Are you a small business owner who is wondering if social media is worth your time? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of business owners are unsure of the potential return on investment (ROI) they could see from social media. However, with a well-developed social media plan, any business can achieve success. In this post, we’re looking at what a social media plan entails and how it can help your business grow.
What is a social media plan and why do you need one?
A social media plan is a document that outlines your organisation’s goals and objectives for using social media. It also covers the strategies and tactics you’ll use to achieve them. This plan should be tailored to your specific business needs and goals and should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
Why do you need a social media plan? Because without one, you’ll likely find yourself wasting time and effort on social media activities that don’t help you achieve your business goals. A social media plan will help you focus your efforts and ensure that you’re using your time wisely.
How to create a social media plan that works for your business
Creating a social media plan that works for your business can be a challenge, but it’s well worth the effort. To get started, you’ll need to identify your goals and objectives for using social media. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start brainstorming strategies and tactics that will help you reach your goals.
Some things to keep in mind as you create your plan:
- Be realistic about what you can achieve with social media. It’s important to set achievable goals so you don’t get discouraged along the way.
- Keep your target audience in mind (more in this post if you need help defining them!). Who are you trying to reach with your social media efforts? What kind of content will they be interested in?
- Be flexible. Social media is a constantly evolving platform, so your plan should be too. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. And be prepared to adapt to trends, video, and TikTok are two current trends that many businesses should be paying attention to.
– Have fun! If you’re not enjoying yourself, your followers will likely be able to tell. Find ways to make social media fun for both you and your audience. However, this one must be suited to your audience as if you’ve got to balance what’s appropriate with what stands out!
The benefits of having a social media plan in place
There are many benefits to having a social media plan in place. Perhaps the most obvious is that it can help you save time by ensuring that you’re focused on the right things. A well-thought-out social media plan can also help you attract new customers and grow your business. Additionally, it can increase brand awareness and loyalty, and can even lead to improved search engine rankings.
How often should you review and update your social media plan?
Your social media plan should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, we would recommend it at least once every quarter. This will help you stay on top of changes in the social media landscape and ensure that your plan is still relevant. Additionally, regular reviews will give you the opportunity to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to your strategy.
What are some common mistakes businesses make when creating their social media plan?
One of the most common mistakes businesses make when creating their social media plan is failing to set clear goals and objectives. Without a clear idea of what you want to achieve, it will be difficult to measure your success. Additionally, many businesses make the mistake of trying to do too much on social media. It’s important to focus your efforts so you don’t spread yourself too thin. Finally, another common mistake is failing to review and update your plan on a regular basis. As mentioned earlier, the social media landscape is constantly changing, so your plan should be too.
Tips for staying on track with your social media plan
There are a few things you can do to help make sure you stay on track with your social media plan. First, set aside some time each week to work on your social media activities. This will help ensure that you’re making consistent progress. Additionally, it can be helpful to create a list of tasks that need to be completed each week. This will help you stay organized and focused. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Social media can be a lot of work, so enlisting the assistance of another member of the department/team, or indeed an outsourced specialist will make all the difference.
How to revise your social media plan as needed
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to review and update your social media plan on a regular basis. This will help you stay on top of changes in the social media landscape and ensure that your plan is still relevant. Additionally, regular reviews will give you the opportunity to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to your strategy. If you find that you need to make significant changes to your plan, it’s often best to start from scratch. This will help ensure that your new plan is well-thought-out and aligned with your current goals.
A social media plan is essential for any business looking to get the most out of its social media presence. By taking the time to create a social media plan that outlines your goals, target audience, and strategy, you give yourself a roadmap to follow as you build and grow your social media accounts. The benefits of having a social media plan in place are clear – from increased brand awareness and website traffic to more leads and customers. And by revisiting and updating your social media plan regularly, you ensure that you’re always on track with your marketing efforts.
If you need help creating or revising your social media plan, our team at The Marketing Shop would be happy to assist you. Contact us by email debbie@themarketingshop.ie or through any of our social media listed at the foot of this page (and why not give us a follow there too?!)

Debbie Ringwood is a Marketing Specialist with over 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C Marketing. She is a Graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Digital Marketing Institute. She is a Canva Community Canvassador, Linkedin Certified Marketing Insider and META Certified Community Manager..
Debbie supports, coaches, and trains businesses in Marketing, Social Media, Canva & WordPress along with her team, working with businesses at different stages of their journey.