Social Media Best Practices
Foundations of Best Practices
We approach problems through the lens of first principles
A basic assumption that cannot be deduced any further
What do we absolutely know is true?
We rely on evidence, not assumption
We are in a constant state of analysis, testing and evaluation
We evaluate our work using lift principles
Role of Social Media
Goal of Social Media
Social media brings our brand voice, advantages and distinctiveness online. Whereas customers who visit our store can appreciate our brand impact, online customers may not experience these differentiating features.
Defining Success
Success in social media is measured in the reach of our content, the new audience we reach, and the engagement that content has. We wish to grow our business through the meaningful extension of our brand online.
The Goal of Social Media Platforms
Social media is designed to offer users content that they are most likely to be interested in to keep them in and returning to the platform. They have an invested interest in prioritising engaging content.
General Best Practices
Content we post is meaningful (quality over quantity)
Has an objective, in pursuit of a goal and is speaking to our audience
We post to maximize reach
Use hashtags to maximize discovery and reach of content
Post at optimum times
We post to maximize engagement
Content is mobile-first optimized
Is properly sized for the platform design and intent
Video has shown to drive higher engagement than static content
Use call to actions in content
Always write a relevant description that encourages engagement
Diversify content to retain followers
Use rule of thirds. (selling, community, stories)
Post 80% content vs 20% product
Avoid posting repetitive themes on the same channel
Post for success with algorithms
Engagement increases reach
Engagement increases likelihood of future content success
Save and shares or more valuable than comments and likes.
Consistency is key - Update frequently without sacrificing engagement
Timeliness of posting matters for feed optimization
Ensure no single person has exclusive access to social channels
Content is posted in our tone, voice and conversation standards
Always post/respond as the brand, never as an employee
Respond to every customer question or significant comment
Customers expect a response within (x) minutes <- TBD
Adhere to Terms of Service for social media posting