Editor's Note: This article was first published in 2021. It has been updated to provide more relevant information.
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 5:25 am
While many marketers and business owners are focused on surviving italy phone number whatsapp the chaotic holiday season, it’s also time to prepare for Q1.
We’ve all been there: Arriving at our desks on January 2nd, dazed from holiday overconsumption, trying to remember our work password (and also what it is we do exactly?).
What if you could start the year bright-eyed and focused, with a to-do list that’s already half crossed out?
It’s time for some social media housekeeping. Let’s review the 9 things social media marketers need to do now to prepare for Q1 and hit the ground running in January.
1. Enter decision-making mode with an audit
It’s historically difficult to tie social media activity to business results, but an annual audit will give you a clear picture of gains, losses, strengths, and weaknesses.
Audits help identify what’s working and what’s not by spotting long-term trends across your KPIs. Since your KPIs are tied to business goals, an audit will determine if your strategy has moved the needle for your business. With this data, you can generate new strategies or optimize existing ones.
You can conduct the audit all at once or break it down into small tasks over several days. For step-by-step instructions, follow our 5-day social media audit process.
2. Get clear on next year’s goals and KPIs
Before the new year, consider what you want to accomplish from January to December 2025.
If your business goals have changed, your social media goals will probably need to change, too. You may have focused on creating brand awareness as a primary goal in 2024, with KPIs around follower count and video views. In 2025, you might need to shift your goals towards nurturing your community, driving sales, or increasing event sign-ups.
1-Jun-30-2024-03-03-49-9914-PMFirst, align your goals with your marketing team’s or overall business’s goals. Then, figure out the strategies and KPIs to measure performance throughout the year.
Not sure where to start? Learn about social media KPIs to review your options.
3. Send your January self some love
You don’t need all of Q1’s content ready by Thanksgiving, but it’s a good idea to have at least the first two weeks of January content prepared, created, and scheduled.
We’ve all been there: Arriving at our desks on January 2nd, dazed from holiday overconsumption, trying to remember our work password (and also what it is we do exactly?).
What if you could start the year bright-eyed and focused, with a to-do list that’s already half crossed out?
It’s time for some social media housekeeping. Let’s review the 9 things social media marketers need to do now to prepare for Q1 and hit the ground running in January.
1. Enter decision-making mode with an audit
It’s historically difficult to tie social media activity to business results, but an annual audit will give you a clear picture of gains, losses, strengths, and weaknesses.
Audits help identify what’s working and what’s not by spotting long-term trends across your KPIs. Since your KPIs are tied to business goals, an audit will determine if your strategy has moved the needle for your business. With this data, you can generate new strategies or optimize existing ones.
You can conduct the audit all at once or break it down into small tasks over several days. For step-by-step instructions, follow our 5-day social media audit process.
2. Get clear on next year’s goals and KPIs
Before the new year, consider what you want to accomplish from January to December 2025.
If your business goals have changed, your social media goals will probably need to change, too. You may have focused on creating brand awareness as a primary goal in 2024, with KPIs around follower count and video views. In 2025, you might need to shift your goals towards nurturing your community, driving sales, or increasing event sign-ups.
1-Jun-30-2024-03-03-49-9914-PMFirst, align your goals with your marketing team’s or overall business’s goals. Then, figure out the strategies and KPIs to measure performance throughout the year.
Not sure where to start? Learn about social media KPIs to review your options.
3. Send your January self some love
You don’t need all of Q1’s content ready by Thanksgiving, but it’s a good idea to have at least the first two weeks of January content prepared, created, and scheduled.