Social media is a lot like ballet.

Well, it doesn’t wear a tutu, but they’re still a lot alike.

With each step, a ballerina anticipates the next move. They’re able to see what is ahead of them and prepare accordingly. This type of thinking/preparation requires quick responses and precise flexibility.

The problem is that too many people utilizing social media are actually “Stumble-inas”, meaning they stumble to-and-fro, with no clue where they’re going next. Their reflexes are sluggish like most preteens. They respond poorly, if they respond at all.

Social media is a world of real time.  If you can’t manage your promotions in real time, you’re probably going to step on your customers toes.

Social media is a world where quick responses are necessary. On the other edge of the sword, if your social marketing strategy is a tad off, it happens quickly! If this is the case, you need to act in real time, just like social media, to fix the situation and get back on the right path.

There’s a common fallacy that custom, deeply involve tabs created by big, slow, and expensive agencies are better than flexible, white-label applications.

Well, you can go ahead and put that idea to rest.

Most of the time and energy spent developing these custom tabs is spent on designing the tab itself, neglecting the fact that CONTENT matters most. When you neglect to give your fans the content they need, your design doesn’t matter anymore. (especially when your promotion is late and way over budget)

Smart brand marketers work towards efficiency in their efforts.  Spending weeks or even months designing and planning a custom promotion is a gigantic waste of time and money when you look at the conversion rates compared to a quick hitting promotion that can be launched in minutes (and quickly updated) at a fraction of the cost. (psst, conversion rates are all that really matters anyway)

What is more important than making sure every single pixel is in perfect place at launch is the ability to change things quickly when necessary (after the promo is live).  You have  to offer the right content at the right moment, and the target is a moving so if you can’t adjust your sights in real time, you’re setting yourself up to miss.

That is why a Content Management System is so pivotal in improving your social media management.  Don’t fall into the trap of creating the “perfect” promotion only to realize that the cost of making changes ends up costing you more than you’re making from the promo in the first place.

We’ve created the North Social platform of Facebook apps with this idea in mind. The notion that you should be in charge. That you are in control of your own destiny on social media marketing. The concept that smart social media marketing is built around testing, measuring, and making FAST modifications until you get it right.

That’s why every single app comes with a content management system that gives brands a simple, quick and powerful way to engage your fans in the most relevant way possible. It allows you to change your design quickly and effectively when your strategy needs some tidying up.   It’s worth noting that not all off the shelf apps are the same.  Apps that  allow for extremely limited customization just aren’t gonna cut it.

Make sure your Facebook apps allow you just enough room to bring your idea to life, but not enough freedom to wander off the path and waste time designing every pixel so your promotion launches a month late.

Make sure you’re a Facebook ballerina.

It will help you enhance your personal social media experience as well as those with which you engage. No one enjoys watching “Stumble-ina,” fall flat on her face.

So, prepare readily.   Make sure you are ready to launch, and even more ready to make changes on the fly.

Respond quickly and appropriately. Utilize your mental flexibility and show your Ballet-esque poise in the process.

Be more flexible.  Be more social.