Social media marketing can no longer be brushed off as some sort of buzzword. Without social media marketing, it’s tough to get noticed in today’s business ecosystem since more and more people are spending time online. Not having a social media presence could mean the death of your business depending on the industry you’re in and your ability to gain exposure.
Quick statistics about social media marketing
In case you’re unfamiliar with social media marketing, here are a few statistics to get you up to speed.
The cost to reach 2,000 people through direct mail is typically $900 when compared to $75 in ad spend for social media marketing
61% of smartphone users check their smartphone for notifications first thing in the morning
In 2020, 44.8% of people with social media accounts use social media to research and shop for new products
There’s a 71% change a consumer will recommend a business on social media to their network after a positive experience
6% of small businesses post less than monthly to social media while 52% post daily
82% of buyers view at least 5 pieces of content from a business before making a purchase
As you can see from the stats above, social media enables you to scale your reach and provide you with more opportunities to get more sales. It’s your chance as the business owner to control the narrative around your brand. You’re in charge of telling your story in the only way can do so.
Use these social media marketing tips to grow your online presence
This blog post will share several ways you can put social media marketing to work for you and help you grow a strong brand. All of the tips below are practical and will help you not just increase your exposure but also increase your total revenue. After all, you don’t have a business if you can’t generate revenue!
Identify your target audience and where they’re active online: It can be tempting to hop to the next hottest social media app when you’re struggling to connect with your customers on the platforms you’re already using. Before moving to another social network, ask yourself if your ideal buyer is active on the social network you want to move to. Gen Z consumers aren’t going to be as active on Facebook as they are on TikTok. Boomers aren’t going to be spending a great deal of time on Pinterest like Millennials are. Know your audience and invest in the online ecosystems they’re participating in.
Completely fill out your social bios/profiles: About 10% of every business we conduct a social media audit for hasn’t properly filled out their profiles and bios. Why is it important to complete your profiles? You’re more likely to show up in search results. You’re also making it easier for people to know the services you provide and how you can help them.
Set up and use a scheduling tool of your choice: Scheduling tools such as Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, and Sprout Social will make your life a lot easier. You’ll be able to automate your social posting and be more efficient with your time. This gives you the opportunity to be more strategic. You can be proactive instead of reactive.
Plan out and create original content: Do you have upcoming sales and discounts? Are you hosting any promotional events? Set aside time throughout the month to have strategy sessions. Having a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish will aid you in your effort to create content. Focus on content that answers your target audience’s most common questions. It’s a proven way to share the value you provide and keep them coming back to your social accounts.
Ask for reviews: You can’t get reviews for your business if you don’t ask for them! Make it a point to request for reviews. Reviews provide social proof that your business can help solve real problems. More than a third of consumer read product reviews on their smartphone before making a purchase in-store. Negative reviews are just as important as positive reviews according to 60% of consumers. There are different ways you can ask for reviews from requesting them via email newsletters to asking customers directly through messaging.
Respond to reviews, comments, direct messages: What better way to show that you care than to actually listen and respond?! Always respond to questions and inquiries you receive. It’s one of the best ways to get new business. You should also respond to all of your reviews both positive and negative. Doing so will help you earn the trust of your target audience and increase your brand equity.
Collaborate with other brands: This tip is one of the best ways to expand your reach on social media. Find brands who complement your brand and what you offer. They’ll need to share the same target audience you do. Here are a few examples of brands who could work together:
Video production company and a SEO company
Tax accounting company and a mortgage company
Sports drink company and workout apparel company
Through a collaboration, you’ll get in front of people who are looking for solutions to problems you’re great at solving. Customer acquisition can move at a quicker rate since you have the support of the brand you’re working with.
Run giveaways: Yep, there’s always a way to get more exposure through giveaways! Giveaways give you a chance to do everything from collecting email addresses to gaining new followers. You can run a giveaway on your own or do it as a collaboration with other brands. Either way, you’re receiving more traffic and more exposure when you put this tip to work for you.
Don’t get fixated on doing what you’ve always done: Pay attention to the data you’ve been collecting. If you’re not seeing any improvement after three months, switch up your strategy and make adjustments. Tweaks you can make to your social efforts include changing when your posting times, improving your caption writing, and researching new hashtags.
Get your free social media audit here!
If you feel stuck with your current social media marketing efforts, we’ve got you covered. Our free social media audit will help you figure out what you’re doing well and other areas you can improve. You can get your audit completed by filling out the form below!