Social media Marketing the relaxed side of the business
Social media Marketing not only grows your business but has the added benefit of showing your followers and fans more of your personality. Showing your individuality is important, especially if you run an online business. You never get to have a one-on-one interaction with your customers, so what you lack in this face-to-face personal interaction social media will more than compensate.
Social media marketing is an essential element of digital marketing.
Social media creates certainty in these uncertain times
It is crucial to understand the role that social media marketing plays in your business in these uncertain times to improve your business competitive advantage. In last week’s blog, we emphasised that digital communications are vitally important because they create relationships and promote mutual value. Social media is the digital media that encourages audience participation, interaction and sharing.
There’s been a power shift
The internet and digital media have changed the fundamentals of marketing. There has been a subtle but weighty shift in power. Consumers now have increased clout when making purchasing decisions. As written in previous blogs, companies must adopt a more customer-centric approach.
Digitalisation has not only benefited the consumers but companies like yours. It has given small businesses greater access to markets that they would not have conventionally targeted and, at the same time, reduced costs of running a business.
Social media Marketing leads to exponential business growth
Your goal in all your marketing activities is to cultivate and communicate with your ideal customer avatar ( ICA) or target Market. As mentioned, last week, social media marketing is deemed by many to be the marketing channel with the most impact on your business. According to recent research conducted by HubSpot, roughly 90% of marketers confirmed that using social media for marketing purposes has exponentially (visualise a graph y=ex or a hockey stick-shaped curve) increased business and brand exposure.
Social media marketing is deemed by many to be the marketing channel with the most impact on your business.
It’s more than a numbers game, but there are billions of social media users globally
Since their introduction, social media platforms have attracted billions of users. Think of the potential market for your business. In addition to the number of users, social sites have a high percentage of users who frequent these sites on a daily, hourly basis. A wise business would ensure that they are visible to their ICA, they are active at the same time that their ICA is online, and they are providing the best content possible for their ICA.
A wise business would ensure that they are visible to their ICA
If technology has changed your life, it can change your business
Take a minute to think about how technology has changed your own life. You will appreciate how it has infiltrated the very essence of your daily activities, increasing the pace of life and providing more excellent choices than ever before.
‘Brands are either part of the conversation or they’re not and, as a result, they’re either part of the decision-making cycle, or they’re absent for the heart, mind and actions of the connected customer. ‘Brian Solis 2011
There are so many social media sites for business owners. You only have to choose the right one
Your customers can relate with you on your business website, social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, or specialities sites such as blogs and forums. However, to take advantage of the benefits of social media, it is crucial to start to participate in customer conversations.
However, to take advantage of the benefits of social media, it is crucial to start to participate in customer conversations.
The power of Social Media marketing
The power of social media marketing is the ability to have direct communication
with your customers. Engagement with customers will give you priceless insight. Therefore, social media marketing involves you, the business owner, starting and participating in customer conversations. These conversations could be related to products, promotions, or anything to help you learn more about your customers and provide solutions to improve your customers’ lives. There is an added benefit of having conversations with your tribe, and that is the improved perception of your Hustle.
The power of social media marketing is the ability to have direct communication with your customers.
What are the Main social media Platforms?
Social media involves building communities or networks and encouraging participation and engagement. Social media sites are among to most popular sites on the internet, along with search engines.
Types of Social Media platforms (Weinberg 2010)[1]
- Social Networks:- The core social platforms where people interact through social networks are Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat for the consumer audience, LinkedIn for a business audience and Twitter for both.
- Social publishing and News: – Nearly all newspapers and Magazines have an online presence. These publications give the readers an option to participate through comments on articles, blogs or communities. Do you see the recurring theme of consumer engagement?
- Social commenting in blog:- A company blog can form the hub of your social media strategy. All your social media activities should drive traffic to your website. It is also possible for you to collaborate with other like-minded bloggers through blog outreach. Blog outreach is a great way to increase your brand awareness and drive traffic to your website. Why is it essential to drive traffic to your website? Firstly, this helps you showcase your business. Secondly, you can guide your visitors to take specific actions such as email subscription, purchase your brands. Finally, if you want to monetise your website, the increase in website visitors will work to your advantage.
- Social Niche communities: – These are forums independent of the leading networks.
- Social knowledge: -These are reference social networks such as Yahoo! Answers, QuoraTM and Wikipedia.
- Social Streaming: – These would include Rich media sites that comprise sharing of photos ( Pinterest), Videos (YouTube)and podcasts(iTunes).
Are your websites responsive? More people access technology via mobile phones
All social networks are available through smartphone apps- indeed, social media statistics show that these apps account for most consumer usage. According to smarts insights, around 90% of mobile media users spend their time on apps (2017[2]). Should you have an app for your Business? Yes! Especially if there will be interactive content.
Key learning from this data is that your content should not only be mobile-friendly, but your business needs an app! as well. As a business owner you cannot down play the growing influence of mobile technology .
[1] Weinberg, T. (2010). The New Community rules, Marketing on the social web. Wiley Hoboken, NJ.
[2] Smart Insights (2017) Mobile Marketing statistics, blog post by Dave Chaffey