If people don’t know about your business, they can’t become your customers. This is the time when Social media Marketing comes in your rescue. Social media Marketing boosts your visibility among potential customers. letting you reach a wide audience by using a large amount of time and effort. And it’s free to create a business profile on all the major social networks, so you have nothing to lose.
What is Social Media?
Social media refers to websites and applications that are designed to allow people to share content quickly efficiently. People define social media as apps on their smartphone, but the truth is, this communication tool started with computers.
This misconception stems from the fact that most social media users access their tools via apps.
The ability to share photos, opinions, events, etc in real-time has transformed the way we live and, also, the way we do business.
Retailers who use Social Media as an integral part of their marketing strategy usually see measurable results. But the key to successful social media is to not treat it as an extra appendage but to treat it with the same care, respect, and attention you do all of your marketing efforts.
What are the different types of Social Media?
1) Social Networks- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Such types of Social Media are used to associate with individuals and brands on the web. They help your business via branding, social awareness, customer service, and conversion.
You can channelize different types of Social Media campaigns on these networks that will help you widen your reach.
2) Media Sharing Networks- Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube
Media sharing types of Social Media are used to find and share photographs, live video, video and other kinds of media on the web.
They are also going to help you in branding. They give individuals and brand a place to discover and share media so the target audiences can be targeted and converted into a convincing and result-driven way possible.
3) Blogging & Publishing Networks: WordPress, Tumblr, Medium
Use these for publishing, discovering and commenting on articles, social media blogs and other content on the web.
Content marketing is one of the most powerful ways to target, attract, engage and convert a target audience. It is going to be the base of successful online marketing campaigns that play the most important role in conversion funnels of Digital Marketing campaigns.
WordPress and Blogger are the traditional blogging platforms while Tumblr (micro-blogging service).
4) Discussion Forum- Reddit, Quora, Dig
Use this for finding, sharing and discussing different kinds of information, opinions, and news.
They help businesses by being a top-notch resource for doing immaculate market research. These forums are the oldest ways of running Social Media Marketing campaigns.
5) Social Shopping Networks- Amazon, Flipkart
Businesses can use these Platforms for creating brand awareness, boosting engagement and selling products on some new and effective platforms. These channels transform e-commerce by making them more engaging via some interesting social elements.
What is marketing?
According to the American Marketing Association (AMA) Board of Directors, Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.
In my point of view, Marketing is the link between a society’s material requirements and its economic patterns of response.
Marketing satisfies these needs and wants through exchange processes and building long term relationships.
It is the process of communicating the value of a product or service through positioning to customers.
Marketing can be looked at as an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, delivering and communicating value to customers, and managing customer relationships in ways that also benefit the organization and its shareholders.
Marketing is the science of choosing target markets through market analysis and market segmentation, as well as understanding consumer buying behavior and providing superior customer value.
What are the different types of Marketing?
There various ways of marketing. I have listed the most efficient methods for you down below:-
Permission Marketing- Permission Marketing is an approach to selling goods and services in which a prospect explicitly agrees in advance to receive marketing information.
Internet Marketing
Internet marketing is any marketing strategy that takes place online.
Offline Marketing
Offline marketing, the opposite of online marketing, includes all forms of marketing that aren’t done on the Internet.
Outbound Marketing
When you think of marketing, the different forms you come up with are mostly outbound marketing (also called traditional marketing).
Inbound Marketing
Inbound marketing focuses on having your company found by customers, as opposed to reaching out to them directly like in outbound marketing.
Newsletter Marketing
Newsletter marketing and email marketing refer to ways of promoting your company through emails.
Article Marketing
Businesses will often write articles related to the industry they are in and distribute them online and offline.
Trade Show Marketing
Companies that want to reach a large number of potential customers can participate in public or private trade shows.
Search Marketing
Search engine marketing (SEM) is the way in which companies promote their business through paid placement on search engines like Google.
Direct Marketing
Direct marketing’s main goal is to send a message directly to consumers, without having to use any third party outlets.
Tele Marketing
A form of direct marketing, telemarketing’s focus is on reaching consumers by phone.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing most likely involves four different groups that contribute to the marketing effort.
Mobile Marketing
Some ways to marketing a product or service through a mobile phone include SMS marketing, in-game marketing, banner marketing on different web pages and location based marketing.
Direct Mail Marketing
Companies send paper mail with promotions or other information to a list of addresses. This form of marketing is also called junk mail by some, because the customers receiving the mail aren’t expecting open it.
Database Marketing
It is similar to other types of direct marketing, but the focus is more directed towards analyzing data.
What is the importance of Social Media Marketing in Business?
Social Media Marketing Is Fleeting
In the early days of social marketing, there was little competition for the dollar—not so today. For example, you can spend a lot of money on ad campaign and, sometimes, get no.
By its very nature, social media is a short attention span media. It is difficult to get attention with a Tweet then it was to get someone’s attention with a newspaper ad.
It is not a piece of cake. But, if you keeping reading this blog you might specialize in Social Media Marketing.
Social Media Marketing is plays a pivotal role in Branding of your Company. So. you need to make choices in Social Media Marketing very Wisely.
If you are also confused in Brand and Branding, We are always here to help you in every possible way. Click Here to know about the difference between Brand and Branding.
You Must Be Active on Social Media
One of the biggest mistakes retailers make is to open up accounts on every social media platform they think is relevant and then leave them alone with no activity. Having an account with any of the social media platforms does not mean your business is into social media any more than owning golf clubs makes you ready for the PGA.
In fact, social media users are turned off by the retailer who opens accounts and does not engage with clients and the public and consequently become labeled a pretender. The reality is, it is better to not have a social media icon on your website if you are not going to actively engage with it—and actively means on a daily basis.
Don’t Make It All about You
The other big mistake retailers make is to use social media to talk about what is important to them rather than talking about what is important to the customer. As a retailer, you may think it is great to shout that you have a sale going on; and in some regards, this would be true.
But, if that’s the only reason you are getting involved in social media it won’t be beneficial. Your goal should be to provide content that is relevant to your customer and engage with them to the point that they want to share your post with others.
If you use social media you need to engage with your customers, involve them in a dialogue, and ask them for their opinions. Post a picture of two items you are considering carrying in your store and ask customers which one they like best. This creates a dialogue which leads to shared posts which leads to engaged followers.
Plus, if you follow this example, it will also lead to enhanced margins because your back and forth conversation will prevent you from buying the item that won’t sell as well.
Images Are Key
Another thing to consider is that the most commonly-shared content on social media is an image. So, always include an image with your posts. This will dramatically increase your chances that one of your followers will share the post with their network. While building up a large network of followers is great, ultimately what you want is to have your followers—no matter how many you have—share what you’re posting with their network, and those people will share your post with their followers, and so on.
This is the new form of “word of mouth” and it’s what people mean when they say a post went “viral.”
Communicate Authority
Customers are increasingly savvier and more discerning about which businesses they support. Before making a decision, they’ll do a quick search to browse your website and social media.
Will they find an empty storefront or a rich source of information?
Setting up robust profiles that you update frequently with relevant content will build your brand’s authority and make sure you make a positive first impression through social media, showing that your business is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and approachable.
Look for ways to demonstrate your expertise as a thought leader in your industry—like writing pieces related to your expertise or expanding on your company’s mission. By showing what your business offers and values, you will establish confidence in potential customers.
Show Authenticity
Customers aren’t interested in businesses that publish dry, corporate-style social media posts.
Instead, let your brand’s personality shine through in everything you share on social media.
What does your brand voice sound like?
How does it represent who you are?
Practice getting your tone just right, whether it’s casual and funny or formal and friendly. Be true to who you are, not who you think you should be. Followers want to see real people behind your social profiles. Show them.
Encourage Engagement
Social channels evolve, constantly releasing new features, and this rapidly changing environment can be intimidating for some business owners.
But remember: you don’t have to do everything. Play with new ways to connect with your audience, and give yourself permission to learn as you go. One day, you could post a series of Instagram Stories to give customers a behind-the-scenes tour of your office.
The next, you could host a quick Q&A session via Facebook Live video streaming. Over time, you’ll get a better idea of your followers’ preferences.
You can create engaging video content for social media with a simple setup-good lighting, a smartphone, and a tripod. Also, do a test run before you go live to make sure your internet connection or hotpots
has enough speed to avoid delays and interruptions.
Provide Support
Social platforms have successfully broken down barriers between companies and their customers. Now, instead of calling a customer service line, many people turn to Facebook or Twitter to solve problems or find information.
Develop your reputation as a responsive, caring brand by offering support through social channels:
- Create a system for tracking customer comments, questions, and complaints on social media.
- Respond as quickly as possible to questions and concerns.
- Go out of your way to be positive and helpful.
- Listen to criticism and make customers feel heard.
- Know when to resolve public conversations in private messages.
Grow Affordably
Marketing costs add up, and not every business can afford huge campaigns. But you can get a lot of value for your dollar with social media advertising. Your business, regardless of size or budget, has an opportunity to grow your audience and reach your objectives through ads on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
When building an ad campaign, know who you’re trying to reach and what goal you want to achieve so you don’t waste any of your budget on unhelpful advertising. Avoid overly salesy ads, and opt for content that educates or entertains (or does both at the same time).
Social media is a crucial part of your business marketing, but it doesn’t have to be stressful to manage. Take the first step, create a profile, and start engaging with your customers.
Create Social Media Marketing in 10 Easy Steps
Identify Your Goals
Identify Your Audience
Select the Best Platforms
Employ a Qualified Manager
Deliver Consistently
Woo Influences
Grow Your Audience
Engage Your Audience
Measure Your Results
Lather, Rinse, Repeat
How to Choose the Best Social Media Platforms for Marketing
Facebook for Social Media Marketing
Facebook is a place people go to relax and chat with friends, so keep your tone light and friendly. And remember, organic reach on Facebook can be extremely limited, so consider a cost-effective Facebook ad strategy, which can have a big impact on your organic Facebook presence as well!
Google+ for Social Media Marketing
Google+ entered the scene as a Facebook competitor, but it now serves a more niche audience. It won’t work for everybody, but some communities are very active on Google+. Also take advantage of Google+ circles, which allow you to segment your followers into smaller groups, enabling you to share information with some followers while barring others.
Twitter for Social Media Marketing
Follow tweeters in your industry or related fields, and you should gain a steady stream of followers in return. Be sure to retweet when a customer has something nice to say about you, and don’t forget to answer people’s questions when possible.
Reddit for Social Media Marketing
Posting on Reddit is playing with fire. If you have content you believe the Reddit community (majority is young, geeky, liberal, and internet-obsessed) would enjoy, you could reap tremendous benefits and earn valuable traffic.
YouTube for Social Media Marketing
Many businesses try to create video content with the aim of having their video “go viral,” but in reality those chances are pretty slim. Instead, focus on creating “How to” videos for your Business.
Do you want new customers to discover your services? Do you hope to bring more local shoppers into your stores? By keeping your strategy specific, you can determine which social media channels are the best fit for your business.
Do let us know in the comment section which Social Media are you using or Going to use?
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