Social media marketing is not anything new, but all companies should have a strategy for making use of social media. It is also becoming more and more important as consumers are getting more of their information from social media networks. Here are five components of social media marketing and tips for using them.
- Social Networking Apps
Most of us are familiar with social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Your company should have a presence on at least one major social media app. With social media apps, you need to ensure you are on the app where your consumers are. If you are just starting out on social media, pick one and grow it first. Then you can add more one at a time.
Another important aspect of being on a social media app is engagement. It isn’t enough for you to post only your content. You should interact with your consumers, ask questions, and respond to comments.
- Review Sites
Many businesses forget about review sites as a form of social media marketing. You should monitor review sites that are relevant to your industry. Claim your business on the site, if you can. When someone posts a new review, respond appropriately. It is critical to respond to both positive and negative reviews.
- Influencer Marketing
Another option is to use influencer marketing. You can pay influencers to promote your products or services for you. Usually, these influencers have a very targeted market, and their conversion rates are good. Some companies pay them a flat fee or use an affiliate link to pay them.
You can find influencers on your own or use a service to find influencers. If you use a service, there might be additional fees involved, but you’ll also be able to use your time more effectively.
- Paid Social Media Advertising
Instead of just being present on social media, you can also pay to advertise on social media. Again, this should be done on the apps that your customers are using. The best thing about social media advertisements is they can be very targeted. Most social media apps have advertising available, and you can stop the ad anytime. Analytics are also available for the ad.
- Company Blogs
You need social media content that isn’t just about your company’s products or services. Most customers will not follow you if you only post about what they can buy from you. An excellent way to keep customers engaged is to have a company blog.
The blog can discuss new products or services, but it can also talk about trends in your industry or company culture. Customers are more aware of a company’s reputation now, so this is a good way to promote any positive actions your company is taking.
Of these five components of social media marketing, only two of them are paid, and that is a benefit. They do take time to implement, but many times you will soon see a return on your investment of time. You can also quickly change social media platforms if you find one isn’t working for your company.
