Do you want to get your business recognized on social media? So it’s all about planning! I know that it sounds like a lot, but it is really not that difficult, and it’s extremely important. Imagine you are building the coolest Lego kingdom ever, but to do that, you need a plan! Well, it's similar with social media marketing! You should have the what you want to achieve, the who you’re talking to and the where do they spend the time online. Then, you have to share awesome things that they want to see and don't forget to talk back to them!
Read more to learn how to create these extraordinary plans for your business! I'll reveal you the steps to grow your business online and trust me it is easier than you think!
Hi everyone! Ever thought how much time people spend on social media? It’s like, everywhere! And guess what? That’s an awesome invitation to companies, large and small. That’s where SMM (social media marketing) steps into the scene. It’s not just about posting cute pictures, it’s an actual strategy that really can grow a business. It’s kinda like, you’re socialising to get buddies and supporters for your fav brands!
What is Social Media Marketing?
So how on earth does this thing work social media marketing? Well, it’s not like it’s a conversation with a lot of people online. Instead of simply talking at people, you’re talking with them. It’s about creating awesome stuff — like pictures and videos — that people want to watch and share. It means you’re also hearing what people are saying about your company and expressing your view. So, it includes a lot of cool stuff, such as:
- Ensuring your profiles are updated and look good.
- Create interesting content – cool pics/stories (preferably interactive), web stories, videos and also live videos.
- Interacting with your fans and customers via comments and messages.
- Speaking with followers, customers and even influencers who can get the word out.
- Harnessing user-generated content, where users posting about your product or service — it’s so much free exposure!
Social media has come a long way since the days of having a Myspace. It always changes and develops, so you have to learn not to drop out of a rut.
Social Media Marketing: Benefits You Should Know About
So, like, why do you even care about social media marketing? Actually, here is some amazing why it helps:
- Brand awareness: Getting your name out there is like increasing the awareness about who you are. It’s like ensuring the whole school knows about the cool lemonade stand you built.
- Increase website traffic: By placing links on your social media profiles and posts, you can send traffic to your website.
- Lead and customer generation: Here’s how you convert those fans into paying customers. There are all sorts of social media tools to assist you with this, including online shops and buttons to click to schedule an appointment.
- Rank higher on search engine results: Active social media presence can make your website rank higher on Google as well.
- Demonstrate your extensity: Social media is an excellent opportunity to make a show of authority so everyone knows you know so they trust you and think you are so dope.
- Have a human touch: Social media can provide personality to your business making them feel human, rather than just another boring company.
- Build great relationships: Social media is the ideal channel for communicating with individuals, befriending them, and receiving their inputs.
- Track your competitors: It allows you to know what others in your industry are doing, so you can do it better.
- Get great employees: Social media can help create a new talent pool for your company.
- Network with co-workers and influencers: A good way to create collaborations and expand your audience.
- Keep up with trends: Social media keeps businesses ahead of the curve in their industry.
- Retarget customers: Social media can help spark interest in not just potential customers but people who have had items in their shopping cart and exited without purchasing.
How to Build a Super Social Media Marketing Plan
Believe me, before you do social media marketing, having a plan – or a strategy — is so important. It is like preparing a plan for a road trip even before you travel. To craft an amazing strategy:
1. Set Clear Goals:
- Consider what you wish to accomplish. Are you interested in increasing awareness around your brand? Receive more traffic to your site? Your goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
2. Know Your Audience:
- Identify who you’re seeking to engage. What are they interested in? What type of stuff do they want to see? You can develop “marketing personas” so you better understand your ideal customer.
3. Select the Appropriate Platforms:
- Each form of social media is unique. Choose the ones that your audience frequents. Here are some of the major platforms:
- Facebook: Good for any business type.
- Instagram: Best for posting amazing photographs and videos.
- X (formerly Twitter): Suitable for fast news and updates.
- LinkedIn: Ideal for networking with peers.
- TikTok: Great for short and fun videos.
- YouTube: Ideally for the longer videos, such as how-tos.
- Pinterest: Good for visually interesting content.
4. Create Awesome Content:
- Create a content strategy, i.e., know what are you going to post. Plan ahead with a content calendar. Get creative: use a mix of formats including blog posts, quick videos and conversations.
5. Get Active in Your Community:
- Engage your followers, respond to their posts and participate in discussions.
6. Analyse Your Results:
- Check social media analytics to see how your posts are performing. Pay attention to things like how many people viewed your posts, how many people clicked your links and how many new followers you gained. Listen: Use social listening tools to learn how people discuss your brand [and its competitors] online. It may also include tracking ways your social media is benefiting your company, such as revenue and leads. And adapt your approach as you learn.
Paid Ads on Social Media
Social Media Advertising: If you want to get more reach and grow your following faster, you might want to use paid advertising on social media. It’s as if you are paying to send your message out to more people, and it’s done in a precise way to target the people you want to reach. You can even advertise to people who visited your site and did not purchase.
Content and Engagement Best Practices
Here are a few tools for great content creation and engaging your target audience:
- Be You: Write like you. And you just know – people love to witness your true self!
- Offer Value: Post content that is useful and entertaining. Consider what your audience actually wants to view.
- Diversity is Key: Use a variety of media types like images, videos, and stories.
- Be Yourself: Be as yourself as he/she/they are/can/was/were.
- Hashtag it: Add hashtags so others can discover your work. Hashtags are similar to keywords or topics.
- Call to action: Implement CTAs that will motivate your audience to leave comments, share your posts, or click through to your website.
- Create a tribe: Make your followers feel like they have a home. Initiate discussions and demand feedback.
- Collaborate: Team with influencers and develop content that would be appreciated.
Listen and Join the Conversation
Social listening is better than an ear to the ground for understanding what’s being said about your business, and about trends relevant to you. Use it to determine if you’re meeting your customers’ needs, and address their pain points and concerns.
Don’t Forget to be Ethical!
When doing social media marketing, honesty and respect are the best way to go. Don’t pass along false information, and ensure that you respect people’s privacy.
Mistakes to Avoid
Some common mistakes to avoid are:
- Not having a plan at all.
- Attempting to be present on every platform simultaneously.
- Ignoring your analytics.
- Generic/robotic message.
- Not posting consistently.
- Just promoting your own business and not providing any actual value.
Staying Trendy
Social media is always in a state of flux, so you need to stay up to date with the latest trends, platforms, and features. Track the latest content with AI. Video is big, especially short ones on TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Also, voice search and how you can create content for that.
Resources to Help You Out
But if you really want to dive deeper into social media marketing, here are some great resources to help you:
- Courses about marketing on social media
- YouTube training content
- Books
- Templates