A mere 20 years ago, Facebook didn’t even exist – today, 3.5 billion people are actively using social media, with 72% of Americans logging on daily. But social media is more than a hub for social interaction (and overreaction) – it’s become a method to target, influence, and understand your audience.
What can social media marketing do for my organization?
Building a following doesn’t happen overnight and creating valuable content requires a trained hand. You need to know the payoff will be worth the work. Here’s how social media marketing can help:
- Bolster brand awareness. Ninety percent of brands use social media to connect with consumers. Why? Because social media boosts brand visibility. Example: Instagram. More than 200 million users visit at least one Instagram page per day, opening the door for considerable cost-free publicity. Plus, the majority of users see brands with an Instagram presence as popular, creative and entertaining – and who wouldn’t want that rep?
- Generate leads. Social media provides you a direct link to your potential customers, and the right social presence can inspire actual sales. In fact, 30% of consumers say they would make purchases through Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat. More than 80% of users peruse social platforms to discover new products, and 41% of users use social media to conduct further research on these products.
- Strengthen relationships. Social media has long since blurred the line between brand and bestie. According to one survey, 63% of consumers say they’re more likely to trust a brand that initiates a conversation on social media.
Getting started is easier than you think! Still need help? Contact us and we’ll get you started on the right track.
Building a Social Media Marketing Strategy
Here’s what it takes to build a successful social media marketing strategy:
- Set clear goals. What do you hope to gain from social media? If you’re seeking increased brand awareness, consider running an ad campaign. To encourage more sales, reach out to influencers. For better customer engagement, connect with your customers through comments and quick responses.
- Pick your platforms. We all know the major players here: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest. The challenge is choosing the outlets that are right for you – and this primarily depends on your target demographics and your industry. We’d recommend focusing on one or two platforms to start with.
- Curate your content. Content is king! Have we said that before? (Yes, yes we have.) If you want users to flock to your feed, make it worth flocking to. Offer your followers special deals, organize giveaways, host webinars. Give visitors something they can’t get anywhere else. We go over this in detail in our blog about crafting a content strategy.
- Plan before you publish. Posting consciously and consistently is key. We recommend using a social scheduling platform like Sprout Social or Buffer to plan your posts out in advance – it ensures you won’t miss any important dates or opportunities for engagement.
Still have questions about social media marketing? We’re active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch!