Social media marketing is more powerful than ever. In fact, for many consumers, the first time they hear about new products and services is via social media. There’s a whole population out there who are constantly checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other channels, and smart businesses need to ensure they’re seen by their target demographic.
So, how can your business perfect its social media marketing strategy for the modern day? There are many approaches, some more successful than others. Here are five effective ways to boost your social media marketing.
1. Adapt to Different Platforms
Social media marketing requires a multi-channel approach. New social media platforms are cropping up all the time, and the best businesses stay ahead of the competition by constantly adapting.
Recent statistics from the GlobalWebIndex flagship report show that Facebook still has the most users, although YouTube edges it out in regular active users. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter, SnapChat, and Instagram are also all extremely popular.
Does that mean Facebook is the best platform for your business? It’s definitely important to have a Facebook account, but some businesses may find it easier to reach a younger demographic on platforms such as SnapChat and Instagram.
It’s essential to refine your approach for each channel. Facebook is best-suited to ads and customer care. Twitter allows you to use short-form posts and memes to grab people’s attention. Instagram can be useful for advertising products, video advertisements, and visual viral content. Make the most of every platform you can to expand your reach.
2. Reach Out to Influencers
One of the most impactful social media marketing techniques of modern times is to connect with social media influencers. These are users of platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube who have a large base of followers who listen to them.
Companies make use of this in many ways. For instance, cosmetics companies often offer free samples to beauty YouTubers to review for promotion. Some even pay Instagram celebrities and Twitter influencers to post regular advertisements for their products.
A key advantage to reaching out to influencers is it can often be a way to hit your target market directly. For instance, if you sell fitness products, fitness Instagrammers will have a huge base of like-minded followers to promote your products to. If you sell gaming gear, Twitch promoters and gaming YouTubers can help you hit your target demographic.
You may need to spend some money to get the most out of social media influencing. However, it’s a strategy that can truly go a long way if you pick the right influencers.
3. Schedule Regular Posts
Dead social media channels can result in you losing potential customers. If someone sees a Twitter feed for a company hasn’t been updated in over a year, they may assume the site is dead or simply has nothing worth checking out.
No matter which channels you use, aim to create regular posts. Many companies now hire social media experts to keep all platforms running. It’s best to schedule posts in the morning, at lunchtime, and at the end of the work day- this is generally when most users check their social media feeds.
This doesn’t mean you or your employees have to constantly time their posts. In fact, it’s easier than ever now to schedule social media thanks to a range of helpful web apps. For instance, Hootsuite and Buffer allow you to schedule posts across multiple channels all throughout the week. It’s something that can take a few minutes but have a very positive impact on your sales.
4. Collect Analytics
In order to maximize your social media marketing, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on what’s working and what’s not. Watching your follower count and reactions to your social media posts will help with this. But as your social media reach grows, you’ll need a simpler way to keep track of everything.
This is why many companies turn to social media analytics tools. These can collect all kinds of data, such as how many views your social media posts draw and even how many convert into sales. What’s more, they can do it in a way that’s very easy for you to read and digest.
Buffer, Sprout, and Hootsuite are three popular examples. While some of these tools have free versions, many businesses pay for the premium versions in order to get the most out of them.
Regardless of which tool you use, keep track of social media analytics and adapt your approach accordingly. Maybe you find out a particular type of content is attracting more views, or one platform is bringing you the majority of your customers. This can help you identify how to target your efforts and increase your success.
5. Ramp Up Your Promotional Tactics
The most important thing is to promote your company well. Part of this is keeping a positive presence on social media, helping with customer queries, and raising brand recognition. However, there are some promotional tactics which can really give you a boost.
Hosting a competition can instantly draw some attention to your company, even if people have never heard of you before. For instance, some stores offer a prize draw for free products for anyone who follows them on Twitter.
Similarly, you can offer a promotional code to anyone who follows you. Giving 5 percent off to every new customer who follows you on Twitter and makes a purchase can be a surefire way to increase sales. You can also encourage your customers to refer friends to your site for reward points.
Viral content is also a winner, although it can be unpredictable. Be sure to create click-worthy content such as interesting blogs, fun video ads, and memes to get people’s attention on social media.
Conclusion
Social media is an incredible tool for your business, so make sure you utilize it well. Adapt to new platforms to reach your target market and create interesting content that’ll get people’s attention. It also helps to reach out to influencers who can help raise awareness of your brand to potential customers. You should also be sure to keep track of data and analytics to check what’s working and what isn’t. Follow these tips and you’ll soon notice a huge boost in your social media marketing.
