5 ways to implement a social media strategy
- Match your social media strategy to your business goals
- Encourage customers to leave reviews to improve visibility and credibility
- Monitor your social media presence and online reviews to maintain a positive brand image.
Social media and online reviews are a great way to promote your business. With a strategic social media marketing plan, you can make the most of these tools with minimal effort and expense. Here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Grow your business with social media
Social media can help you:
- Reach people in your community and beyond
- Target your message to specific audiences
- Advertise with little budget
- Publish information quickly and easily
- Connect personally with customers – 71% are likely to recommend your brand if they’ve had a good social media experience with you.1
Related article: How to use social media for business: 7 tips for success
Think about your goals and your messages when you develop your social media strategy. Devise a content calendar that outlines what you’re going to say and where you’re going to say it.
“Social media constantly evolves, so use several platforms. Your strategy needs to be flexible so you can move and migrate easily between them. I’d start with LinkedIn,” says David Hirsch, General Manager of Marketing, QBE Australia.
2. Make the most of online reviews
Most of us check online reviews before we buy something, with one study indicating 84% of shoppers regularly check online reviews before buying.2 Another study found 88% of shoppers trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations.3
This high level of trust in online reviews underscores the importance of managing your online reputation effectively. Positive reviews can significantly influence potential customers' decisions, while negative ones can deter them. So, encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and address any negative feedback promptly and professionally.
3. Monitor your reviews and socials
Closely monitor your social media channels. If customers are raving about your business, you have the opportunity to thank them personally and use their testimonials in your marketing. Whereas an unhappy customer needs to be managed carefully.
Responding publicly with something like, “Sorry to hear that, Sam. We’ll send you a direct message to see how we can help” is a good way to start to turn the situation around. It shows you’re transparent and proactive in solving problems. Take control of the conversation and demonstrate you care.
“Social media is time sensitive. So regularly check your platforms and ideally reply to customers within two hours,” says Hirsch.
4. Optimise your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, is a free tool that allows businesses to create and manage their online presence on Google Search and Maps. It helps you to provide essential information, improve your visibility and engage with customers through updates and reviews. You also get insights into customer interactions.
5. Tap into user-generated content
User-generated content is anything that has been submitted or published by users or consumers of a brand. It includes tagged images, videos, tweets, testimonials and more. It’s a great way to spread the word about your business.
“Make it easy for your customers to contact you through your socials or website,” Hirsch says.
Don’t forget to ask permission if you want to share content from the public and give proper credit in your post.
Extend your knowledge with Q nect
Implementing a social media strategy is just one of the many ways you can develop and grow your business. Visit QBE Q nect to discover other strategies and methods to grow your knowledge, business and customer relationships.
1 301+ SEO Statistics – Mind Blowing Statistics 2025 – sitecentre®
2 The Insiders on LinkedIn: Power of Online Reviews in Australia – Full report – The Insiders
3 301+ SEO Statistics – Mind Blowing Statistics 2025 – sitecentre®