Creating an effective social media strategy involves more than just posting regularly and hoping for the best. It requires a deep understanding of your market, audience, and the various elements that influence social media success. To help you out, here are five essential things you should research before getting started on your social media strategy.

1. Competition

Knowing what your direct competitors are doing on social media can provide valuable insights. However, it is important not to compare yourself with them or copy what they’re sharing on social. Instead, use their strategy as a benchmark to understand what works and what doesn't. The key is to learn from their successes and mistakes and then adapt these lessons to suit your own brand.

2. Hashtags

Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing visibility and engagement on social media. Start by creating a unique brand hashtag and then combine it with niche hashtags relevant to your content. You should also consider using small to medium-sized hashtags, as these are less likely to be oversaturated. However, make sure to avoid banned hashtags as these can negatively impact your reach. Read more about how to properly use hashtags here.

3. Best Practices

No matter where you are in your social media journey, there's always something new to learn. Consider taking courses, subscribing to specialty newsletters, and following marketing experts on social media. This will help you stay up-to-date with the best practices and latest trends in social media marketing.

4. Latest Features

Social networks are constantly introducing new features, and staying ahead of these changes can give your brand a competitive edge. Make it a point to research these new features and start using them early on. This will give you enough time to understand their functionalities and how they can benefit your brand.

5. Current Events

Your audience will find memes and other content about pop culture or current events relatable. Incorporating these into your social media strategy can help increase engagement and reach. However, remember that trends can be sensitive and time-sensitive. Therefore, do your research thoroughly.

These are the five things I always start with when creating a new social media strategy. What else would you add to your social media research list? Let me know in the comments 👇 or contact me below if you want to work together on your social media strategy!