Social Media - A Marketing weapon for the ages.

It's hard to think that Social Media really wasn't a thing 2 decades ago and today we can't imagine how we lived without it!

Even though there are almost no limits to it's reach, social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have changed the way people and businesses communicate, market and share information, there does however seem to be a perception that marketing on these platforms can be done by anyone and that it is not a difficult skill to master.

This can and has been a very expensive misconception....

Marketing is a skill and whatever the platform - be it social media or email marketing - if you do not know the various intricacies of each platform while doing the necessary research and testing then chances are that you will end up spending a lot of money only to gain a lot of frustration without the conversions which you were hoping for.

The fact that you can count doesn't make you a Chartered Accountant. The fact that you can use Social Media doesn't make you a Social Media Marketing expert.

Each social media platform has it's own advantages over the other depending on what product/service you want to market and for what audience, for example: LinkedIn is better suited for marketing job openings and information about your business culture while Pinterest is a better platform for DIY projects, fashion, exercise, beauty, photography and food.

Why use Social Media as a marketing tool?

• Increase brand awareness

Being active on social media helps you stand out and keeps your name on peoples’ minds throughout the day.

• Increase Inbound Traffic

For example, someone in an older demographic of consumers will search for your website using a particular keyword on Facebook, but a millennial could start their search by using a different social media platform altogether, because they search for products in a totally differently way. By marketing on social media you can effectively open your business to a wider variety of versatile consumers all over the world.

• Increased SEO Rankings

While social media doesn't directly increase search engine rankings, Social Media Examiner states that more than 58% of marketers who have been using social media for one year or longer still see improved search engine rankings.

• Improved Brand Loyalty

Studies have shown that people are more loyal to a brand if they follow them on social media.

• Increased Brand Authority

When consumers see your company active on social media, through posting content and especially by replying to customers, it makes you appear more credible. Through Regular customer interaction it shows that your business cares about customer satisfaction, and is available to answer any questions that they might have.

• Less Expensive

Just by doing the necessary research and by spending a little money you can significantly increase your conversion rates and ROI.

• Increase Traffic To Your Website

Not all of your traffic will come through search engines. Social media channels allow for more diverse inbound traffic streams.

• Retargeting

By using analytics you can retarget people who have previously visited your social media page since studies have shown that generally only 2% of customers will actually purchase something during their first visit to your site.

• Your Campaign Can Go Viral

Social Media can help your brand message to go viral and gain a lot of attention for relatively little effort, getting a huge ROI.

• Split Testing

Testing different versions of a post is very easily done on social media. This will help you narrow down your most effective social media posts.

Conclusion

Marketing methods of yesteryear where printing and distributing flyers, paying for radio ads, renting billboards etc. is seen as more of a shotgun approach today in comparison to social media and it's endless reach to the right audiences at less cost.

Social Media Marketing has changed the marketing game in a big way and by doing the necessary research and testing together with having the correct content, you can increase your brand's conversions, awareness, credibility and authority at a rapid pace.

It's worth repeating though, THE NECESSARY RESEARCH AND TESTING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING EFFORTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Social Media Marketing Video

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