Social networks including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn are a gold mine of user demographic, behaviour and interest data. Data that can be highly valuable to brands in an accelerating world of online brand competitiveness. The two-way communication between businesses and consumers on social media platforms encourages authentic feedback and unique insights

Maintaining your brand’s reputation is imperative, because the internet gives everyone a front-row seat to your successes and failures! Abstaining from social media isn’t an option because your competitors and customers will still share their views with a highly engaged audience, whether you participate or not. Fortunately, businesses can utilise their own social media profiles to have a considerable control over the ensuing narrative.

Daily community management is essential for maintaining your brand's presence on social media. The main purpose is to engage with your followers on a regular basis. Think of it as the community water cooler, where member contributions serve more than just brand awareness, but a platform to develop social norms, explore related topics and push new ideas. More importantly this will help establish a relationship.

Creating and curating content that excites your audience is key for all your owned channels - especially social media! Visually appealing and interesting content, with a touch of branding can translate into earned media; whereby followers voluntarily spread your message via sharing or post engagement. This is invaluable because individuals are trusted by their personal networks and therefore have greater influence than brands.

Video is flooding social media and this stampede is not likely to slow down anytime soon! From platforms entirely dedicated to video like YouTube, SnapChat, Instagram and Facebook stories; to the rise of live-streaming - video is everywhere. From high-tech equipment to amateur video on your smartphone, video can create cut through that helps demonstrate the authenticity of your brand.