If you’ve tried to find your audience on social media, you know it’s tough. But knowledge is power, so here are 10 things can help you get a leg up.

Social media and social media marketing has been around for years now, and it isn’t going anywhere. And wherever there are people, there will be marketers looking for a way to get hold of their eyeballs. If you’ve tried to find your audience on social media, though, you’re already aware of how tough it can be. Knowledge is power, however, which is why these 10 things can help you get a leg up on the competition.

1. Quantity Matters

When it comes to social media marketing, you need to remember that quantity matters just as much as quality. High-quality content is more likely to get an audience to come to you, and it’s also more likely to get shared across social media networks, but if you only have a few pieces available then it’s going to be problematic. A steady stream of good content is better than occasional blips of genius pieces.

2. It Takes More Than 15 Minutes A Day

Social media is seen as something that takes a few minutes, and it’s done. You make a status update, create a simple post, and you’re done. Social media marketing, though, is a different beast.

You need to take time to craft good posts, you have to interact with the community, and you need to respond to people who leave comments on your posts. All of that takes time.

3. Implementation Can Make A HUGE Difference

In the Edgar Allen Poe story The Gold Bug, treasure hunters put a golden scarab into the eye socket of a skull, and let it drop to the ground. They then went 50 paces at a certain angle from where the bug was dropped. If the scarab was dropped from the left eye socket, the direction the hunters took was hundreds of yards away from where they would have gone if the bug was dropped from the right eye socket.

Social media is a lot like that. A subtle different in how you implement your content, or how the site alters its requirements, can make a big difference in your end results. So watch the numbers, and see what happens when you make subtle adjustments.

4. The Keyword is SOCIAL

One of the most important aspects of social media marketing is that you have to be social. That means you need to do more than just post links on your wall like you’re a festival barker shouting at the crowd. You need to interact with your audience, and establish dialogue to keep people involved.

5. Buyer Personas Matter

Before you make a single post on social media, you need to know who your buyers are. That’s what buyer personas are for. These theoretical constructions give you an idea of how you can tap into what your ideal audience wants, and they can give you an edge on getting your audience exactly what they’re looking for.

6. Content is KING

You’ve likely heard this phrase before, but it cannot be overstated. Social media marketing is all about the content you’re creating. Content is what people show up to see, which is why you need to make sure you have a steady output in order to keep your audience happy.

7. Timing Matters

Sometimes it isn’t about what you say, but when you say it. Social media is a 24-hour engine, and you will get the most attention if you post when people are looking. Late morning to early afternoon makes you more likely to be seen.

8. You Need Cross-Functional Skills

Social media marketing requires a lot of different skills to make it work. That means you either need the right skills of your own, or you need a social media marketing team in order to get the results you want.

9. Engagement is Necessary

Communicating with your audience is important, but sometimes you have to start the conversation. Posts that ask questions, and invite discussion, are more likely to get people involved, and keep them involved.

10. Your Numbers Matter, So Actually Watch Them

Most social media sites come with some type of metrics built-in. Likes, shares, comments, views, and others all make a difference. You can use those numbers to provide insight about which types of content, and which times of day, will get the best reactions from your public.

Original article written by Elicia Stevens and can be seen here.