Working remotely is commonplace. Productivity levels are up, and people are able to work remotely because of the convenience and flexibility that technology provides. This is certainly good news for businesses and employers seeking to operate a remote workforce, but it can also be bad news for those trying to make a name for themselves in the online world.

With more and more people doing their work from home, competition for online customers has increased. A remote workforce isn’t bound to one location and one device, so having an online social media presence is essential if you want to engage with your audience.

The great thing about working remotely is that it doesn’t require you to have a huge budget or a lot of resources. You don’t need a physical office, and you can purchase all of the equipment you need online.

So, what is stopping you from taking advantage of the fact that you don’t have an office and that you can work remotely? Why not start your own online social media marketing agency?

What is Online Social Media Marketing (OSMM)?

Put simply, it’s the process of attracting, engaging, and delighting people in order to grow and prosper as a business. Social media is a great tool for this, as it allows you to connect with potential customers (and in some cases, existing customers) and share your story, promote your products, and establish yourself as an expert in your industry.

Think of a time when you’ve witnessed a company’s social media presence and wondered what they were doing to grow their business? In many cases, it’s because their social media presence was lackluster and unengaged. They didn’t seem to be doing anything at all on social media, and it was difficult to determine what their strategy was.

To create an effective social media strategy, you need to start by asking yourself the right questions. What is the goal of my social media activities? What am I trying to achieve? What is my niche?

Let’s take a look at each of these questions and how they can help you develop a solid social media strategy.

What is the Goal of My Social Media Activities?

This is a question that should be asked constantly. What is the goal of your social media activities? What do you hope to gain from all of this? What do you want to change?

One of the major purposes of having a social media presence is to gain insight into what customers want, need, and use. By engaging with your audience on social media, you can determine what aspects of your product or service they find valuable and what could be improved upon. This insight can then be used to shape your future product development and marketing initiatives.

By taking the time to consider the goals of your social media activities and establishing benchmarks for success, you will have a clear idea of how far you’ve come and what remains to be done. Consider what worked and what didn’t work during your agency’s startup phase and ask yourself “How can I apply this to my future business?”

What Am I Trying to Achieve?

This question is all about you, as the entrepreneur or business owner. It’s important to consider what you’re trying to achieve, why you’re doing what you’re doing, and what makes you unique. Reflect on your experiences, what you know, and how you can benefit your target audience. Consider the following points:

• What do I want to change?
• Why do I want to change it?
• How can I benefit my target audience?
• Who is my target audience?
• How can I attract my target audience to my product or service?
• Based on my research, what do my customers want and need?
• How can I meet their needs?
• What do I enjoy most about my job?
• How can I use this to my advantage?
• What would make my customers/clients/users change their minds about doing business with me?
• How can I convince them to choose me instead of my competitors?
• What makes me special?

When you can answer these questions clearly and with confidence, you’re able to develop a good strategy that will serve you well over time. Remember: there is no quick fix to business success. It takes time to create a good strategy and get it implemented. But with a little planning and research, you can assure yourself of success in the end.

What is My Niche?

Your niche is your specialty or the area of expertise that you represent. It’s not about your product or service, although that is certainly important. Instead, it describes your approach to solving problems and the type of people you’re aimed at serving. Your niche will help define your strategy and give you a clear idea of what to offer and how you can present yourself to gain the trust and confidence of your audience. When developing your strategy, consider the following points:

• What is my USP?
• How can I uniquely solve a problem?
• Am I the only one in my industry to offer this?
• How can I prove to my audience that I’m the best in my industry?
• What makes me special?

Your niche can be anything from digital marketing to sales, from PR to communications, or from social media management to content creation.

Why Should My Audience Trust Me?

This question relates to your strategy and aims directly, and it’s a fundamental tenet of effective marketing: establish trust with your audience. Why should your audience trust you? What makes you different from other businesses or marketers they might encounter?

For example, if you are a hair dresser and your target audience are women, you might want to focus your strategy on engaging with and gaining the trust of female consumers. You can establish this trust through different methods, including the following:

• Creating high-quality content that is useful and helpful to your target audience
• Developing an authoritative voice that resonates with your audience
• Establishing credibility through consistent and transparent communication
• Offering valuable and unique advice and guidance

As you can see, these tips apply to any industry or business, not just those in the digital sphere. Think about a time when you’d encountered distrust on social media. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a business try to fake their popularity by creating multiple accounts or seen someone promote a product that doesn’t live up to your standards.

If you’ve ever seen these scenarios play out, you know that they aren’t beneficial to anyone, especially not the businesses or individuals who participate in this type of activity. It’s important to develop a reputation on social media that is authentic and builds trust with your audience. Doing this takes time, so be patient and methodical in your approach.

How can I attract My Target Audience to My Product or Service?

If you can answer this question clearly and with confidence, you’re well on your way to becoming a successful online social media marketer. Simply consider the following points:

• Do research on your target audience
• Develop a clear understanding of what they want
• Determine their needs
• Create landing pages for each niche segment
• Establish buyer personas
• Determine the overall theme of your site
• Decide on the style and format of your site
• Choose a platform that allows for growth
• Make sure you meet the criteria set by the search engines
• Choose a domain name that is relevant and appropriate for your niche

As a business person or marketer, it’s your job to understand your customer’s experience. You must consider the following points: