---
name: social-media-strategist
description: |
  Social media strategy covering platform selection by audience, content strategy per platform, posting cadence, engagement tactics, hashtag strategy, influencer collaboration, analytics and KPIs, community management, and crisis communication. Use when the user asks about social media strategist or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "social-media marketing strategy planning"
  category: "marketing-sales"
  subcategory: "marketing"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Social Media Strategist

## When to Use


## Process

1. **Gather requirements.** Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.

2. **Analyze the situation.** Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to social media strategist.

3. **Develop the framework.** Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.

4. **Deliver actionable output.** Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.

5. **Address edge cases.** Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.

**Use this skill when:**
- User needs guidance on social media strategist
- User asks about social media strategist best practices or techniques
- User wants a structured approach to social media strategist

**Do NOT use this skill when:**
- A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
- The request is outside the scope of social media strategist
## Questions to Ask the User First

1. **What is your business/brand?** (Product, service, personal brand)
2. **Who is your target audience?** (Age, profession, interests, location)
3. **What platforms are you currently active on?**
4. **What are your social media goals?** (Brand awareness, leads, traffic, community, sales)
5. **What is your current follower count on each platform?**
6. **How much time can you dedicate weekly to social media?**
7. **Do you have a content creation budget?** (Design, video, tools)
8. **What is your brand voice/personality?** (Professional, casual, funny, authoritative)
9. **Who are 3-5 accounts in your space that you admire?**
10. **What content has performed well for you in the past?**
---
## Step 1: Platform Selection

### Platform Selection Matrix
```
PLATFORM SELECTION: WHERE IS YOUR AUDIENCE?

Score each platform 1-5 for audience fit:

| Factor              | LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube |
|---------------------|----------|-----------|-----------|--------|----------|---------|
| Audience present    | {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}| {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}} |
| Content format fit  | {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}| {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}} |
| Goal alignment      | {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}| {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}} |
| Resource fit        | {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}| {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}} |
| Competition level   | {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}   | {{1-5}}| {{1-5}}  | {{1-5}} |
| TOTAL               | {{}}     | {{}}      | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     | {{}}    |

RECOMMENDATION:
  Primary platform: {{highest_score}} -- Go deep here first
  Secondary platform: {{second_highest}} -- Maintain presence
  Ignore for now: {{lowest_scores}} -- Do not spread too thin
```

### Platform-Audience Fit Guide
```
QUICK PLATFORM GUIDE:

B2B / Professional audience:
  PRIMARY: LinkedIn
  SECONDARY: Twitter/X
  WHY: Decision-makers, industry discussions, thought leadership

B2C / Consumer (18-34):
  PRIMARY: Instagram + TikTok
  SECONDARY: YouTube
  WHY: Visual discovery, entertainment, trend-driven

B2C / Consumer (35-55):
  PRIMARY: Facebook + Instagram
  SECONDARY: YouTube
  WHY: Established habits, community groups, longer content

Tech / Startup audience:
  PRIMARY: Twitter/X + LinkedIn
  SECONDARY: YouTube (for demos/tutorials)
  WHY: Real-time conversation, industry news, product launches

Creative / Visual brands:
  PRIMARY: Instagram + TikTok
  SECONDARY: Pinterest + YouTube
  WHY: Visual storytelling, inspiration, portfolio

Local business:
  PRIMARY: Google Business + Facebook
  SECONDARY: Instagram
  WHY: Local discovery, reviews, community
```
---
## Step 2: Platform-Specific Content Strategy

### LinkedIn Strategy
```
LINKEDIN CONTENT STRATEGY

AUDIENCE: Professionals, B2B decision-makers, job seekers
ALGORITHM FAVORS: Native content, engagement in first hour, dwell time

CONTENT TYPES (by performance):
1. Text posts with personal stories (highest reach)
2. Document carousels (PDF slideshows)
3. Polls (high engagement, lower quality engagement)
4. Video (native upload, not YouTube links)
5. Articles (lower reach but good for SEO)
6. Image posts with insights

POST STRUCTURE (Text Post Formula):
  Line 1: Hook (stop the scroll -- bold statement or question)
  Line 2: [blank line for readability]
  Lines 3-10: Story/insight/value (one idea per line)
  Last line: CTA or question to drive comments
  [3-5 relevant hashtags at the bottom]

CONTENT MIX:
  40% Thought leadership / industry insights
  25% Personal stories / career lessons
  20% How-to / educational tips
  10% Company updates / wins
  5% Curated content with your commentary

POSTING CADENCE: 3-5x/week
BEST TIMES: Tue-Thu, 8-10 AM local
ENGAGEMENT RULE: Spend 15 min engaging with others BEFORE and AFTER posting
```

### Twitter/X Strategy
```
TWITTER/X CONTENT STRATEGY

AUDIENCE: Tech, media, news, startups, opinion leaders
ALGORITHM FAVORS: Replies, engagement, threads, premium users

CONTENT TYPES:
1. Threads (5-15 tweets, educational or story-based)
2. Hot takes / opinions (drive replies)
3. Quote tweets with your commentary
4. Images with text overlays
5. Polls
6. Short videos

THREAD FORMULA:
  Tweet 1: Hook + "A thread on {{topic}}" (or cliffhanger)
  Tweet 2-9: One insight per tweet, numbered
  Tweet 10: Summary + CTA ("Follow for more on {{topic}}")
  Tweet 11: Retweet of tweet 1 (to boost in feeds)

CONTENT MIX:
  30% Original insights and opinions
  25% Threads (deep-dive educational)
  20% Engagement (replies, quote tweets)
  15% Curated content with commentary
  10% Promotion (launches, offers, links)

POSTING CADENCE: 1-5x/day (quality over quantity)
BEST TIMES: Weekdays 9 AM-12 PM, 5-6 PM
ENGAGEMENT RULE: Reply to every reply on your tweets within 1 hour
```

### Instagram Strategy
```
INSTAGRAM CONTENT STRATEGY

AUDIENCE: 18-44, visual-first, lifestyle, consumer brands
ALGORITHM FAVORS: Reels, saves, shares, time spent on post

CONTENT TYPES (prioritized by reach):
1. Reels (15-90 seconds, highest organic reach)
2. Carousels (educational, swipeable, high saves)
3. Stories (daily, behind-the-scenes, polls/questions)
4. Static posts (branded quotes, announcements)
5. Lives (real-time engagement)

REELS FORMULA:
  Second 0-1: Hook (text overlay or surprising visual)
  Seconds 1-15: Core content delivery
  Seconds 15-30: Value or entertainment payoff
  Last 3 seconds: CTA (follow, save, share)
  Caption: Full context, hashtags, CTA

CAROUSEL FORMULA:
  Slide 1: Bold headline (stop the scroll)
  Slides 2-8: One tip/insight per slide
  Slide 9: Summary
  Slide 10: CTA ("Save this for later" / "Share with a friend")

CONTENT MIX:
  40% Reels (educational or entertaining)
  25% Carousels (tips, lists, step-by-step)
  20% Stories (daily engagement, BTS, polls)
  10% Static posts (quotes, announcements)
  5% User-generated content (reposts)

POSTING CADENCE: 4-7 feed posts/week + daily stories
BEST TIMES: Mon-Fri, 11 AM-1 PM; evenings 7-9 PM
```

### TikTok Strategy
```
TIKTOK CONTENT STRATEGY

AUDIENCE: 16-34 (growing older), trend-driven, entertainment-first
ALGORITHM FAVORS: Watch time, replays, comments, shares, follows from video

CONTENT PRINCIPLES:
1. Hook in first 1-3 seconds (or users swipe away)
2. Entertain first, educate second
3. Ride trends but add your unique angle
4. Authenticity > production value
5. Short videos (15-60 sec) outperform long ones

CONTENT CATEGORIES:
  1. Trend participation (sounds, effects, formats)
  2. Day in the life / behind the scenes
  3. Tips and tricks (fast-paced, text overlay)
  4. Storytimes (narrative hooks)
  5. Duets and stitches with relevant content
  6. Before/after transformations

HOOK FORMULAS:
  "Here is something nobody tells you about {{topic}}..."
  "Stop scrolling if you {{description of audience}}..."
  "This changed everything about how I {{task}}..."
  "3 mistakes you are making with {{topic}}..."
  "POV: you just {{relatable scenario}}..."

POSTING CADENCE: 1-3x/day (consistency > quality for growth)
BEST TIMES: Check your analytics (varies significantly)
```

### Facebook Strategy
```
FACEBOOK CONTENT STRATEGY

AUDIENCE: 25-55+, community-oriented, local businesses
ALGORITHM FAVORS: Groups, video, meaningful engagement, shares

CONTENT TYPES:
1. Native video (especially live)
2. Group discussions and engagement
3. Events
4. Image posts with stories
5. Links (lower organic reach)

CONTENT MIX:
  35% Community and engagement (questions, polls, discussions)
  25% Video content (native upload)
  20% Educational / value posts
  10% User-generated content and customer stories
  10% Promotional content

FACEBOOK GROUPS STRATEGY:
  Create: {{group_name}} -- Topic: {{topic}}
  Purpose: Community around {{shared_interest}}
  Posting rules: Established and enforced
  Admin cadence: Daily moderation, 3x/week posts
  Value: Direct access to engaged audience

POSTING CADENCE: 3-5x/week
BEST TIMES: Wed-Fri, 1-4 PM
```
---
## Step 3: Hashtag Strategy
```
HASHTAG STRATEGY

INSTAGRAM HASHTAG FRAMEWORK (use 15-30 per post):
  5 Broad hashtags (500K-5M posts): {{examples}}
  10 Medium hashtags (50K-500K posts): {{examples}}
  10 Niche hashtags (5K-50K posts): {{examples}}
  5 Branded hashtags: {{your_branded_tags}}

  Rotate hashtag sets (create 5-10 groups and cycle through)

LINKEDIN HASHTAGS (use 3-5 per post):
  Focus on: Industry-specific, role-specific, topic-specific

TWITTER/X HASHTAGS (use 1-3 per tweet):
  Less is more on Twitter
  Focus on: Trending topics, industry conversations, event tags

TIKTOK HASHTAGS (use 3-7 per video):
  1-2 Broad (#fyp, #LearnOnTikTok)
  2-3 Topic-specific (#{{niche}}, #{{topic}})
  1-2 Trending sounds/challenge tags

BRANDED HASHTAG CREATION:
  Primary brand hashtag: #{{CompanyName}}
  Campaign hashtag: #{{CampaignName}}
  Community hashtag: #{{CommunityName}}
  UGC hashtag: #{{UGCPrompt}}
```
---
## Step 4: Engagement Tactics
```
ENGAGEMENT PLAYBOOK
DAILY ENGAGEMENT ROUTINE (30-60 min):
BEFORE POSTING (15 min):
  - Engage with 10-15 accounts in your niche (comment, like, share)
  - Reply to any comments on your recent posts
  - Check DMs and respond
AFTER POSTING (15 min):
  - Reply to every comment in first hour (critical for algorithm)
  - Share post to Stories (Instagram) or repost (Twitter)
  - Engage in relevant groups/communities
THROUGHOUT THE DAY (15-30 min):
  - Monitor brand mentions and respond
  - Join relevant conversations
  - Support your community members' content
ENGAGEMENT TACTICS BY PLATFORM:
LinkedIn:
  - Comment meaningfully on industry leaders' posts
  - Ask thought-provoking questions in your posts
  - Use polls for quick engagement
  - Tag relevant people (sparingly, only when truly relevant)

Twitter/X:
  - Quote tweet with your perspective
  - Join Twitter Spaces in your niche
  - Create lists for key accounts to monitor
  - Reply to trending topics in your industry

Instagram:
  - Use Stories stickers (polls, questions, quizzes)
  - Respond to DMs with voice or video messages
  - Share UGC to Stories and tag the creator
  - Use "Close Friends" for exclusive content

TikTok:
  - Duet and stitch relevant videos
  - Reply to comments with video
  - Go live regularly to build rapport
  - Respond to every comment on new videos (first 1-2 hours)
```
---
## Step 5: Influencer Collaboration
```
INFLUENCER COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK
INFLUENCER TIERS:
  Nano (1K-10K): High engagement, low cost, authentic
  Micro (10K-50K): Niche authority, moderate cost, good ROI
  Mid (50K-500K): Broader reach, higher cost
  Macro (500K-1M): Wide reach, premium cost
  Mega (1M+): Maximum reach, highest cost, lower engagement rate
RECOMMENDED TIER: {{tier}} based on budget of ${{budget}}
INFLUENCER EVALUATION CRITERIA:
| Criteria              | Weight | Score (1-5) |
|-----------------------|--------|-------------|
| Audience alignment    | 30%    | {{}}        |
| Engagement rate       | 25%    | {{}}        |
| Content quality       | 20%    | {{}}        |
| Brand safety          | 15%    | {{}}        |
| Cost efficiency       | 10%    | {{}}        |
Engagement rate benchmarks:
  Instagram: 1-3% = average, 3-6% = good, 6%+ = excellent
  TikTok: 3-6% = average, 6-10% = good, 10%+ = excellent
  YouTube: 2-5% = average, 5%+ = good
COLLABORATION TYPES:
  1. Sponsored post / review (${{cost_range}})
  2. Affiliate / commission-based ({{pct}}% per sale)
  3. Product gifting (product cost only)
  4. Brand ambassador (ongoing, retainer + product)
  5. Content co-creation (collaborative piece)
  6. Takeover (they control your account for a day)
  7. Event attendance / hosting
OUTREACH TEMPLATE:
Subject: Collaboration opportunity with {{your_brand}}
Hi {{name}},
I have been following your content on {{platform}} and really
enjoy your posts about {{specific_topic}}. Your recent
{{specific_post}} really resonated with our audience.
We are {{your_brand}}, and we {{what_you_do}}. I think there
is a natural fit between your audience and our {{product/service}}.
I would love to explore a collaboration. Here is what I had in mind:
{{specific_proposal}}
Would you be open to a quick call to discuss?
Best,
{{your_name}}
{{your_title}}
{{your_brand}}
MEASUREMENT:
  Track: Impressions, engagement, clicks, conversions, CPM, CPA
  Attribution: Unique discount codes, UTM links, landing pages
  ROI = (Revenue from campaign - Campaign cost) / Campaign cost
```
---
## Step 6: Community Management
```
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT PLAYBOOK

RESPONSE TIME TARGETS:
  Comments: Within 1 hour (critical for algorithm)
  DMs: Within 4 hours
  Mentions: Within 4 hours
  Reviews: Within 24 hours
  Complaints: Within 1 hour (escalate if needed)

RESPONSE TONE:
  Positive comment: Thank, acknowledge, add value
  Question: Answer completely, link to resources
  Complaint: Acknowledge, empathize, offer solution (take to DM if complex)
  Troll: Do not engage. Hide/delete if needed. Block repeat offenders.
  Crisis: Follow crisis communication plan (see below)

COMMUNITY BUILDING TACTICS:
  1. Create a branded community (Facebook Group, Discord, Slack)
  2. Feature community members regularly
  3. Run user-generated content campaigns
  4. Host regular live sessions (Q&A, AMAs)
  5. Celebrate community milestones
  6. Create rituals (weekly threads, monthly challenges)
  7. Empower super-fans as community moderators
```
---
## Step 7: Crisis Communication
```
SOCIAL MEDIA CRISIS COMMUNICATION PLAN

CRISIS LEVELS:
  Level 1 (Minor): Negative comment or review
    Response: Individual, empathetic reply within 1 hour
    Escalation: None needed

  Level 2 (Moderate): Viral complaint or trending negative post
    Response: Prepared statement, leadership review
    Escalation: Marketing manager + PR
    Timeline: Response within 2 hours

  Level 3 (Major): Brand-threatening event, media coverage
    Response: Official statement from leadership
    Escalation: CEO + Legal + PR
    Timeline: Initial acknowledgment within 1 hour, full response within 4 hours

CRISIS RESPONSE TEMPLATE:
  Step 1: Acknowledge the issue publicly
    "We are aware of {{issue}} and are investigating."
  Step 2: Take responsibility (if appropriate)
    "We take full responsibility for {{what_happened}}."
  Step 3: State what you are doing about it
    "We are {{specific_action}} to resolve this."
  Step 4: Commit to update
    "We will provide an update by {{timeframe}}."
  Step 5: Follow through

CRISIS RESPONSE RULES:
- Do NOT delete negative posts (makes it worse)
- Do NOT argue publicly
- Do NOT use humor during a crisis
- Do respond quickly (silence = guilt in public perception)
- Do take conversations to DM/email for resolution
- Do document everything for post-crisis review
```
---
## Step 8: Analytics & KPIs
```
SOCIAL MEDIA KPI DASHBOARD

AWARENESS METRICS:
  Follower growth: {{count}} new followers ({{pct}}% growth MoM)
  Impressions: {{count}} total impressions
  Reach: {{count}} unique accounts reached
  Share of voice: {{pct}}% vs competitors

ENGAGEMENT METRICS:
  Engagement rate: {{pct}}% (likes + comments + shares / impressions)
  Comments per post: {{avg}}
  Shares per post: {{avg}}
  Saves per post: {{avg}} (Instagram)
  Click-through rate: {{pct}}%

CONVERSION METRICS:
  Website traffic from social: {{sessions}}
  Leads from social: {{count}}
  Revenue from social: ${{revenue}}
  Cost per lead (social): ${{cpl}}

CONTENT PERFORMANCE:
  Top 5 posts by reach: {{list}}
  Top 5 posts by engagement: {{list}}
  Top 5 posts by conversions: {{list}}
  Worst 5 posts: {{list}} -- why: {{analysis}}

PLATFORM-SPECIFIC TRACKING:
| Metric         | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook |
|----------------|----------|---------|-----------|--------|----------|
| Followers      | {{}}     | {{}}    | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     |
| Impressions    | {{}}     | {{}}    | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     |
| Engagement %   | {{}}     | {{}}    | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     |
| Website clicks | {{}}     | {{}}    | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     |
| Top content    | {{}}     | {{}}    | {{}}      | {{}}   | {{}}     |

REPORTING CADENCE:
  Weekly: Quick metrics review, top/bottom posts
  Monthly: Full platform review, strategy adjustments
  Quarterly: Deep dive, strategy overhaul if needed
```
---
## Output Checklist

- [ ] Platform selection is justified by audience data
- [ ] Content strategy is platform-specific (not one-size-fits-all)
- [ ] Posting cadence is realistic for available resources
- [ ] Engagement tactics are documented as daily habits
- [ ] Hashtag strategy is researched and organized into sets
- [ ] Influencer collaboration criteria are defined
- [ ] Community management guidelines and response templates exist
- [ ] Crisis communication plan is documented before a crisis occurs
- [ ] KPIs are defined and tracking is set up
- [ ] Strategy is reviewed monthly and adapted based on data


## Output Format

Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.

```
[Social Media Strategist deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline
```


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with social media strategist for a mid-size project."

**Output:** A complete social media strategist framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
- **Conflicting requirements:** Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
- **Scale mismatch:** Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
- **Domain crossover:** When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
