Mini Series: Social Media terms you may not know
At Stevie Social, we often use specific terms that we’re used to, but they might sound foreign to you. So we did a mini-series to break down some of the most important terms we use in our work with clients. Understanding these will help you stay on the same page with us and, ultimately, maximize the results we can achieve together!
1. Social Media Strategy
This is a term you’ll hear us use in nearly every meeting. A social media strategy is the overall plan we create based on the specific goals you have for your brand. Before we kick off any project, we ask: What do you want to accomplish with your social media? Whether it’s increasing sales, building brand awareness, or generating leads, everything we do aligns with your goals.
From this strategy, we create a roadmap that will help you reach those goals in a set timeline. This is one of the most crucial steps because it gives purpose to every piece of content we post on your behalf. A solid strategy ensures that everything ties back to your long-term success.
2. Content Calendars
Once we’ve built your strategy, we move on to a content calendar. If you’re unfamiliar, a content calendar is simply the tool we use to schedule out the specific content we'll post over the next 30 days. It’s the action plan we follow to execute your strategy.
With a well-organized content calendar, we can stay ahead of deadlines, adjust content as needed, and ensure that everything aligns with your objectives. It keeps the entire process running smoothly while giving you a clear view of what’s coming next.
3. Engagement
Engagement is the lifeblood of social media. It’s the metric we use to see how your content is performing and how your audience is interacting with it. This includes likes, comments, shares, and other forms of interaction.
When we talk about engagement rates, we’re looking at how many people interacted with your post compared to how many people saw it. This helps us track what’s resonating with your audience and what needs adjusting. Engagement helps us refine your strategy to make sure we’re hitting your goals as effectively as possible.
4. User-Generated Content (UGC)
This is one of the most valuable types of content right now. UGC refers to any content created by people outside of your company—typically customers or influencers. It’s authentic, real, and trusted by audiences. Whether it’s a customer sharing a positive experience on their phone or a paid creator sharing a review, UGC adds a fresh and personal touch to your brand.
The reason UGC performs so well is simple: people trust other people more than they trust brands. Incorporating UGC into your strategy builds trust with your audience and creates a connection that can be hard to achieve with polished, branded content.
What’s Next?
There’s so much more to cover, and we’ll keep diving deeper into the social media terms you need to know. Stay tuned for more videos, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or want to incorporate these strategies into your own social media plan. We’re here to help!
