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Have you ever been unsure whether you should use Social Media in your marketing or not? Well, you don’t have to, but you’d probably be missing out on traffic, subscribers, and sales if you don’t.
One of the things that makes Social Media ideal for marketers is the fact that it’s free. You can’t get more affordable than that. Yes, you can pay for advertising, which can get expensive, but you can also drive significant traffic using free options, like creating pages or groups on Facebook for example. Another thing that makes it ideal is the reach of these platforms. After all, everybody is on some form of social media.
In March 2019, Hootsuite said that there were 3.48 billion people using social media in THIS ARTICLE.
So, social media isn’t specific to any particular group or product, and using it in your marketing will be helpful to your brand. Some people, groups, or businesses think they are using Social Media by posting pictures of people related to a product or company. They post pictures of their people at local events or tout their charitable donations. This is not utilizing the potential that Social Media marketing offers.
Yes, this kind of display might be helpful to your company’s image, but to help increase your business you would have to keep everything tied to the objectives of your brand. Instead, try to educate your customers. Highlight all the good attributes they already see in your company and emphasize the ones that are not so obvious. But don’t be too aggressive. There is no need to post long rants about your brand or your competitors all over social media.
You could try using Memes and video promotions to call attention to everything your brand represents. One warning though – for this method to be highly successful you have to keep up with all the latest trends. While a lot of companies take steps to raise curiosity about their products, they know that what’s hot today may not even be on anyone’s radar in three months. Many businesses these days have social media managers whose job it is to do just that – keep up with all the latest trends, day after day after day.
On the other hand, social media is not about shoving your message into your customers’ faces. If you instead use social media to your advantage, potential clients will soon be sharing your message all around the world. Social media allows you into the internet homes of the very group of people you’re trying to target. But in order for you to reach them, you have to make them welcome in your home(s).
The only way you will be able to do that is if you present your brand in a way that excites or intrigues the masses. But be warned, there is a hidden danger in this strategy. Social media makes it very easy for your clients to ‘call you out’ on whatever issues they may have with your product or service. Monitor the comments being posted and be prepared to do damage control at any time.
If someone posts something offensive on your account, it can reach the ends of the earth in seconds. Even if you eventually delete it all, this harmful content and any false claims could do permanent damage before you are even aware of what’s happened. That’s why I strongly encourage you to handle your own posts. This is one area you really shouldn’t delegate or outsource. The exception being, if you have hired a proven, trusted professional to do so. Even then you should monitor the posts someone is putting up on your behalf.
If you want to make the most of social media, you need to have a plan that emphasizes the goals and message of your brand. Your social media account should be an extension of your brand strategy. But once again, this is far easier said than done. It is so easy to become swept up in the millions of Tweets, posts, Snapchats, and comments that people can lose sight of their goals altogether.
Don’t forget that your brand should send a central message and reach a very specific group of people. Every image or post should be tied to that objective in some way. Your objective should not be to merely entertain your audience. It’s true that comedic and other types of light content can help attract new followers. But be careful. You could end up attracting the wrong kind of people. Not the kind of people you are trying to target.
I suggest you focus on educating your followers, especially when your brand is relatively new. If you can combine being entertaining AND informative, you’ve pretty much already won the battle. Don’t forget that managing your social media accounts can be almost like a full-time job. So while it is good to use different social media platforms to build your brand, try not to stretch your resources too thin. Your time is always your most precious resource.
Try to figure out which social media platforms are the favorites of your buyer personas. Then focus on a few of those, instead of wasting time managing too many accounts. The beauty of a social media account is that it is an excellent touchpoint. You are encouraged to make contact with your clients as often as possible. This won’t be possible if you have too many accounts.
Some people who are trying to use too many social media platforms often resort to posting the same content everywhere. That will not build brand loyalty and you will not experience some of the best parts of social media marketing: building your tribe, making new connections, and making more sales.
‘Til next time,
Dave
Owner/President of DUH Web Media Group
Sites:
DUHWebMediaGroup.com
DUHWebMarketingInsight.com
DUHWebMarketingReviews.com
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