7 Social Media Strategy Examples and How to Implement Them

Picture this: Mark runs a cozy coffee shop with the best brews in town. Despite this, foot traffic remains sluggish, with most customers being local regulars. He knows that social media could unlock access to many new customers and help grow his business but he's not sure how to create his social media strategy.  

In this scenario, Mark's sense of missing out on acquiring new customers is entirely valid. Reports indicate that a solid 92% of customers are more likely to buy directly from the brands they follow on social media platforms than from online marketplaces. As such, growth-hungry enterprises must capitalize on this opportunity. 

However, many business leaders, like Mark, are missing out because they are new to the social media landscape and don't know where to start. 

Considering this, today, we’ll be breaking down seven successful examples of social media strategies for efficient business expansion. So, let's dive in. 

What is a social media strategy for businesses? 

A social media strategy is a detailed framework that guides a brand's online presence. It outlines what content to share, when to share it and on which platforms to achieve specific goals and connect with your target audience. 

Here are some factors to consider when drafting your social media strategy: 

Target audience: Identify the specific people you want to reach — their age, interests and where they spend time online. 

Platform selection: Once you know who you want to reach, choose the social media sites or apps where your target audience is most active. 

Content strategy: Every campaign needs to have a well-thought-out content strategy. This means planning the types of posts, videos and all the other content you'll create and share. It ensures that your content is relevant and connects with your audience. 

Community management: Build relationships with your followers by asking and responding to comments and questions. This creates a welcoming online space that promotes participation and engagement. 

Social media metrics: Tracking specific numbers helps you understand how well your social media efforts are performing against your goals, and this is critical to business growth. 

Businesses need to incorporate these elements into their social media strategy plan to foster greater engagement and growth. Read ahead to know more. 

Read More: Social Media Marketing 101 

7 examples of social media strategies 

In today's rapidly changing social media landscape, your brand must have a powerful voice that can capture the attention of the right audience. And here are seven powerful social media strategies that’ll help you do exactly that by supercharging your brand to turn those casual scrollers into loyal fans: 

1. Focus on being discoverable  

Social media is a crowded marketplace. Generic logos and a few product photos won't differentiate you in the arena. So how do you get your business in front of the right people? Well, here's how you can boost your discoverability: 

Define your brand's personality 

Think of your brand as a living entity. What qualities does this entity have? Is it fun, down-to-earth or knowledgeable? Once you've answered those questions, choose a visual style that matches that personality — minimalistic, bold, classic or whatever fits. 

Consistency is key when you're developing your brand's personality. Keep the same visual style across all your social media communications. Use the same fonts, colors and logo so people instantly recognize and recall your brand. Just like Coca-Cola's famous red and white logo, having distinctive visuals can help people quickly recognize and identify your company. 

Also Read: How to Build Brand Awareness (with 10+ Tips) 

Get strategic with hashtags

Once your brand personality and visual language are established and identifiable, it's time to spread the word. Hashtags are a great way to expand your reach across social media platforms. Check out our dedicated guide on how to use hashtags effectively. 

Brand-related hashtags can act as an exclusive, members-only club, where you can track and curate conversations around your brand. On the other hand, non-brand hashtags, which are related to your target audience's areas of interest, help like-minded people find you. Hashtags serve as little billboards that connect you to potential customers. In fact, studies show that posts with three to four hashtags garner the most number of impressions, with an average impression rate of 3.41%. 

So, be creative, be specific and don't be afraid to invent your own hashtags. Take Coca-Cola's phenomenal "Share a Coke" campaign, for example. They replaced their logo with common names, encouraging people to find their personalized Coke bottles and share them online using the #ShareACoke hashtag.  

This simple yet impactful strategy fueled massive engagement and led to a staggering 250 million personalized bottles and cans being sold in Australia within three months of its launch. Today, the hashtag continues to be popular, with over 614k uses in posts on Instagram.  

Source  

The conversation must be two-way 

Treat social media as an interactive platform and use it to build on your ongoing conversations. It is not a one-way broadcast. Comments, questions and DMs provide opportunities to build relationships. Be quick, helpful and responsive.  

This turns casual followers into loyal fans and makes a real difference in brand perception. In fact, 47% of US consumers view brands that respond promptly to customer concerns on social media more favorably. 

2. Collaborate on content with influencers 

Influencer marketing is a social media strategy where brands team up with popular individuals or organizations to promote their products or services.  

These influencers have established credibility and trust within their particular niche. They already have a sizable and dedicated social media following. Partnering with them gives you instant access to a whole new audience ready to discover your brand. Here's why it works: 

• Brand awareness boost: Influencers put your brand in the spotlight for their loyal crowds — like a trusted friend giving you a recommendation. And unsurprisingly, surveys suggest that at least 24.2% of marketers plan to allocate over 40% of their marketing budget to influencer campaigns. 
• Budget-friendly: Influencer campaigns allow you to stretch your marketing dollars further than some other channels. They can be up to 30% cheaper than traditional advertising. 
• Targeted reach: The right influencers connect you directly with your ideal customer, no matter how niche your product is. From fitness enthusiasts to tech experts, there's an influencer for everyone. Even in B2B social media marketing, industry leaders and influencers can bring your brand to the notice of key decision-makers, increasing brand awareness and building trust in your brand as well. 

But how do you find the right influencer? Here are some tips to get started: 

• The right fit: Think beyond follower count. Do the influencers you want to rope in really connect with the people you want to reach? 
• Clear goals: Are you aiming for awareness, website visits or sales? Establish your objective before kick-off. If you want brand awareness, look for influencers with wide reach and engagement. If you want website visits, look for influencers who drive clicks effectively. If your goal is to increase sales, look for influencers with proven conversion track records.  
• Play to their strengths: Influencers have their own style. Trust them to put their spin on your message for maximum impact. 
• Track the stats: Metrics don't lie. Track which influencer's style and marketing messages are working and where you can improve in your next campaign. 

Take Tinder, for instance. To connect with Gen-Z, it partnered with popular Instagram influencers. These creators understood Tinder's brand and seamlessly wove it into relatable lifestyle content, resonating with their young audience. 

Source  

Source 

Read More: Influencer marketing strategies to improve engagement 

3. Partner with other brands to amplify product/service usability 

Partnering with well-known brands can motivate you to improve your performance. The challenge of creating something outstanding for both audiences can spark some seriously innovative campaigns. Here's why it's a smart move: 

• Expands your reach: Tap into your partner's audience and introduce your brand to a new audience ready to discover what you offer. 
• Shares the load: It lets you pool your resources — budget, manpower and expertise — turning those ambitious marketing campaigns into a reality. 
• Boosts your credibility: Partnering with a respected brand validates your credibility, increasing customer trust. 

Insightful Read: Your ultimate guide to building customer loyalty in 10 easy ways 

Now, let's look at a few iconic brand team-ups that prove the power of brand partnerships: 

Gucci and Vans 

Fashion giants Gucci and Vans teamed up for a unique collaboration in the popular game Roblox. They created connected virtual worlds where players could go on scavenger hunts and earn special digital items for their Roblox characters.  

This innovative partnership showcased how brands can work together in new ways, expanding their reach and offering fun experiences for their fans.

Source

Balenciaga and Crocs   

High fashion meets everyday comfort in this unexpected (and successful) collaboration. It pushes boundaries, sparks conversations and boldly expands both brands' reach.  

Source  

Amazon and American Express 

The e-commerce giant and renowned financial institution teamed up to offer the Amazon Business American Express Card. This gives small businesses streamlined purchasing tools while building loyalty for both brands. 

Source 

4. Plan giveaways and contests 

Social media contests and giveaways appeal to people's competitive nature and love of freebies. Running contests and giveaways on social media is a great way to add excitement to your online presence. Here are some of the benefits of incorporating this form of customer engagement into your social media strategy, with examples: 

• Follower boost: If your contest requires likes or follows as entry points, this can help expand your reach organically.  
• Lead generation: Use entry forms to gather valuable customer data for future marketing.  
• Brand awareness boost: Partnering with brands/influencers helps you tap into new demographics, but it doesn't have to be a complex partnership. Take Lay's — it cleverly used a packaging redesign as the springboard for a selfie-taking contest. The selfie requirement generated tons of user content featuring its new look, spreading awareness organically. 

Check out what Lay's did here:  

• Loyalty building: Exciting prizes keep followers returning for more. Contests with recurring reward systems or exclusive experiences can turn casual followers into devoted fans. 

Before you launch your contest, here are some points to remember: 

• Goals first: New followers, leads or brand awareness? Pick your goal. This will shape the entire contest. 
• Budget and prizes: Use your budget wisely and pick a prize your audience will truly appreciate. 
• Know your audience: Pick the right platform and tailor the contest to the platform and your audience. For example, a creative photo contest on Instagram showcasing your product could boost engagement organically. 

 Source 

• Planning is key: Setting clear timelines, rules and a social media content calendar keeps you organized and on track. Your audience also knows what to expect and when. 
• Measure and learn: Track results to make your next giveaway even better. 

5. Seek audience feedback through polling  

Getting your audience to interact with you can be difficult. But sometimes, all it takes is a simple question to get them buzzing. Polls are the unsung heroes of engagement — they're easy to generate and provide valuable customer insights.  

Here's why you need to add them to your social media strategy: 

Industry-relevant discussions 

Every industry has its unique requirements, trends, debates and pain points. Polls are a fantastic way to tap into what your target audience is interested in. It's a direct line to the questions they want answered and their opinions.  

Here’s an example of how Dropbox used a poll to better understand a common customer issue:

Source 

Promotes real-time engagement   

Polls are the ultimate snackable content. Your audience can participate through split-second decision-making. For instance, when MLB asked who'd win Game 5, instant predictions and online debates followed their post.

Source 

Get inside their heads  

If you've ever wondered what your audience really thinks, online polls cut through the guesswork. Like Chapters Bookstore Dublin's polls, you can ask audiences directly about their preferences. This lets you tailor your content to their actual requirements, making your posts personalized and relatable.  

Source 

6. Create video content 

Think those social media video features are just for fun? Think again! Platforms know the deal — video is where the magic happens. Check the latest social media video stats for more information.  

It's your chance to bypass the polished perfection of photos and get real with your audience. YouTube, Instagram (with Live and IGTV) and TikTok are more than just content-sharing platforms, they are communities waiting to welcome you in. 

A remarkable 64% of consumers make purchases after viewing videos. Moreover, videos effectively convey brand messages, as viewers retain 95% of information compared to just 10% through text. 

To understand this better, look at how Sprinklr created a video demonstrating its company culture. It showcases its dynamic workplace, highlights employee stories and emphasizes the company's commitment to innovation.  

Watch what Sprinklr did here:

This type of video can be a powerful tool for: 

• Brand building: Culture videos display your brand's personality, attracting customers who resonate with your mission. 
• Recruitment: Showcase your awesome work environment and attract top talent who want to be part of your team. 

7. Go live 

Move over text and images — video is the king of content now, and live video content reigns supreme. A whopping 48% of video marketers are already focused on creating live-action videos, which includes live tutorials, proving it's one of the most popular content creation methods. 

Here's why it's a powerful tool to boost your brand: 

• Your audience craves it: People love the immediacy of live videos. It's more exciting, intimate and feels like an insider experience. 
• Build relationships in real-time: Live streaming turns your video into a two-way communication channel, allowing you to respond to comments and react to feedback instantly. It's the closest thing to a face-to-face conversation you can have online, strengthening bonds with your audience. 
• Get top billing: Social media platforms love live content, pushing it right to the top of news feeds. It's prime real estate, giving you instant visibility. 
• Show your human side: Live streaming has a very authentic feel. No fancy editing and no retakes. This authenticity is what makes it engaging. Your audience peeks behind the curtains, which humanizes your brand. 

Live videos are all about creating fun, engaging experiences that draw people in. And research suggests that if you do it right, sales will follow. In fact, McKinsey & Company found that live commerce converts viewers into buyers at a rate of almost 30%, crushing traditional e-commerce.  

Here’s an example of how JCPenney leverages live video content strategically with its JCP Live sessions, featuring influencers who share their expertise:

Dive Deeper: How Brands Can Approach Live Streaming 

Final thoughts 

From crafting your social media strategy to creating content and tracking those numbers to staying on top of every conversation, building a brand on social media is a nonstop hustle. Trying to juggle all that manually can lead to burnout.  

That's where Sprinklr Social can step in. Think of it as your social media command center — a single platform from where you can engage across multiple channels, track results and tap into the power of AI to optimize your social marketing initiatives. 

Sprinklr Social gives you: 

• 30+ digital channels: Connect with your audience wherever they are. 
• Trend and sentiment analysis: Stay ahead of the curve with insights into what your audience is talking about. 
• Prioritized messaging: AI helps you zero in on the conversations that matter the most. 
• Team collaboration and control: Keep everyone aligned and your brand voice consistent. 
• AI-powered chat support: Never miss a beat in conversations, thanks to smart suggestions. 

With all this and more, you can use it to streamline your workflow, empower your teams, gain actionable insights and engage audiences effectively to optimize your social media strategies. So, book a demo or give the free 30-day trial a shot to see it in action today.