How to Set Social Media Goals That Actually Move the Needle

Summary

Social Media Decoded: Episode Summary - "How to Set Social Media Goals That Actually Move the Needle"

Hosted by Michelle Thames | Release Date: December 9, 2024

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Introduction

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames, a seasoned social media strategist with over 11 years of experience, delves into the critical topic of setting effective social media goals. Aimed at creatives, influencers, business owners, and entrepreneurs, Michelle emphasizes the importance of moving beyond superficial metrics to achieve tangible results that propel businesses and careers forward.

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Why Goal Setting Matters for Social Media

Michelle opens the discussion by addressing the fundamental question: Why does goal setting even matter for social media?

[01:45] Michelle Thames: "Without clear goals, social media becomes a black hole. You will spend hours scrolling, posting, and engaging and wonder why nothing is working."

She underscores that social media should be viewed as a strategic tool designed to serve broader objectives, such as building a brand, attracting clients, or advancing one's career. Without intentional goal setting, efforts can become aimless, yielding minimal impact.

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Setting Goals That Move the Needle

Michelle differentiates between vague objectives and precise, actionable goals. She advocates for laser-focused and intentional goal setting to ensure that social media activities translate into meaningful outcomes.

[02:30] Michelle Thames: "It's about getting laser-focused and intentional with your social media efforts so that you can walk into 2025 with clarity and a plan that works."

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Platform-Specific Strategies

Michelle breaks down goal-setting strategies tailored to two pivotal platforms: Instagram and LinkedIn.

1. Instagram Goals

Instagram remains a vital platform for brand building and community engagement. Michelle suggests moving beyond follower counts to more substantive metrics:

• Increasing Engagement

  [03:15] Michelle Thames: "Set a goal to increase your engagement rate by 10% over the next three months. Focus on creating content that sparks conversation, like polls, Q&A stickers, or carousel posts that deliver value."

• Driving Website Traffic

  [04:00] Michelle Thames: "Set a goal to get 500 clicks on your website from Instagram in January. Utilize tools like Linktree to track link performance and ensure every post or story includes a clear call to action."

• Generating Leads

  [04:45] Michelle Thames: "Aim to collect 50 new leads via Instagram. Employ lead magnets such as freebies or webinars to encourage followers to join your email list."

Michelle shares her own success, mentioning how she surpassed her lead generation goal by acquiring 150 new leads through strategic use of Instagram ads.

[05:30] Michelle Thames: "I tapped into some ads and got like, 150 new leads on my email list. So if your goal is 50 new leads from Instagram, use lead magnets like a freebie or a webinar."

2. LinkedIn Goals

For professionals and businesses looking to enhance their presence on LinkedIn, Michelle outlines goals centered around thought leadership and network expansion:

• Building Thought Leadership

  [06:20] Michelle Thames: "Set a goal to post three thought leadership pieces a month or more. Share your expertise through articles, newsletters, or videos to initiate meaningful industry conversations."

• Expanding Your Network

  [07:05] Michelle Thames: "Connect with 20 new professionals in your field each month. Engage with their content and send personalized messages to build authentic relationships."

• Landing Opportunities

  [07:50] Michelle Thames: "Aim to secure three interviews or collaborations by February. Showcase your skills strategically and proactively reach out to industry peers."

Michelle recounts her recent LinkedIn efforts, highlighting the immediate impact of consistent posting and strategic networking.

[08:30] Michelle Thames: "Someone sent me a DM within a week of being consistent on LinkedIn, wanting to set up a call to discuss my services. It was a straight-to-the-point message that led to a valuable opportunity."

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Vision Board Party: Aligning Goals with Vision

To complement goal setting, Michelle introduces her free Vision Board Party scheduled for January 7th, 2025. This event is designed to integrate personal and professional visions with actionable social media strategies.

[09:10] Michelle Thames: "Your goals need to be a part of a bigger vision. At my free Vision Board Party, we'll break down your big picture vision for the next year and map it out into actionable goals."

During the party, participants will:

• Align their social media strategies with personal and professional growth.
• Develop a clear roadmap for the upcoming year.
• Receive a free vision board kit, including templates and a workbook to enhance their goal-setting process.

Michelle encourages listeners to join, emphasizing the interactive and value-packed nature of the event.

[09:50] Michelle Thames: "It's going to be fun, interactive, and packed with value, so I don't want you to miss it, friend."

Listeners can secure their spot by sending a DM with the word "vision" or clicking the link in the show notes.

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Conclusion: Creating a Roadmap for Success

In wrapping up the episode, Michelle reiterates the essence of effective goal setting:

[10:00] Michelle Thames: "Setting social media goals isn't just about writing down what you want. It's about creating a roadmap to get there. Focus on what really matters for your business or career and break it down into actionable steps that keep you on track and that you can track."

She urges listeners to take proactive steps towards their 2025 goals by joining the Vision Board Party, ensuring they start the year with clarity and confidence.

[10:25] Michelle Thames: "If you're ready to turn your 2025 goals into reality, don't wait. Join my free Vision Board Party on January 7th. It's your chance to get clear, get focused, and start the year strong."

Michelle concludes with a heartfelt thank you, encouraging listeners to share the episode, leave reviews, and engage with her on social media.

[10:50] Michelle Thames: "Keep dreaming big and setting those goals that move the needle. I can't wait to talk to you in the next one."

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Key Takeaways

• Intentional Goal Setting: Move beyond superficial metrics to set clear, actionable goals that align with your broader business or career objectives.

• Platform-Specific Strategies: Tailor your goals to the strengths and functionalities of each social media platform to maximize impact.

• Authentic Engagement: Focus on building genuine connections and thought leadership to foster meaningful growth and opportunities.

• Vision Integration: Combine your social media goals with a larger vision to create a cohesive and effective roadmap for success.

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Upcoming Event

Free Vision Board Party

• Date: January 7th, 2025
• Purpose: Align personal and professional visions with actionable social media goals.
• Benefits: Receive a free vision board kit, templates, and a workbook.
• How to Join: DM Michelle the word "vision" or click the link in the show notes.

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Stay tuned for more expert insights and actionable tips on Social Media Decoded, your go-to podcast for mastering social media and thriving online.

Transcript

[Stripe Representative]

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[Michelle Thames]

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Social Media Decoded Podcast. The number one podcast to help you understand social media better so that you grow your business, get more clients, and monetize. And I'm your host, Michelle Thames, and today we're getting straight into it. No fluff, no filler. You already know that's how I roll. We're talking about setting social media goals that actually move the needle, my friend. You know, the kind of goals that you don't just look good on paper, right? But the goals that actually drive results for your business or career. And listen, this isn't about vague goals like post more or get more followers. I don't know if you can't see my air quotes, but that's what I'm doing. It's about getting laser focused and intentional with your social media efforts so that you can walk into 2025 with clarity and a plan that works. Plus, I got something special to help you with this. I'm having my free vision board party happening on January 7th. This is my most attended event of the year, my fourth annual event. It is always such an amazing event and it's going to be powerful. And I'll tell you all about it as we dive into today's episode. Okay, so grab your pen, grab your coffee and let's get some goals that's actually matter. Okay, let's set some goals that actually matter. Let's start with the big question. Why does goal setting even matter for social media? Michelle well, here's the thing. Without clear goals, social media becomes a black hole. You will spend hours scrolling, post and engaging and wonder why Nothing is working. The truth is, social media is a tool, not a magic wand. There. You know, it's there to serve your bigger goals, whether that's building your brand, landing new clients, or growing your career. But to make it work, you need to know what you're aiming for. And that's where intentional goal setting comes in. So, Michelle, how do you set goals that actually move the needle? That's the question. Well, you're in luck, my friend. Let's break it down platform by platform. Okay, first up, Instagram. Trust. The old Instagram, a powerhouse for building brand awareness and creating community, no matter how much you love or hate this platform. But let's move beyond the surface level goals of getting more followers. Instead, I want you to think about goals like these. Increasing engagement. Set a goal to increase your engagement rate by 10% over the next three months. That means focusing on creating content that sparks conversation. Think polls, question and answer stickers, or even carousel posts that deliver value. Number two is driving website traffic. How about setting a goal to get 500 clicks on your website from Instagram in January? You can use tools like Link Tree or Stan, you already know to track link performance and to make sure that every post or story has a clear call to action. Number three is generating leads. If you're in business, make it a goal to collect 50 new leads via Instagram. I did it just this past month, y'all. I tapped into some ads and I got like, 150 new leads on my email list. So if Your goal is 50 new leads from Instagram, use lead magnets like a freebie, a webinar to get people to opt into your email list. And remember, followers are great, but leads convert. Okay. Period. Now, I want to talk about LinkedIn. If you're a career marketer, business owner, or looking to level up professionally, LinkedIn should absolutely be a part of your strategy. And I am super excited because I have been going really hard on LinkedIn for the last two weeks. You have two weeks. I am building up this consistency muscle with LinkedIn because before it wasn't there, honestly. But I know the potential of LinkedIn and my 2025. One of my top goals is to be more active on LinkedIn. And so I've already scheduled my content for the next two weeks. Yes, I got with the coach. Yep. Because coaches have coaches. I got with the coach. She taught me everything I needed to know. And she even had a bundle recently that I purchased that is amazing. Hit me up and I'll tell you about it. Her name is Deborah Ashley. And she's amazing. She is on Facebook and Instagram. I think her Name is the LinkedIn black belt, if I'm not mistaken, on Instagram. And she's amazing. She had the LinkedIn Authority Kit and I used that and somebody already sent me a DM within a week, within a week of me being consistent and using the tools that I had, they sent me a DM and said, hey Michelle, can I want to set up a call with you to talk about your services. It was literally a straight to the point message. And this lady did not like my post or anything. I didn't even, I don't even know where she came from. Right. So I'm just sharing that to say if you are thinking about getting serious on LinkedIn, do it. And here are some goals that I want you to consider. Okay. Number one, building thought leadership. I want you to set a goal to post three thought leadership pieces a month or more. I'm doing three a week. I'm posting three times a week and I'm posting my to my newsletter or even videos where you share your expertise and start meaningful conversations in your industry. And then I want you to expand your network. How about setting a goal to connect with 20 new professionals in your field each month. And don't just add people, engage with their content, send personalized messages and build real connections. Because none of this can be fake. Like none of this can be microwave fake if you're listening. So you gotta be in this for real to really strategize with the plan, but actually build real connections with people at the end of the day. Because social media is social and that is what it is for connections. If we didn't have it, I believe, you know, I mean, I've been around when we didn't have it and it's just like, oh my gosh, we have all these tools at our fingertips. Why not use this to the best of your ability? But why not also build real, real connections with people that you may have never known because you wouldn't have the Internet to connect with them. Okay. And then landing opportunities. Maybe your goal is to secure three interviews or collaborations by February. Use LinkedIn to strategically showcase your skills and proactively reach out to people in your industry. So here's how my vision board party can help you, my friend. Now this is where it all ties together. Your goals need to be a part of a bigger vision. And that's exactly what we'll be doing at my free, yes, absolutely free, vision board party on January 7th, 2025 this isn't your average vision board session, okay? So don't think it's like that. We're combing intention with strategy so that we can all start 2025 with clarity and confidence. So during the party, we'll break down your big picture vision for the next year and map it out to actionable goals. Okay. We'll talk about aligning your social media strategy with your personal and professional growth. And I'll share practical tips for staying consistent throughout the year. Plus, it's virtual, so you can join from anywhere. And did I mention it's free and you get a free. Yes, a free vision board kit. So not only did I give you templates so you can come prepared to the party and a workbook so that you can just think about your visions even more. So if you want to kick off the year with me, come on. And it's going to be fun. Okay? So here's what I need you to do. DM me the word vision or click the link in the show notes to grab your spot. It's going to be fun, interactive, and packed with value, so I don't want you to miss it, friend. Okay. All right, let's wrap this up. Setting social media goals isn't just about writing down what you want. Nope, not about that. It's about creating a roadmap to get there. Focus on what really matters for your business or career and break it down into actionable steps that keep you on track and that you can track. If you're ready to turn your 2025 goals into reality, don't wait, friend. Join my free Vision board party on January 7th. It's your chance to get clear, get focused, and to start the year strong. Don't forget to DM me vision or click the link below in the show, not to save your spot. It is free. Okay. I want to thank you so much for tuning into social media Decoded today. If this episode resonated with you, share with a friend okay. Share with a friend, leave a review and let me know what your go what goals you're setting for 2025. Okay. I would love to hear from you. Until next time, friend. Keep dreaming big and setting those goals that move the needle. I can't wait to talk to you in the next one.

[Stripe Representative]

Peace Stripe helps many of the world's most influential companies grow their revenue and build a more profitable business. Whether it's Hertz making checkout a smooth ride for their customers, OpenAI answering unprecedented demand, or PGA chipping away at back office inefficiency Stripe's financial infrastructure platform helps companies achieve ambitious goals. No matter what success looks like for your business, Stripe helps ensure the complexity of financial systems doesn't get in your way. Learn [e-mail] glad shrink feeling pun so.

[Capella University Representative]

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