In late 2019, it might seem strange to be talking about the basics of social media. However, most businesses have only just begun to scratch the surface of what social media can do.

“Digital marketing is a lot like fine wine – it only gets better with time… as time goes on, the internet becomes a better platform for marketing your business. It’s an opportune way to engage with your audience without having to “sell” to them.” – Gray Group International

So, if your the owner of a brand that you think might work well on social media, here are some basic considerations to get you started.

 

Why Should A Business Consider Using Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing (SMM) is a powerful tool that you can use to connect your audience to your products and services. When utilized correctly, it can have a significant long-term impact on your bottom line.

Properly executed social media can establish your brand as a thought leader in your niche, increase website CTR and boost sales. Check out Hootsuite’s extensive list of the benefits of social media for your business to get an idea of just how powerful online networking can be!

Once you weigh the benefits and decide to take a dive into social media marketing, here are some important things to remember.

Choose A Couple Platforms 

While there are hundreds of social media platforms available for you to use, it’s important not to get overwhelmed by choice. Don’t feel pressured to be on all of them at once.

Some social networks are geared toward Millennials, and some more relevant to Gen Z. Consider who your audience is and what applications they are more likely to be using. This will help you decide which networks suit your company best, and you’ll know exactly where to start.

Pick two or three suitable social networks and then spend time getting used to them. Once you discover who your audience is, and master a couple of platforms, the skills can be extrapolated to other networks if you decide to branch out.

Think About Value

Social media marketing is about sharing something worthwhile. So, don’t worry too much about making sales, rather, focus your attention on the real value you can give to your audience.

Ask yourself:

  • What’s important to my customers?
  • What sort of content can I share that will delight and entertain my audience?
  • Do my products/services lend themselves to influencer marketing?
  • Is my content easy to digest and share?

Whatever you decide to build your online community around, make sure it’s relevant to your core customer.

For example, “Nike uses an out-of-the box strategy for their marketing campaigns. Their advertisements are quite different from the traditional ones. They don’t sell their products. They inspire.” – Medium.com

This leads to the last, and perhaps most important point…

 

SMM Is About Building A Community

Social media marketing is a bit of a misnomer. SMM is less about marketing and more about community building. You’re not selling to an audience, rather, you’re building relationships that have the possibility of turning into sales down the road.

When you build your content around your audience rather than the other way around, your followers will be more likely to engage with you and see your brand as more authentic.

“Most businesses think they can simply start selling through social media networks and they will magically receive thousands of enquiries and orders within a matter of days. Sadly, this is not the case.” – Social Media Worldwide

Building an online community takes effort and patience. The most important thing for you to do is download your apps of choice and poke around. Really get a feel for what works and what doesn’t and don’t get discouraged. Social media marketing can be a personal thing and it’s essential that you find your unique voice!

Once you spend time getting acquainted with SMM, give me a shout! If you have any questions, I’d be happy to help!