Content is the most important in social marketing. Remember to regularlypublish and offer valuable information that will be helpful and interesting toyour customers. Social media content can include images, videos, infographics,tutorials and much more. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that will incitedebate among users. Each platform has its own unique environment and voice, butthe company’s basic identity – whether that is friendly, fun or trustworthy –should remain consistent.
It has been known for a long time that social media is deeply rooted in oureveryday life, culture and in business. Although a few years have passed sincethe creation of the most influential social media, from which this crazyadventure began, the popularity of those channels is still constantly growing.Therefore, why not learn how to use the powerful tools that social mediaprovides to benefit our business?
Let’s start from the beginning. Throughout the years, social media has onlygrown in its popularity and has proven it is here to stay. No one gotbored with social media at all and this is a fact.
As we can see in the graph above, the number of users is successivelyincreasing, and it will continue to do so. This is mainly because social mediahas become an everyday reality and indeed a ‘must have’ for people as a sourceof information.
According to the Social Media Examiner report, the mostpopular social media channels are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn,YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat. B2B and B2C companies rely on social media toachieve their marketing goals. With more than two billion people active insocial media around the world, it has become a key tool. The size and reach ofthe social network are continuously increasing around the world. Therefore, youmust be aware of choosing the right channels for your target group.
According to research, 97% of companies use Facebook as a communicationtool with both potential and current customers. Social media continues toprovide more features, giving further opportunities for business users, who canuse them quickly and conveniently to contact clients. In order for social mediato become a true business ally, channels and communication with the group wewant to reach must be tailored accordingly. Without it, even the most expensiveand laborious activities will not bring any effect.
A good plan is a must beforestarting
Before you start creating social media actions – simple posts, advancedcampaigns, contests and video or design content – consider your company goals.Without thinking about strategy, it is like walking into a forest without a map– you can have fun, but you will probably get lost.
Here are some questions that you should ask when defining marketing goalsin social media:
- What do you want to achieve with social media marketing?
- Who is your target audience on SM channels?
- Where should your target audience be and how could they use social media?
- What kind of messages do you want to send to your audience using social media marketing?
It is necessary to create a social media marketing plan. Consider keywordresearch and competition studies to help brainstorm ideas for content that willinterest your target audience.
The power of content
Creating a social media account is a piece of cake, but the path from aconfiguring a new profile (e.g. on Facebook) to making it work and trustworthyis long and requires an experienced guide. Although online communitiesinherently give brands a large reach, truly connecting with your onlineaudience will take both time and effort.
Content is the most important in social marketing. Remember to regularlypublish and offer valuable information that will be helpful and interesting toyour customers. Social media content can include images, videos, infographics,tutorials and much more. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that will incitedebate among users. Each platform has its own unique environment and voice, butthe company’s basic identity – whether that is friendly, fun or trustworthy –should remain consistent.
Why do you need this?
Using social media in marketing isn’t just limited to typical advertising.Through effective communication and interaction with fans, we gainambassadors for our brands and build a loyal and strong community. We alsoobtain a platform that allows us to quickly inform about our offer. We can alsolearn about our customers’ interests, expectations and opinions about ourproducts. Keep in mind that the role of social media is not only to informabout the brand and maintain its image, but can be used to directly influencepurchasing decisions.
Here is how:
In the age of the Internet, the classic shopping cycle has changed. In thepast, the consumer, driven by the stimulus of advertising, went to the storeand only then, when they got to know the product firsthand, did they make apurchase decision.
Today, the decision (at least the initial one) takes place on the Internetand is supported by recommendations, opinions of friends, posts published bycompanies, offers, as well as events and promotions present on variouscommunity platforms. Since we have an opportunity to be directly involved inall the stages of the purchase decision, let’s take it.
Social media helps us influence, sell and connect with our audience. Ittruly is a massive tool. If used well, it can bring us closer than ever to ourcustomer base. So, what are you waiting for? Go plan your social media strategyand take the Internet by storm.