You already know the importance of having a robust marketing plan. These days, though, marketing is more than posting an Open for Business sign in the window or hosting a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Instead, you need to engage with customers where they are and that means you need a solid social media marketing approach. Social media includes websites and applications that allow users to create and share content or to participate in networking. Marketing is the process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop contacts. When you combine the two, you get social media marketing, which means using online applications (apps) to interact with potential customers.
Now, that all sounds pretty simple since you’re on Facebook and consider yourself a master of the meme scene. Not so quick! Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know about using marketing on social media to engage with customers. According to Statista, a leading provider of consumer data, by 2021, the number of worldwide social media users is expected to reach about 3.1 billion people. Each of these people, in turn, check their profiles numerous times a day. However, not everyone is on each social media site. Part of a smart marketing approach is knowing where your customers are most likely to see you and engage with you. Obviously, there are way too many apps out there to go through them one-by-one. You know the big players: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. However, there are pros and cons associated with each site. You can read this article to learn more about the best ways to use these sites.
Value of Using Social Media Marketing
Some business owners don’t understand the importance, or the value, of marketing on social media sites. Here are just a few reasons why it’s actually very important for all businesses to use social media marketing:
- Easily engage with customers
- Increase brand recognition
- Increase inbound website traffic
- Reach a variety of customers
- Effectively (and more cheaply) market services/products
- Convert more leads to customers
- Get insight about customers’ needs
Social media levels the playing field when it comes to your marketing dollars. Both big and small businesses can participate relatively equally in the world of social media marketing. Television and print marketing requires a large budget, but any business can market itself online and, with a savvy approach, have great success engaging with customers and establishing brand recognition. The key here is “marketing approach.” It isn’t enough to just have a Facebook or Instagram page. You need to know who your target audience is, what social media platforms they are on, and how best to target your audience on those sites. In our next article, we’ll discuss how to develop a social media marketing campaign. For now, make sure to follow us and read our articles related to creating a digital presence strategy.
