Chapter 11: Syncing the Strategy Dots and Crafting Action Plans

Summary  •  Outline  •  Study Questions  •  Flashcards  •  Quiz

"Effective strategy also demands constant management, reassessment, and adaptation largely because war is interactive – the enemy gets a vote." – Andrew Wilson

Chapter Summary

You can have solid coordinates, the right channels, stellar content, great connections and an impressive corrections plan, but the strategy may still fail unless they all sync up with one another. This chapter presents three “tests” to ensure that they harmonize with one another to create an effective social media strategy.

To pass the Coordinate Test, the social media manager must answer “yes” to the following:

  • Do our selected channels sync with our coordinates?
  • Do our content choices sync with our coordinates?
  • Do our connection choices sync with our coordinates?
  • Does our correction plan sync with our coordinates?

To proceed, there are Synergy Test questions to address:

  • Are our channels aligned with our message (content) choices?
  • Are our channels aligned with our connection decisions?
  • Are our channels aligned with our correction plan?
  • Are our message choices aligned with our connection decisions?
  • Are our message choices aligned with our correction plan?
  • Are our connection decisions aligned with our correction plan?

After all the above questions can be answered “yes,” the Translation Test follows, which directs attention to the translation of the strategy into action plans. At this point, you are ready to specify what needs to be done, who will do it, and when it will be done.

Chapter Outline

  • Test 1: The Coordinate Test (note: the following questions apply to a specific example)
    • Will the selected channels increase your target audience’s attendance at your event?
    • Will your content choices increase your target audience’s attendance at your event?
    • Will your connection choices increase your target audience’s attendance at your event?
    • Will your correction plan increase your target audience’s attendance at your event?
  • Test 2: The Synergy Test
    • Are the channels aligned with your message choices?
    • Are the channels aligned with your connection decisions?
    • Are the channels aligned with your correction plan?
    • Are the message choices aligned with your connection decisions?
    • Are the message choices aligned with your correction decisions?
    • Are the connection decisions aligned with our correction plan?
  • Test 3: The Translation Test
  • Test-Taking Advice
    • Don’t assume that because you passed test 1 that you will ace test 2
    • Solicit the opinions and insights of others
    • Expect imperfections
  • Conclusion

Chapter Deep Dive Study Questions

These exercises are designed to enhance your understanding of the chapter’s key ideas, principles and approaches.

#1
Rank order the three tests outlined in this chapter based on difficulty.  Provide your rationale.

#2
Find three examples of social media decisions that pass one coordinate test but fail another one.  Provide your rationale.  

#3
One of the challenges in constructing a social media strategy is distinguishing between strategies and tactics.  Create a series of 5 tests that can be used to make the distinction. These may take the form of “We’ve created a tactic when…”  Provide your rationale for the tests.

  Chapter Flashcards

[qdeck] [q] Coordinate Test
[a] A check to determine if your strategic goals are aligned with you channel choices, content selections, connection decisions and correction plan.
[q] Synergy Test
[a] A check to determine if your channel choices, content selections, connection decisions and correction plan are aligned with one another.
[q] Translation Test
[a] A check to determine if your strategy has been effectively transformed into action plans and tactics.
[/qdeck]

 

Chapter Quiz

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