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2021 | Book | 1. edition

Strategic Social Media Management

Theory and Practice

Author: Karen E. Sutherland

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

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About this book

This textbook provides a lively introduction to the fast-paced and multi-faceted discipline of social media management with international examples and perspectives. Aside from focusing on practical application of marketing strategy, the textbook also takes students through the process of strategy development, ethical and accurate content curation, and strategy implementation, through detailed explanations of content creation.
Combining theory and practice, Strategic Social Media Management teaches students how to take a strategic approach to social media from an organisational and business perspective, and how to measure results. Richly supported by robust and engaging pedagogy and cases in each chapter, it integrates perspectives from public relations, marketing and advertising, and examines key topics such as risk, ethics, privacy, consent, copyright issues, and crises management. It also provides dedicated coverage of content strategy and campaign planning and execution.
Reflecting the demands of contemporary practice, advice on self-care for social media management is also offered, helping to protect people in this emerging profession from the negativity that they can experience online when managing an organisation’s social media presence. After reading this textbook, students will be able to develop a social media strategy, curate accurate and relevant content, and create engaging social media content that tells compelling stories, connects with target audiences and supports strategic goals and objectives.
This is an ideal textbook for students studying social media strategy, marketing and management at undergraduate level. It will also be essential reading for marketing, public relations, advertising and communications professionals looking to hone their social media skills and strategies.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
1. Introduction
Abstract
Congratulations. Your interest in social media management is extremely timely. We are part of a digital revolution and by learning more about the approaches and tasks required to manage social media, you will be able to use it to your (and your business’ or clients’) greatest advantage. Social media technology has become such a pervasive, and often necessary, part of the everyday lives for so many that social media proficiency is now considered to be one of the top five skills sought by employers (Deloitte, 2018). And more specifically, in a recent study of 396 Australian employers, public relations and customer service expertise were ranked as the most important social media skills above skills such as content production (Sutherland, Freberg, Driver, & Khattab, 2020). As you will learn through this book, social media has grown in more than popularity; it keeps maturing, and so must our approaches to the way that we manage it.
Karen E. Sutherland
17. Conclusion: Social Media the Only Constant Is Change
Abstract
The previous 16 chapters in this text have provided an overview of the key functions of strategic social media management.
Karen E. Sutherland

Social Media Strategy Development

Frontmatter
2. Social Media Strategy Development
Abstract
Developing an evidence-based strategy is the first action that a business or nonprofit organisation should take in relation to their social media presence (Freberg, 2018; Kim, 2016; Quesenberry, 2018). Without conducting in-depth research that informs social media activities, Social Media Managers are merely guessing as to what will work for their organisation or clients. It is a rare business or organisation that has an unlimited supply of funds, time and staff to support such guesswork.
Karen E. Sutherland
3. Let’s Start from the Beginning: Understanding Audiences
Abstract
Understanding your audience is the most important factor in effective communication, which is why the topic takes prominence as the first chapter in this text (Freberg, 2018; Young, 2016). A Social Media Manager may understand social media platforms inside and out and have extensive expertise in advanced marketing and advertising techniques, but all of this knowledge will be pointless if they cannot connect with their target audience.
Karen E. Sutherland
4. Managing Reputation, Ethics, Risk, Issues and Crises
Abstract
With audience research established as an essential first stage of social media strategy development, ► Chap. 4 explores another crucial component of social media management: ethical practice. While behaving ethically as a Social Media Manager may seem obvious, there are many nuances to the role that must be deconstructed and explained.
Karen E. Sutherland
5. The Foundational Components of Strategy
Abstract
► Chapter 5 is devoted to the exploration of the core foundational components required for a stable social media strategy. These items are truly the epitome of what a strategy is. Without goals, objectives, key messages and any idea of budget social media activities cannot be described as strategic. Instead they would be better described as haphazard, sporadic and random.
Karen E. Sutherland
6. Stop Selling, Start Helping: Prescribing Tactics to Win Over Target Audiences
Abstract
One chapter is not an ample length to discuss the complexity of social media tactics. In fact, an entire book could be written exploring the advantages, disadvantages and application of each tactic investigated in this chapter. With such a brief scope, it will be of greater benefit to provide guidance on the process of researching, innovating, selecting and implementing relevant tactics that connect with and convert a target audience.
Karen E. Sutherland
7. Social Media Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis and Big Data
Abstract
► Chapter 7 focuses on a further fundamental component of the social media strategy process, listening, monitoring and measurement. As this chapter will demonstrate, these activities take place in all stages of social media management: strategy development, implementation and evaluation. W. Edwards Deming wrote: “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion,” and this is definitely the case when it comes to social media management.
Karen E. Sutherland
8. Social Media Scheduling and Account Management Platforms
Abstract
The previous five chapters have been devoted to social media strategy development. They have guided you through audience research, the ethical and legal requirements, defining goals, objectives and key messages, devising effective tactics and social media analytics. With these fundamental components of social media strategy locked in, this chapter focuses on understanding and selecting the tools that can support the implementation of a clients’ or organisation’s social media strategy.
Karen E. Sutherland

Strategic Content Curation

Frontmatter
9. Strategic Content Curation
Abstract
With a solid social media strategy in place, a business or nonprofit has a much greater chance of achieving its goals. After developing the social media strategy, it must be implemented. This is where the next two sections of this book will prove to be extremely helpful to guide you through the process of curation and creation of strategic content to support the goals and objectives of the social media strategy.
Karen E. Sutherland
10. Ethical Content Curation
Abstract
Before we focus on the process of curating content for social media in ► Chap. 11, it is essential that we spend some time exploring the ethical issues inherent in its practice. At its very essence, social media content curation involves an author presenting content that they did not create.
Karen E. Sutherland
11. The Content Curation Process
Abstract
In ► Chap. 10 we explored the ethical and legal implications associated with content curation. We investigated how gaining permission is paramount if you do not own the copyright and clearly referencing authors and linking to their curated article is ethical best-practice. Now that you understand what is considered to be best-practice, you can apply this knowledge to our focus in this chapter: the content curation process.
Karen E. Sutherland
12. Techniques to Present Curated Content to Engage with Audiences
Abstract
In ► Chap. 12, we build on the knowledge that you have gained so far in relation to content curation. In ► Chaps. 10 and 11 explored ethical content curation and best-practice approaches in gathering and selecting content created by others. After you have a collection of great content, the next step is presenting it to your audience in ways that will resonate and help  them.
Karen E. Sutherland

Strategic Content Creation

Frontmatter
13. Strategic Content Creation
Abstract
The overarching theme of this text encourages social media management to be approached in a strategic way, and this is also the case with the creation of social media content. In 1996 Bill Gates proclaimed that ‘Content is King’ and he was definitely accurate with this statement (Evans, 2017). Each piece of content, whether it is text, image or video must support strategic goals, convey key messages and be relevant to the target audience (Dolan, Conduit, Frethey-Bentham, Fahy, & Goodman, 2019; Felix, Rauschnabel, & Hinsch, 2017; Kreiss, Lawrence, & McGregor, 2018). Content must suit each social media platform, cut through the noise to grab the attention of the target audience and fulfil its tactical purpose.
Karen E. Sutherland
14. Writing for Social Media
Abstract
Social media can be perceived as being a predominantly visual platform (as we will explore in ► Chaps. 15 and 16), due to the high levels of engagement that images and video can generate across channels (Brubaker & Wilson, 2018; Marshall, 2018). Yet, underestimating the power and necessity of well-written copy can be an error made to the detriment of a social media strategy. Generally, audiences consume text online in snack-sized portions reading an average of 28 words per website visit (Weinreich, Obendorf, Herder, & Mayer, 2008). Therefore, the written word can play a considerable role in cutting through the wide range of content a target audience scrolls past on a daily basis in social media’s attention economy (Quesenberry, 2018).
Karen E. Sutherland
15. Creating Compelling Images, Graphics, Memes and Infographics
Abstract
With the importance clarified of quality copywriting on social media, this chapter will explore the power of visual content. Yet, both types of content do not perform well in isolation. They need to work together to achieve the best results. A study by Brubaker and Wilson (2018) found that while visual content is effective in attracting attention on a newsfeed, it is written copy accompanying the visual element that helps convert the audience’s attention to engagement.
Karen E. Sutherland
16. Producing Videos that Pop
Abstract
Video has become a fundamental form of strategic social media content. Annually, predictions are made in digital marketing blogs about the future trends of social media for the coming year and video is nearly always on the list (Ahmad, 2019; Goodwin, 2019; O’Brien, 2019). These predictions about video are incorrect. Video is not a future trend. Video has been an essential part of strategic social media for many years. This is why it is crucial from a strategic social media management perspective to understand the format and the process of creating compelling video content that connects with target audiences on behalf of clients or an organisation. If a client or organisation is not regularly producing videos for their social media platforms, they need to start now, and this chapter can help to make that happen.
Karen E. Sutherland
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Strategic Social Media Management
Author
Karen E. Sutherland
Copyright Year
2021
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN
978-981-15-4658-7
Print ISBN
978-981-15-4657-0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4658-7