Social Media Workshop Recap
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. We’ve all heard this saying, and it’s more-than-likely stuck with us through adulthood; it’s the secret to luscious, healthy hair. But, what’s the secret to a thriving, successful social media page? The secret is a combination of a few things:
Prepare. Engage. Monitor. Repeat
In February, GrandPR had the pleasure of having a social media workshop with Stephanie Kotschevar, Public Relations Manager for ExperienceGR, and Laura Edgington, Marketing Manager for ExperienceGR. Social media is a tool that can be very beneficial when used correctly, so Stephanie and Laura gave us insight on how to have the most successful social media tactics. Here are a few of the many things I learned from the social media workshop with:
Prepare
Whether it relates to scheduling content, staying aware of current events, or being ready for backlash; preparation is key. Kotschevar mentioned the importance of being sure your current content isn’t going to clash with current events that are happening. It’s also crucial to prepare your content ahead of time, while staying current. Don’t be afraid to switch up your current plan! Kotschevar also spoke about being ready for backlash. No one wants backlash, but be sure to be prepared and mentally ready to respond and react to it.
Engage
Edgington stressed that you should focus on the content that is being pushed out and observe how your audience is reacting to it. Visuals also do a great job at engaging readers. Take a look at the few spectacular visuals ExperienceGR showed us: Ice Cream Month, CocktailWeekGR, and places to #snowshoe. These visuals are more engaging and tend to be more successful posts compared to those with only words.
Also, have personality! When running a social media account, find a balance between being professional and fun. No one wants to engage with a monotone social media channel. Find the personality for your brand and stick to it.
Monitor
Don't just put out content and then leave it. In order to have the most effective social media, it’s important to distribute the content and then track how it is doing. How is your audience reacting to it? Are you getting page visits, likes, clicks, comments, etc.? Monitoring your audience's reaction is crucial and allows you to share content that is most valuable to them.
Obviously there are countless strategies that go into having a successful social media page, which is also what I learned from the social media workshop. However, when it comes down to it, being prepared, engaging with your audience, and monitoring how content is doing are the basics of social media success.
This workshop was inspiring and insightful. The ExperienceGR social pages are spectacular, and to receive tips from the masterminds behind it was incredible. We, at GrandPR, will definitely be taking some of these tips and applying them to our own social pages.
Here are the ExperienceGR social pages if you want to take a look at the awesome work they are doing!
Twitter: @ExperienceGR
Instagram: @experiencegrandrapids
Facebook: facebook.com/ExperienceGR
Pinterest: pinterest.com/grandrapidsmi/
About Kelsey
Kelsey is from Holland, MI and loves the West Michigan area. She is pursuing a double major in English and Advertising and Public Relations, with an emphasis on PR, accompanied by a minor in Elementary Education. She serves as the Social Media Director as well as an Account Associate. This is her first year with GrandPR, and she is excited to expand her knowledge and experience. In her free time, she loves to exercise, spend time with her friends and family, and find more economical options for trendy fashion and beauty products.