With social media undoubtedly dominating the world, any business that isn’t already doing social media marketing is missing out on potential benefits.
However, there’s so much more to marketing on social media than just using its many platforms for communication. There are nuances to it and ways it can open doors for your business.
With that said, social media is one of the greatest tools you can use to your advantage. Read on to find out exactly how.
1. Improved brand awareness
Before you can even hope to achieve success as a business, you first have to ensure that people know about your brand. With social media, information can spread faster than ever and potentially help your business reach audiences across the globe.
One concrete way that social media marketing can impact your business is through better brand awareness. If your target audience is on one of the many different social media platforms out there, having a page on that platform can help your brand reach out to and engage with them.
Having better reach and brand awareness can do wonders for sales. If you want more people to buy your products, social media marketing can help spread the word and, with plenty of effort, turn your brand into a household name.
2. Community building
In that vein, once your business has gotten the word out about its name and what it stands for, the next step is community building. After all, it isn’t enough to have people know your brand–they need to be interacting with you and engaging with your content, as well.
With social media, you can directly engage with your customers, respond to their queries, and share exclusive content that won’t be found elsewhere.
When people feel personally connected to a brand, they’re more likely to become loyal customers and, eventually, advocates of your products or services. However, all of this may only follow once you’ve built up that dedicated community.
3. Lead generation
For any business, whether new or established, generating new leads is crucial for growth. Social media platforms can serve as an excellent channel for finding potential customers who may have an interest in your products or services.
By putting out engaging content and utilizing targeted advertising, you can draw in users who may have never heard of your business before. Additionally, tools like social media contests and giveaways can help increase your reach and provide potential leads.
It’s not just about gathering a large number of leads, though. By providing valuable content and addressing the interests and needs of your target audience, you’re more likely to attract quality leads.
4. Performance tracking
Once your brand’s name is out there, the next step is seeing how well it’s doing. People are engaging with your content: now what?
Social media sites provide metrics and analytics to track the performance of your posts, ads, and more. In turn, you can use your data to your advantage.
It’s time to see if what you’re putting out is actually drawing praise or criticism. Through performance tracking, you can see which areas of your marketing strategy and content will need to be adjusted until you hit the numbers you want to see.
5. Customer service
One of social media’s best features is how it can make communication almost instantaneous. Gone are the days of waiting in line and being put on hold. With social media, any customer can just send you a message with any inquiries or concerns they may have.
Being ready to respond and provide assistance can boost your efforts at customer service by showing that you’re not just in the business to sell but also to ensure good quality and even build good relationships in your market.
6. Building trust
Lastly, it’s of utmost importance that, through social media marketing, your brand can build trust.
In a digital world where consumers have myriad choices, trust has become a significant currency. Building trust among your customers can influence their purchasing decisions and lead to long-term loyalty.
Through social media, you can display the authenticity of your brand. Share stories, updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and testimonials. Responsiveness and transparency on these platforms can also play a critical role in building trust. Address customer concerns promptly, take ownership of mistakes, and make amends where necessary.
Since the pandemic, people have become more active than ever on social media. This shows its potential for growing your brand through the right marketing strategy.
The importance of social media marketing is clear, but without a firm grasp of the different factors that make it work, you won’t be able to tap its full potential. With the right partner, you can leverage the technology in the best way possible for your brand.
M2.0 Communications is a PR and social media marketing agency in the Philippines that helps brands tell meaningful and data-driven narratives. Learn more about our work or consult with our experts.
