashtags. Engage with the community through challenges and duets.

Content ideas

Share quick photography tips, behind-the-scenes videos, the editing process, photo challenges, and humorous content related to photography.

8. Flickr

Flickr, the old faithful, continues to be a beloved platform among photographers.

Advantages for photographers

Flickr’s emphasis on high-quality images and its supportive community make it an excellent platform for serious photographers. 

Best practices and strategies

Regularly participate in groups and discussions. Make use of tags and descriptions for better discoverability.

Content ideas

Share your best work, participate in photo challenges, and engage in critique groups.

Compelling content ideas for photographers on social media

Having touched on some content ideas while discussing individual platforms, let’s delve deeper into what kind of content photographers can share on social media. Remember, content’s most important, but it can’t go very far without engagement. Your posts should not just showcase your work but also engage your audience, inspire conversation, and build community. 

1. Showcase your portfolio and latest work

Your social media platforms serve as a dynamic portfolio of your work. This is where you can show the world what you’re capable of and how your work evolves. 

Behind-the-scenes content

People love to see a peek into what goes on behind the camera. It adds a layer of authenticity and relatability to your work. From setting up the shot to post-processing, your audience will appreciate seeing what goes into making that perfect image.

Before and after shots

Before and after shots, especially of your editing process, can be quite engaging. It helps your audience appreciate the amount of work and skill that goes into each shot.

Photo series and projects

Sharing a series of photos around a particular theme or a long-term project can make for compelling storytelling. It keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.

2. Share photography tips and tutorials

Sharing knowledge not only positions you as an expert in your field, but also builds trust and engagement with your audience.

Editing techniques and software recommendations

Many aspiring photographers and hobbyists follow professionals for tips and learning resources. Sharing your favorite editing techniques and software can be immensely helpful for your followers.

Lighting and composition tips

Lighting and composition are the backbone of a good photograph. Sharing your expertise in these areas can help others improve their photography and appreciate your work better.

Gear reviews and recommendations

Share your insights and experiences with various photography gear. This could range from detailed reviews of the latest camera models to tips on choosing the right lens for a particular type of photography.

3. Feature client stories and testimonials

Nothing speaks louder than the words of a happy client. Client stories and testimonials provide social proof, build trust, and can often lead to new client referrals.

4. Highlight industry events and exhibitions

Are you attending a photography workshop? Participating in an exhibition? Or just visiting a photography fair? Sharing these experiences keeps your content fresh and interesting while also showing your active participation and engagement in the industry.

5. Explore photography-related topics and trends

Stay relevant and engaging by discussing current topics and trends in photography. This could range from the ethical aspects of certain genres to the impact of smartphone cameras on professional photography.

6. Incorporate visual storytelling through captions

While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a well-crafted caption can add depth and context to your image. Use your captions to share the story behind the photo, the thoughts it evokes, or simply the technical details of the shot.

7. Engage with followers through interactive posts

Engagement is key to building a loyal, active, and growing social media following. Content like polls, Q&As, and contests can boost engagement and make your followers feel part of your photography journey.

Polls and surveys

Use these tools to gather feedback, understand your audience’s preferences, or simply have fun and create engagement.

Q&A sessions and live videos

Regularly engage with your audience through Q&A sessions or live videos. This makes your followers feel valued and heard, and strengthens your connection with them.

8. Collaborate with other creators for cross-promotion

Collaboration is a powerful tool in the social media world. By collaborating with other creators, you can tap into their audience, bring fresh perspectives to your work, and add variety to your content.

9. Collaborate with brands and clients for sponsored posts

As your following grows, you may find opportunities to collaborate with brands and clients for sponsored posts. While this can be a great source of income, always ensure that the collaborations align with your brand and resonate with your audience.

Frequently asked questions about social media for photographers

As you start working with social media, you may have several questions and concerns. Let’s address some of the most common ones we’ve heard from photographers about social media.

Does it help to have an official website for my photography business?

Absolutely. While social media is great for visibility and engagement, an official website acts as a central hub for your online presence. It’s where potential clients can find detailed information about your services, browse your full portfolio, read client testimonials, and reach out to you for bookings. Having a website also adds credibility to your business. With the right tools, you can even sell your photographs or photography services online directly through your site.

Which platform is easiest to set up and manage a photography website?

This is subjective and depends on your specific needs and technical skills. However, WordPress has proven to be an excellent platform for photographers. It’s easy to use, highly customizable, and comes with a range of plugins, like WooCommerce for selling functionality and Jetpack to enhance security and performance.

Can I schedule social media posts directly from my WordPress site?

Yes, you certainly can, and it’s a real game changer! With Jetpack’s social media sharing plugin, Jetpack Social, you can schedule and share posts on your social media channels directly from your WordPress site. It saves you time and helps you maintain consistency in your social media posting.

How often should I post on social media to maintain engagement with my audience?

Quality always trumps quantity. It’s better to post fewer high-quality posts than bombard your audience with sub-par content. That being said, consistency is still key.

As a general guideline, aim for at least one to two posts per week on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and regular pinning on Pinterest. However, these are just guidelines. Experiment, track your engagement, and find what works best for you.

What are effective ways to incorporate video content into my social media strategy?

Video content is highly engaging and versatile. You can use it to share photography tutorials, gear reviews, behind-the-scenes snippets, or time-lapse videos of your editing process. Live videos and Q&A sessions can be great for engagement. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram (IGTV and Stories), and TikTok are excellent for sharing video content.

Jetpack Social: Automated social media posting for WordPress sites

All the social media platforms and content ideas we’ve discussed might seem overwhelming. Managing multiple social media accounts while running a photography business is no walk in the park. But there are powerful tools, like Jetpack Social, that can help.

Jetpack Social, part of the Jetpack suite of plugins for WordPress, lets you automate your social media posting. Imagine creating a new post on your WordPress site and having it shared across all your social media platforms, instantly or scheduled, without lifting another finger. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? 

Jetpack Social supports many major social media platforms, including some of the ones we’ve discussed in this article. This ensures that your amazing photographs and the captivating stories behind them get the online exposure they deserve. 

Not only does this feature save you time, but it also ensures consistency in your social media presence, which, as we’ve emphasized, is crucial for growing and maintaining your online following.

What’s more, with Jetpack’s optional built-in performance and security tools, you can have peace of mind knowing your website is safe, secure, and performing at its best. So, while Jetpack takes care of your website and social media management, you can focus on what you do best — creating stunning photographs.

A world of opportunities

Social media has helped even the playing field for photographers across the globe. You can showcase your work, connect with an interested audience, and grow your photography business. With the right platforms, engaging content, and handy tools like Jetpack Social, your social media journey can be a truly rewarding one.

Learn more about Jetpack Social today. 

Picture this: you’re a small business owner, and you’ve just opened a bakery. On the counter, you’ve got a tray of the most scrumptious, mouth-watering, perfectly-glazed donuts. You want to share this marvelous creation with the masses, but how?

Enter social media, the digital megaphone that can turn your delectable donut into the talk of the town. But your social media efforts might fall flat without a well-crafted plan. 

A social media strategy will help you connect with your audience, amplify your brand, and ultimately, boost your bottom line. The question is, how do you create a social media strategy that will help your business stand out from the competition?

In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to build a social media plan that will have your brand soaring to new heights.

What is a social media strategy?

A social media strategy is a comprehensive plan for how your business will leverage social media channels to achieve its objectives. Think of it as the master recipe for your digital “donut shop.” It outlines the ingredients (audience, platforms, content, etc.), the cooking method (execution), and the desired outcome (results).

What are the benefits of creating a social media strategy?

Creating a social media strategy offers a number of benefits for businesses, including:

1. Streamlined efforts. A well-crafted strategy will ensure that your social media efforts are targeted, organized, and efficient, saving you time and resources. 
2. Improved consistency. A strategy helps you maintain a consistent brand presence across all platforms, increasing brand recognition and trust. 
3. Clearer goals. Having specific objectives for your social media efforts ensures that your actions are aligned with your overall business goals, allowing you to better measure success and make data-driven decisions.
4. Increased engagement. By understanding your target audience and creating content that resonates with them, a social media strategy will help you build stronger relationships with your customers, turning them into loyal fans and advocates.
5. Better ROI. A well-executed social media strategy will ultimately improve your return on investment (ROI), making your marketing efforts more profitable.

How to create a social media strategy and put it into motion

Creating, planning, and executing a social media strategy for your business is like embarking on a voyage through the vast digital ocean. You need a sturdy ship, a skilled crew, and a charted course to reach your destination. Let’s dive into the key components of a successful social media strategy.

1. Define your social media objectives

First, it’s essential to know what you’re aiming for. Here are some areas you may choose to focus on:

• Brand awareness. If your goal is to make your brand famous, you’ll want to focus on creating content that showcases your unique brand identity and reaches a wider audience.
• Leads or sales. Do you want to increase leads or sales? In that case, your social media strategy should focus on enticing content that drives followers to take action.
• Customer engagement. Engaging with your customers requires regular, meaningful interactions that build long-lasting relationships. If your goal is to increase customer engagement, create content that encourages interaction, such as polls, quizzes, or open-ended questions.
• Customer support. Social media is not only about promotion; it’s also a powerful customer support tool. If your goal is to provide top-notch customer support, consider creating a dedicated social media channel for support and sharing helpful tips, tricks, and tutorials.

2. Identify your target audience

To create a successful social media strategy, you need to know who you’re talking to. Identifying your target audience involves understanding:

• Demographics. Dive deep into the age, gender, location, and income level of your ideal customers. This will help you craft content that resonates with them and ultimately increases engagement.
• Psychographics. Understanding your audience’s interests, values, and lifestyle is crucial. The more you know about what makes them tick, the more effective your social media strategy will be.
• Buyer personas. Create buyer personas — fictional characters that represent your ideal customers. This exercise helps you get inside their heads, understand their needs, and tailor your content accordingly.

3. Select the right social media platforms

It’s not about being everywhere; it’s about being where your audience is. To find success, be sure to: 

• Align platforms with audience preferences. Research which platforms your target audience uses most and focus your efforts there. For instance, if you’re targeting a younger audience, you might prioritize Instagram and TikTok over Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Assess platform-specific functionality. Different platforms offer unique features and functionalities. Evaluate which ones align with your objectives and can help you reach your goals more effectively.

Learn more: how to select the right social media platforms for your business. 

4. Establish a social media branding strategy

Align brand positioning and audience preferences

Your brand needs to align with your target audience’s preferences. Research your audience’s demographics, interests, and needs to ensure your brand’s positioning speaks to them. This means tailoring your messaging, visuals, and overall style to create a bond that will have them coming back for more.

Establish a clearly identifiable brand voice and tone

Define your brand’s personality — whether it’s witty, professional, or inspiring â€” and let that voice permeate all your social media content. This consistent tone will make your brand instantly recognizable.

Be consistent with your messaging and content themes

Consistency, though predictable, actually helps make your brand memorable. Stick to your core messaging and content themes to build a strong brand identity. Remember, social media is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and each piece of content should fit together seamlessly to create a coherent and captivating picture.

5. Build a social media content strategy

Define your core messaging and content themes

You wouldn’t bake a cake without a recipe, so why create content without a clear plan? Define your core messaging and content themes to ensure that every piece of content serves a purpose, whether it’s educating, entertaining, or inspiring your followers. This way, you’ll create content that resonates with your audience and helps build lasting connections.

Conduct a competitor analysis to see what’s working for them

Keeping tabs on the competition is essential for building a successful social media strategy. Analyze your competitors’ content to uncover what’s working, what’s not, and where you can fill in the gaps. 

6. Develop a social media content calendar

A content calendar brings structure and consistency to your social media efforts. 

Define content types

Like a master baker, you’ll want a variety of flavors in your content mix. Here are some of the types of content you should consider utilizing:

• Blog posts. Share your expertise and tell stories that resonate with your audience. If your site’s built on WordPress, you’re already set up for publishing great blog content.
• Images. Captivate followers with eye-catching visuals, whether it’s product shots or behind-the-scenes looks.
• Videos. Engage viewers with entertaining or educational content.
• Polls and surveys. Involve your audience and gather valuable insights.
• User-generated content (UGC). Feature content created by your customers or fans.
• Testimonials and reviews. Showcase social proof to build trust and credibility.

Frequency and scheduling

Consistency is key when it comes to social media. But it’s not about churning out content — it’s about finding the sweet spot between quality and quantity. Consider the following factors when determining your posting schedule:

• Platform. Each platform has its own optimal posting frequency. Research and follow best practices for each.
• Audience. Cater to your target audience’s preferences, adjusting your schedule to align with their online habits.
• Resources. Be realistic about your capacity to produce high-quality content on a consistent basis.

Seasonal and event-based planning

Stay ahead of the game by planning content around holidays, seasons, and special events. It’s like baking seasonal treats: everyone loves pumpkin spice in the fall, but they’ll probably pass on it in the summer.

Repurpose content across platforms

Don’t let your content go stale. Give it a new lease on life by repurposing it for different platforms. Turn a blog post into an infographic, or a video into bite-sized clips. 

Learn more: How to create a social media content calendar.

7. Leverage automation to scale your social media strategy

Automation is the secret sauce that helps you scale your social media efforts without losing your sanity. By leveraging automation, you can save time and improve efficiency. This is where a WordPress social media automation tool like Jetpack Social can really help.

Auto-share and schedule your posts with Jetpack Social.

Jetpack Social is the Alfred to your Batman, the R2-D2 to your Luke Skywalker. It’s an all-in-one social media sharing plugin for WordPress sites that helps you automate your social media tasks. With Jetpack Social, you can:

• Automatically share new blog posts on multiple platforms.
• Schedule social media posts in advance.
• Customize your post previews.
• Recycle content to get more fruit from your labor.

8. Build collaborations and partnerships

Influencer marketing

By partnering with influencers in your niche, you can reach new audiences, boost your credibility, and increase your brand visibility.

To find the right influencers:

• Research your target audience and identify relevant influencers
• Analyze their engagement rate, audience demographics, and content quality
• Reach out with a personalized collaboration proposal

Brand partnerships

When done right, brand partnerships are a harmonious, mutually beneficial relationship. Partner with brands that share your values and target audience, and together, you can create co-branded content, run giveaways, or host events.

Cross-promotions

With cross-promotions, both of you get to enjoy something new, but it doesn’t cost a dime. Reach out to businesses in your niche or complementary industries and propose a cross-promotion where you share each other’s content, offer discounts, or exchange shout outs.

Learn more about influencer marketing.

9. Integrate social media with other marketing channels

Your social media strategy shouldn’t be created in isolation. Integrating it with your other marketing channels creates powerful marketing synergy to cover more ground and reach more potential customers. Consider tools like:

• Email marketing. Include social media icons in your email newsletters and promote your social accounts in your email signature. Encourage subscribers to share your content on social media, and use social media to build your email list by promoting lead magnets, exclusive offers, and other newsletter signup calls to action.
• Content marketing. Use social media to amplify your content’s reach and visibility. Share your blog posts, infographics, videos, and other content assets across your social channels. Don’t forget to repurpose and reshare evergreen content to keep it top-of-mind.
• Search engine optimization (SEO). By optimizing your social media profiles and content for search engines, you’ll increase your visibility and attract more organic traffic. Incorporate relevant keywords in your social media bios, post captions, and hashtags to boost your search engine rankings.

10. Leverage paid social media advertising

Social media platforms offer a variety of advertising options that can help you reach a wider audience, target specific demographics, and boost your brand’s visibility. 

Understand advertising options and bidding strategies

Each platform has its unique set of rules, and understanding these rules is key to your success. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest all offer various ad formats and bidding strategies designed to meet your business objectives.

From carousel ads to sponsored posts and video ads, choose the format that best showcases your products or services. When it comes to bidding, you can opt for cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-impression (CPM), or cost-per-action (CPA), depending on your goals. 

Establish a clear budget and target ROAS

Establish a clear budget for your social media advertising campaigns. Determine your monthly or quarterly budget, and allocate it across your chosen platforms based on your goals and target audience.

When setting your budget, consider your ideal return on ad spend (ROAS). This metric helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns and ensures you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Remember, it’s not just about spending money, it’s about investing in your business’s growth.

Design creatives and constantly A/B test

The world of social media is a visual smorgasbord, and standing out from the crowd requires an eye-catching creative that causes your audience to pause their scroll. Collaborate with your design team or freelance designers to create visually compelling ads that showcase your brand’s personality and value proposition.

To ensure your ads hit the mark, embrace the power of A/B testing. Experiment with different headlines, images, ad copy, and calls to action (CTAs) to determine which combinations drive the best results. 

11. Measure, analyze, and refine your strategy

The world of social media can be unpredictable. But by taking the following steps, you can stay on the right path and take advantage of valuable opportunities.

Clearly identify platform-specific key performance indicators (KPIs)

Just as the captain must know the characteristics of each ship in their fleet, you must understand the intricacies of each social media platform. Each one has its own unique features, and identifying platform-specific KPIs will help you chart your course effectively.

For example, Facebook might focus on reach, while LinkedIn might prioritize comments and engagement. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each platform and make decisions accordingly.

Align these KPIs with your business objectives

It’s essential to align your KPIs with your broader business objectives. After all, what’s the point of sailing if you’re not heading in the right direction?

Whether you’re seeking to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or generate leads, your social media KPIs should support your overarching goals. By aligning your KPIs with your objectives, you’ll have a clearer understanding of your journey’s progress and can adjust your course if needed.

Automate reporting and dashboards

Captains rely on their navigational tools to stay on course. Today, you can harness the power of automation to create custom reporting and dashboards that monitor your social media strategy’s performance. With this digital compass in hand, you can ensure you’re sailing towards your goals with confidence.

Automated reporting saves you time, reduces human error, and provides you with real-time data, empowering you to make informed decisions and quickly respond to changes in the digital seascape.

Leverage data-driven decision-making to optimize your strategy

A skilled captain uses their knowledge and experience to adapt to ever-changing ocean conditions. Similarly, using data-driven decision-making allows you to optimize your social media strategy based on the insights gleaned from your analytics.

Whether it’s adjusting the type of content you share, the time of day you post, or even the platforms you focus on, data-driven decision-making can help you refine your strategy and find success.

Frequently asked questions about planning a social media strategy

Why is it important to create a social media strategy?

Imagine you’re driving on a road trip without a map or GPS. You know your final destination, but you have no idea how to get there. Your journey would be long, winding, and probably filled with dead ends. That’s what marketing on social media without a well-defined strategy is like.

A social media strategy is crucial for businesses of all sizes because it provides a roadmap to success. It outlines the goals you want to achieve, identifies the platforms and tactics that will help you reach those goals, and provides a plan to measure your success along the way.

Without a strategy, your social media efforts can be scattered, inconsistent, and ultimately ineffective. But with a solid strategy in place, you can make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and maximize your return on investment.

What is a social media content strategy?

A social media content strategy is a carefully-crafted plan that outlines the types of content you’ll create and share on social media, as well as when and how you’ll share it.

Your content strategy should be informed by your overall social media strategy, which in turn should be driven by your broader marketing strategy and business goals. For example, if your primary goal is to increase brand awareness, your content strategy might focus on creating and sharing visually engaging and memorable content that reflects your brand’s personality and values.

A well-thought-out content strategy should also take into consideration your target audience, your brand’s unique selling points, and the platforms you’ll be using. It’s important to strike a balance between promoting your products and services, providing value to your audience, and fostering a sense of community and connection.

What is a social media branding strategy?

A social media branding strategy is the way your brand presents itself and communicates with your audience — it should be consistent across all platforms.

Your branding strategy encompasses everything from the tone of voice you use in your posts to the visual elements like colors, fonts, and graphics. It’s what sets you apart from the competition and helps you create a recognizable and memorable presence online.

A strong social media branding strategy starts with a clear understanding of your brand’s values, personality, and target audience. It’s about finding the right balance between showcasing your products or services and engaging with your audience in a way that feels authentic and genuine.

Remember, people don’t connect with companies — they connect with other people. So, your branding strategy should be designed to humanize your brand and make it relatable, approachable, and memorable.

What is a social media engagement strategy?

A social media engagement strategy is like a well-crafted dish at your favorite restaurant. It’s a delightful concoction of ingredients, prepared with skill and care, that aims to delight your customers and keep them coming back for more. In the world of social media, it’s the plan you put in place to interact with your audience, grow your reach, and ultimately boost your business’s bottom line.

To whip up a successful social media engagement strategy, you’ll need to carefully blend a few key ingredients like:

1. Clear objectives. Like a chef, you need to know what you’re cooking before you start. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Drive website traffic? Engage with existing customers? Identify your goals to give your strategy a clear direction.
2. Target audience. It’s important to know who you’re cooking for. Define your target audience by considering demographics, interests, and behaviors.
3. Content mix. Now that you know your goals and audience, it’s time to craft a menu that tantalizes their taste buds. Determine the types of content you’ll share (e.g., blog posts, videos, images), and ensure they align with your audience’s interests.
4. Channels. Choose the right platforms to serve your delectable creations. Consider where your target audience spends their time and focus your efforts there.
5. Metrics. Measure the success of your social media engagement strategy like a master sommelier evaluating a fine wine. Track your progress by analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates.

Jetpack Social: turbocharge your social media strategy and efficiency

By now, you’ve learned the ins and outs of creating, planning, and executing a social media strategy for your business. But now you need to pull it all together to find success.

And to do that, you’ll need the right tools. And the best place to start is with Jetpack Social. It’s the special ingredient that helps you get more done in less time and so you can leave everyone wondering how you possibly do it all. 

So, what can Jetpack Social do for you?

1. Automate social media sharing. With Jetpack Social, your content is automatically shared across all your connected social media platforms the moment you hit “Publish.” No more copy/pasting, no more manual posting — just pure efficiency.
2. Centralize social media management. With Jetpack Social’s user-friendly dashboard, you can manage all your social media accounts in one place, making it easier than ever to keep your strategy on course.
3. Schedule social media posts. Timing is everything, and Jetpack Social knows it. That’s why it offers a scheduling feature that allows you to plan and schedule your social media posts in advance, ensuring your content reaches your audience at the right time (even if you’re asleep). 

Jetpack Social takes the hard work out of sharing your content across multiple platforms, allowing you to focus on what really matters — creating and nurturing relationships with your audience.

Learn more about Jetpack Social or download Jetpack Social for free, right now, to start your journey to success.

Imagine you’ve brought your young, new company to its first conference and it’s a smashing success. People are lined up at your booth, asking for your social media username, so they can connect with you when they get back home. 

Adding social media icons to your site gives people this same opportunity to follow you on the social platforms they use the most. If you don’t include these icons on your site where visitors tend to find them — like your footer or header — it would be like refusing to give people at the conference a way to find you on social media. Unimaginable! 

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of social media icons, explore their benefits, and walk you through how to add them to the sidebars, header, or footer of your site. 

Plus, you’ll find out about Jetpack Social, a social media automation suite for WordPress. 

What are the benefits of having social media icons on your WordPress site?

Adding social media icons to your WordPress site opens the door to a whole new world of promotional possibilities. Let’s explore some of the benefits.

1. Increased engagement. You have the opportunity to reach your site visitors in other places that they spend time, increasing their opportunity to connect with you. 
2. Broader audience reach. When you gain social media followers, you have the opportunity to reach more people as they share and engage with your content.
3. Social proof. When people see others sharing and engaging with your content, they’re more likely to trust your brand and join the party. People have lots of options for spending their time, energy, and money than ever, and they’re more skeptical than ever before. A social media recommendation from their friends instantly transfers credibility to your organization. 
4. A streamlined user experience. Many website visitors simply expect to find social media icons on your site, hoping to connect with you on more than one platform. By providing them with an easy way to do so — rather than forcing them to click through page after page to find your social accounts — you provide a much better user experience.

What is the Social Icons block on WordPress?

If you want to add social icons to your WordPress site, you can quickly do so using the Social Icons block. This simple-but-powerful tool allows your visitors to quickly recognize your presence on certain social media platforms and visit your corresponding profiles. There, they can engage with your brand, ask questions, follow you, and keep up-to-date with your latest posts.

Which icons are available on the Social Icons block for WordPress? 

There are seemingly endless choices for where to spend your social media efforts. Choosing the right platforms is important because you want to go where an interested audience is most likely to engage. Spread yourself too thin, and you’re less likely to find success on any one platform. A tool like Jetpack Social can help, though. It allows you to spend more time creating great content and less time on the logistics. 

Once you’ve decided where to focus your time, there are more than 40 icons available to represent any custom link you want to insert. They are: 

• Amazon
• BandCamp
• Behance
• CodePen 
• DeviantArt
• Dribble
• Dropbox
• Etsy
• Facebook 
• RSS Feed 
• Flickr
• Foursquare
• Goodreads
• Google 
• GitHub 
• Instagram
• Last.FM
• LinkedIn
• Mail 
• Mastodon
• Meetup
• Medium
• Patreon
• Pinterest
• Pocket
• Reddit
• Skype
• Snapchat
• SoundCloud
• Spotify
• Telegram
• TikTok
• Tumblr
• Twitch
• Twitter
• Vimeo
• VK
• WhatsApp?
• WordPress
• Yelp
• YouTube

How to add the Social Icons block to your WordPress site

Here are several areas you can add the Social Icons block:

1. Content like pages and posts, using the Block Editor
2. Global site elements, like your header and footer, using the Site Editor (for block themes)
3. Widgetized areas, like your sidebar (for classic themes)

Let’s take a closer look at all three of these.

Adding the Social Icons block to pages and posts

There are a lot of reasons you might want to add social media icons to a page or blog post. Perhaps you want to add a call to action to a blog post, encouraging readers to follow you on social media. Or maybe you want to include social icons on your Contact page, so visitors have another way to connect with you.

Your first step is to open up the page or post you’re working on and decide where you want to add your social media icons. Then, click the blue + icon at the top right to open the Block Inserter. Search for “Social Icons,” then drag and drop the block into your page.

The block will be blank initially, and simply say, “Click plus to add.” Click the + icon at the right of the Social Icons block.

This will open up a new window that has several social media platforms listed, along with a search bar. You can add your social platforms here, or click the button that says Browse All to see a full list of options.

Add any platforms that you’d like, simply by clicking on their name. They’ll appear horizontally across the Social Icons block. 

Select one of the individual icons to add a link to your social media account. You can also use the toolbar above the block to move icons left or right, change their alignment, and more.

For even more options, click the Social Icons block and open the Settings panel on the right. Here, you can adjust the icon colors, display their labels, change their shape, and more.

Once you’re happy with the way your social icons look, simply save your page or post. And that’s it!

Adding the Social Icons block to global site elements

Including your social media icons in global site areas like your header, footer, and sidebar can be extremely beneficial. It means that visitors can easily find your accounts, and they’ll show up on the majority (or all) of your website pages.

If you’re using a block theme, you can easily add the Social Icons block to global site areas (called “template parts”) using the Site Editor. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Editor. Open Template Parts, and you’ll see a list of elements that you can edit. Choose the one you want to work with (in this example, the header). 

Here, you can make any changes you’d like to your header using blocks, and those changes will be reflected across your entire site. When you click on the header, you’ll see a black + icon at the bottom right, which will open a list of blocks, along with a search bar. Here, choose the Social Icons block.

This will add the Social Icons block to the right of your header. Now, you can click the + icon to add your social media accounts to the list. Click on each individual icon to add the link to your profile, then use the block settings to customize the look and functionality of your icons, just as you did in the section above. 

If you want to move the icons somewhere else in your header, simply click on the Social Icons block and use the left and right arrows that appear in the toolbar to change their position.

Once you’re happy with how things look, click the blue Save button at the top right of the Site Editor. And you’re done!

Adding the Social Icons block to widgetized areas

If you’re using a classic theme rather than a block theme, you can add the Social Icons block to any widgetized area on your website. These will vary based on the theme you’re using, but typically include global site areas like the sidebar. 

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Widgets. Here, you’ll see a list of widgetized areas on your website, and you can expand the one you want to edit. In this example, we’ll be editing the Main Sidebar.

Click the + icon at the bottom of the widgetized area to see a list of blocks, along with a search bar that will allow you to search for more. Click the Social Icons block. Now, you can add your social media icons, include your profile links, and style the Social Icons block just as you would in the previous two sections of this post. If you want to move the icons to another part of the sidebar, simply drag and drop the block.

When you’re done, click the blue Update button at the top right to save your changes.

Need more social media features? Try Jetpack Social

If you’re ready to level up your social media game and gain access to even more fantastic features, Jetpack Social is the answer. 

It’s like upgrading from economy to first class on your favorite airline. Jetpack Social is a powerful plugin that offers a comprehensive social media sharing solution for WordPress. It’s developed by the same team behind WordPress.com and the multi-faceted, popular WordPress plugin — Jetpack. They’ve designed a suite of tools for WordPress security, performance, and growth. 

Here’s what you can expect from Jetpack Social:

1. Automatic sharing. Save time and effort by automatically sharing new posts to your social media profiles.
2. Social media scheduling. Plan and schedule your social media posts in advance for better organization and consistency.
3. Video sharing, engagement optimization, and more. Get more from each post by maximizing engagement and sharing craveable video content with your followers. 

Jetpack Social offers a variety of plans, including a free option to help you get started.

Spread the word while you sleep

Adding social media icons to your WordPress site is a must for anyone who wants to grow their online presence. 

Sometimes, finding success involves working longer hours or making temporary sacrifices for long-term gain. But other times? It’s just a matter of finding the right tools. With the Social Icons block and Jetpack Social, you have everything you need to supercharge your social media strategy and take your website to new heights. 

Learn more about Jetpack Social here: https://jetpack.com/social/