You Need a Social Plan Before You Start Playing With the Social Channels

4. Now, assign the channels.
Based on what you want to accomplish, identify the specific social-media channels that are best aligned to deliver your results. If you are already in social media, just review how you are using it and how it is best used, and match that up with your goals.

Recently, someone said that using social-media channels without a plan was like turning on the oven and picking a temperature before actually deciding what you wanted to cook or the ingredients you need. So, make sure you put this step in the right place for your organization.

5. Finally, what metrics should be assigned to each of the goals?
What does success look like for social-media efforts, and who will be tracking the key metrics? You should be looking at things like volume, shares, retweets, likes, comments, feedback, revenue, etc.

As an extra step, take the time to develop content and frequency plans for each channel. This will ensure that your channels are working together and creating a cohesive social experience for your constituents.