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CREATE A SIMPLE 
SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN 
A 5 STEP GUIDE
Journalists are taught to ask 5 
simple questions to build the 
framework for every story.
You’ve probably heard 
of these questions — the 5 Ws.
The 
5 Ws 
Who? 
What? 
When? 
Where? 
Why?
The 
5 Ws 
Who? 
What? 
When? 
Where? 
Why?
The 
5 Ws 
Who? 
What? 
When? 
Where? 
Why?
The 
5 Ws 
Who? 
What? 
When? 
Where? 
Why?
The 
5 Ws 
Who? 
What? 
When? 
Where? 
Why?
You can also use the 5 Ws to 
build a foundation for a simple 
social media plan.
That’s what we’re here 
to teach you today.
1 
Why do you want to use 
social media for your business?
If you want to be successful 
on social media
you have to have a crystal clear picture of what 
you want to accomplish for your brand.
Not sure what I mean?
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business:
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business: 
Awareness
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business: 
Awareness Leads
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business: 
Awareness Leads Sales
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business: 
Awareness Leads Sales 
Customer 
Service
Here are some ways social media 
can help your business: 
Awareness Leads Sales 
Customer 
Service 
Brand 
Loyalty
Determining your key objectives 
will help you focus your overall efforts
and help you build a social media strategy 
to help get you there.
2 
Who are you trying to reach?
Once you’ve determined why you 
want to use social media
you can focus on identifying who 
your key audience is for your efforts.
For instance…
If you want to use social 
media to increase loyalty
your audience will be focused on 
existing customers.
If you want to generate 
awareness for your brand
your audience will be focused on 
prospects, brand partners and journalists.
3 
What does your audience want?
Understanding your audience’s needs
will help you create content they can’t wait to devour.
Prospective customers 
might want to know 
how to solve a problem.
Your loyal fans may be 
looking for unique ways 
to use your product or service.
The key to uncovering 
your audience’s needs?
Spending the time listening and talking 
to prospects on social media.
The more you know about 
your audience
the easier it will be to develop content 
that’s relevant, entertaining and informative.
4 
Where does your audience 
hang out online?
Companies often START with 
social media platforms.
But it’s better to decide on platforms 
AFTER you’ve determined your 
goals and target audience.
Now that you’ve done that, you can 
focus on discovering where 
your audience hangs out online.
It’s the key to deciding on the 1-2 platforms 
that will have the most impact for your brand.
How do you do this?
How do you do this? 
Ask. Listen. Look.
Ask. 
Ask your customers
Ask. 
Ask your customers 
Which social networks do 
they use most?
Ask. 
Ask your customers 
Which social networks do 
they use most? 
Which networks do they 
use to make buying decisions?
Listen. 
Listen on social media
Listen. 
Listen on social media 
Where are people talking about 
your brand?
Listen. 
Listen on social media 
Where are people talking about 
your brand? 
Where are they talking about 
your competitors?
Listen. 
Listen on social media 
Where are people talking about 
your brand? 
Where are they talking about 
your competitors?
Look. 
Look at research
Look. 
Look at research 
Look at studies on how your 
audience use social media.
5 
When do they want to 
hear from you?
There’s no universal “magic” time 
to post on social media.
Instead, focus on when your audience 
wants to hear from you.
Targeting B2B prospects 
or C-level executives?
You might find that 
9-5 works best.
Focusing on busy moms?
They might be 
online more at night 
once the kids are asleep.
Getting to know your audience will 
help you share content when 
they’re most likely to see it.
Okay, let’s recap
5 Steps to a Simple Social Media Plan 
1 Why do you want to use 
social media for your business?
5 Steps to a Simple Social Media Plan 
1 Why do you want to use 
social media for your business? 
2 Who are you trying to reach?
5 Steps to a Simple Social Media Plan 
1 Why do you want to use 
social media for your business? 
2 Who are you trying to reach? 
3 What does your audience want?
5 Steps to a Simple Social Media Plan 
1 Why do you want to use 
social media for your business? 
2 Who are you trying to reach? 
3 What does your audience want? 
4 Where does your audience hang out online?
5 Steps to a Simple Social Media Plan 
1 Why do you want to use 
social media for your business? 
2 Who are you trying to reach? 
3 What does your audience want? 
4 Where does your audience hang out online? 
5 When do they want to hear from you?
Answering these questions is a good 
starting point that will help you build the 
foundation for your social media efforts.
Like this SlideShare? 
Then you’ll love our 
weekly newsletter! 
Subscribe
Stuck with your social media efforts? We can help. 
Drop us a line to get the conversation started. 
Connect with us online: 
flybluekite.com 
@flybluekite 
L 
info@flybluekite.com
Credits 
Design by 
Sarah Mason @ Uncommonly Social 
L@sarahsmason 
Flickr Images 
Binoculars by hyku 
Audience by Brett Sayer 
Chossy2 by Nick Weinrauch 
Megaphon by floeschie 
BXP135660 by tableatny 
Front row by JD Lasica

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5 Steps to Creating a Simple Social Media Plan