The Importance of Specific, Measurable Goals
I remember this example used to describe the importance of goal setting: imagine asking someone to throw a balled up piece of paper in a waste paper basket. But before they can take their first attempt, you blind fold them. Difficult to achieve when you can’t see your goal. Next, take the waste paper basket away. What’s the point, if there is no goal?
This is the same for social media if there aren’t goals in place. Business owners often feel compelled to have a presence at multiple platforms, or the newest one. However, it comes at a cost – you are either investing your time, or your money, or both. I encourage business owners to start with a goal and then choose which social media platform(s) to use to achieve it. Determine where your target market is first, and create SMART goals (specific, measurable, acheivable, results-based, timely). (For more information about SMART goals and the many options for this acronym, see wikipedia.).
Social Media Goal Setting
Last week the participants in my Social Media Workshop came up with these goals. This week, we will discuss the strategies, tools, and other resources they can use to achieve them.
- -To have 500+ connections on LinkedIn by January 2016.
- -To publish 1 post/week to my Facebook page starting today.
- -To increase my Facebook page likes to 50 likes by December 31, 2014.
- -To set up Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ with basic branding by October 10, 2014.
- -To upload 3 sample teaser videos to YouTube by October 31, 2014.
- -To attract film lovers with a special interest in the process of filmmaking by using targeted Facebook advertising.
- -To establish credibility and expertise by posting content to Facebook after my website launch.
