Before the start of every year, business owners are rushing to Facebook to try and be active on social media. Why? Because a new year is a new chance to market your business and get foot traffic through the door or turn leads into clients.

Now, the big question is… how do you come up with a solid social media strategy in such a short amount of time? It’s easy, and we are here to guide you through 5 simple steps that will get your business prepped for a prosperous year on Facebook.

#1 Goals

Every social media strategy begins with the right goals. Before you put your strategy into action you will need to outline what it is you are trying to achieve in 2017, and how you can achieve it through social.

Tip: One thing to keep in mind is how many goals you have. Too many can make it hard to focus, which will affect you social media efforts.

#2 Branding

Once you have your goals set, it is time to prep your branding materials. If you are new to Facebook for business, you will need to gather your logo, create a cover image and take photos that represent your brand.

Tip: If you are taking the photos yourself, make sure they cater to your target audience, while showcasing your brand’s style and personality.

#3 Budget

No social media strategy is complete without a Facebook Ads budget. Your budget will depend on the goals for your business. If you are looking to get engagement up on Facebook and customers excited about your business, you will need to boost your posts. You could spend anywhere from $10 per week to $500. It all depends on what you are looking to accomplish.

Tip: If you are planning on capturing leads, likes or website clicks through Facebook Ads, you may want to consider a budget $100 or more. These campaigns can be a little pricey depending on the industry.

#4 Content

Now that you are ready with a budget, it is time to start planning out your content. A great way to keep your social media strategy in line is by creating original content that is not only engaging for your target audience, but includes a CTA (call-to-action).

Tip: A CTA is important, however it is okay to leave it out of posts throughout the week. Too many click here, or call now prompts can turn off customers.

#5 Schedule

One of the best ways to ensure a cohesive social media strategy for your business is by following a schedule. Map out what you will be posting each week, so you can take a step back and really see if your content is going to help your Facebook business goals in the long run.

Tip: Be consistent in your posting. Make a plan to either post every other day, 7 days a week or twice per day. Without a scheduling plan, you may find yourself skipping days.

There it is, your top 5 steps to creating an express social media strategy for the new year. Your business can profit from being on platforms like Facebook in 2017, just remember to stay consistent and to create engaging content that will keep your potential customers or clients intrigued!