Social Media is like a Triple Cream Brie on a Cheeseboard...

Social media is like a really good triple cream brie on a cheeseboard. Have we got your attention? Is your mouth watering yet?

Let us break it down for you.

Coming in to Christmas, you’re bound to be heading to a dinner party or two, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll even be throwing one yourself! So, what do you serve before the mains are ready?

A cheeseboard, of course!

However, you can’t serve a simple plate of triple cream brie to your guests by itself and call it a cheeseboard. Sure, there’s cheese on that plate, but that’s not what makes a cheeseboard. A good cheeseboard should at least include a selection of crackers, with maybe an alternative cheese, and of course a dip of sorts. A really good cheeseboard would go above and beyond, with olives, cured meats, pate, another dip, some dried fruit, and maybe some grapes. We’ve all seen the mouthwatering selections on Instagram - the grazing tables fit for a king! They don’t put the triple cream brie on a board and call it a day, they find things that complement.

This is comparable to your business and social media.

Consider your brand to be your board, and your socials to be your triple cream brie. Yes, people with love the idea of that, however when they go to eat it, what are they supposed to eat it with? You need some crackers, a dip, and a little something extra to go along with it.

What I’m trying to say, is that you can’t rely on your social media to be the only cheese on your cheeseboard. It should go along with your marketing strategy (SO important), your branding (equally as important), your blog/online content, your website, your physical presence (if you have one), your staff, and your brand’s personality. There are so many things that should tie in with your social media, that there is no way that it can stand alone and be successful.

As 2018 comes to an end, and you plan your strategy for the new year, take a step back and have a look at what’s on your cheeseboard. Make sure there’s a good mix of everything, so that your customers aren’t just being fed with a triple cream brie, but with an assortment of delicacies, so that you can serve them what they want. Imagine if you had someone who is lactose intolerant? They still want to engage with your cheeseboard - what have you got that will cater for them?

Ultimately, here’s the recipe to a really good cheeseboard: think about who’s coming to your party (your audience), offer them what you know they will want (this should come out in your audience research), and ensure that there’s assortment (this may come in different platforms or different deliverance of content - email marketing and Facebook advertising? Blogs and consistent Twitter updates?).

Don’t bore your customers with a sole wheel of triple cream brie, but make sure it’s on there somewhere!