From clever hashtags to cute bunny GIFs: 10 tips for social media managers

Blippar’s social media manager Samantha Leigh Alyala, above, looks after the company's profile on social networks including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, and is responsible for managing the content that appears on each.

Aside from the day-to-day social managing, Samantha - who is based in Blippar's New York office - also works closely with the marketing team on strategy and creative planning across all of Blippar's channels. She also liaises with the business development team and account managers, helping them guide their clients to social media success for their Blippar campaigns. Here she shares her tips for businesses hoping to do the same.

I am a marketing professional with a love of storytelling, catchy hashtags, and Instagram photos of coffee and chubby animals. As a Milliennial (and darn proud of it!), I have always been fond of social media. We're talking Facebook back in 2007 days. I always knew the importance of community and togetherness within these online channels; I am a big believer in keeping marketing 'human'.

Always thinking of ways to implement new interactivity on our channels, you can find me researching the latest apps, taking a photo of something to share, showing clients how social media is perfect for them, or expressing excitement over a new trend happening on Twitter.

But social media can seem like a big, dark, scary void for most companies. We have seen some brands crash and burn on Twitter, and others winning across all channels. The ones who remain on top all started from the same spot: with the basics. As a social manager, I know it’s impossible for a company to enter the social realm and succeed without solid foundation and planning. Here are some tips to help you get started...

1. Choose your platforms

Every business is different, and social channels that work for others might not work for you. Keep this in mind when deciding where your audience will mostly reside and where they would care to follow you. For example, if you wish to share articles you’ve written, Instagram (which doesn’t allow deep-linking) won’t work, so you’re better off using Facebook or Twitter. Do you post lots of videos? Consider your own YouTube channel. If you’re a business with an older, career-driven audience, LinkedIn might be the place for you.

Blippar's Instagram page is a combination of brand blipps, team snaps and stuff just for fun

2. Plan ahead

Planning ahead and scheduling content will save you hours during the week. I personally love the Buffer app, it has a clean UI and quite an easy scheduling app. Naturally this can’t always be done – nobody can predict the news – so be prepared for your schedule to be thrown off balance suddenly!

3. Monitor your metrics

There are tons of tools (both paid and free) to help you analyse activity on your social media channels. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube provide their own (free) analytics for you review. These analytics allow you to see what has worked for your audience and what fell flat, enabling you to curate and improve your strategies as you go along. Some programs go as deep as telling you demographics, influential followers and the best times to post certain content.

4. Use videos and images

People love pretty pictures and are more likely to engage with content that is easy to digest, such as infographics, high-quality photos, and short videos that make your point in under a minute.

Monitoring your metrics helps you improve social campaigns and work out which channels are right for you

5. Paid advertising

Even if your budget is small and you’ve done great progress with native advertising, using paid advertisements both accelerates your social growth and puts your brand in front of eyes you might not reach organically.

6. Acknowledge and recognise your audience

Build relationships with your audience. Communication with your followers is a two-way street. Promptly reply to individuals and brands launching conversation.

7. Integrate social with all your marketing

Cross-promote your various marketing efforts, such as blogs and digital advertising. Giving them options makes it easier for your audience to interact with you on their terms.

Blippar's Twitter page is in-keeping with our brand: informative, friendly, international and - most importantly - orange

8. Share original content

Retweets, regrams and reshares are great for social business, but custom content creation is where your fans will get to know you! Be creative. Begin to think what makes your audience engage with a post. Is it a 15-second video? Or is it a relevant (but hilarious) GIF?

9. Show who you are

Showcasing your company culture is a great way to personalise and humanise your brand. Let your followers know more about you as people with photos of company gatherings and meetings, and individual team profiles.

10. Be real

This might seem obvious, but social media is human and honest. Your audience will know when your brand is communicating something that is not you – and they won’t be afraid to let you know! Your voice in social media should have personality and share a distinct point of view. If your company is relevant, passionate, and fun, people will follow! This is what social media is all about.

REMEMBER: If in doubt, add a bunny GIF