How are you using social media to help grow your business? The fast-paced world of social media is always changing, and it can make creating a successful social strategy somewhat difficult at times. Whether it's creating content that provides value to your audience or understanding the best ways to manage paid advertisements, it's never been more important to be in-the-know when it comes to the current best practices of today's most popular social networks.

"Content is King" is a phrase that has recently generated a lot of buzz in the real estate marketing world, but you may be wondering just how important this concept is for your business. According to a study performed by DemandMetric, content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing practices and generates about three times as many leads. Furthermore, website conversion rates are nearly six times higher for those who are creating valuable content compared to those who have yet to pick up on this trend (Inboundwriter).

This means that there is a lot of potential to generate more business from great content, and today's social networks are the primary ways that online users are accessing this information. The key to taking advantage of this is having a well-planned content strategy. Our 2015 Social Media Checklist highlights three important steps for creating a content strategy that will keep your audience coming back for more.

1. Monitor what your audience is talking about

Before you can sit down and start creating content, it's important to know what sparks the interest of the people you are trying to reach. This goes beyond just looking at what's trending in the news; you'll need to pay attention to the conversations that they are having with each other.

Social networks have become a place where users feel comfortable voicing their opinions, so there's never been a better place to find what they are really talking about. Are people curious about a new local restaurant? Are they looking for information about an upcoming event? You want to join their conversations, not just try to push new listings.