Social Media Marketing: A Quick Guide

Without an effective social media marketing strategy, you limit your business’s reach. As of 2019, close to three billion people used social media around the world. Using social networks for marketing increases leads, conversions, and brand awareness. Social media marketing requires a different strategy than traditional marketing. You don’t want to cast a wide net and hope you get a few new customers. Instead, use targeted and specific campaigns to reach your desired audience. You don’t have to take on digital marketing alone. Call Gauge Digital Media and let us promote your brand by managing your socials.

Social Media Marketing Definition

Social media marketing involves creating content on social media platforms with the intent to promote your business. You should focus your campaigns on meeting your audience where they are rather than trying to change their minds. You cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach for different social networks. Diversifying your message to fit each platform will help you see increased engagement. Engagement makes social media marketing different from other marketing approaches. On social media, consumers become more active recipients of your message. They have the power to comment on, interact with, and share your ads.

Benefits for Your Business

Many people use social media to find information, and your social media presence has the power to make or break your business. Some of the benefits of social media marketing include:

• Generating more leads via creative content and campaigns
• The ability to sell products via your profile
• Building lasting customer relationships

Facebook and Instagram make it easy for customers to find and buy your products. They can look at them without leaving the app or website and still buy from you directly. You can even track your sales and metrics through most social platforms. You can view the results of your ad campaigns in an easy-to-understand format. Then, you can find out what is and isn’t working and alter your approach accordingly. Social media metrics tell you:

• How many followers you gain or lose
• Number of impressions
• Post and video views
• Number of comments, clicks, and likes

If you don’t want to spend time sorting through analytics, work with the professionals. Contact Gauge Digital Media for all the tools you need to run a successful social media marketing campaign.

Which Social Platform is Right for You?

Each social media platform operates a little differently. You may choose to focus on specific social networks based on your niche and your audience response. Remember, you want to find your target consumers where they already are, not make them find you.

Facebook

With over two billion users, Facebook is the top social platform. Facebook allows you to make a business page where you can share your brand story, answer customer questions, and access Facebook Analytics. The most useful Facebook marketing tools include:

• Insights tell you how people respond to your marketing.
• By creating a group, you can connect with people who are already interested in what you’re selling. You can also assert yourself as an expert in your field.
• Facebook videos are rising in popularity, and they can help you quickly share your message. You can also use Facebook Live to add a personal touch to your marketing.

Twitter

Twitter has increased opportunities over the years for engaging with users. It’s a great platform to share your brand’s stance on public discourse or participate in conversations. You can use Twitter to find out what your audience is talking about and what questions they’re asking.

YouTube

YouTube is a global leader when it comes to video traffic. Many brands use YouTube to publish:

• Informational videos
• Product reviews
• Commercials
• Q&A sessions
• Other interactive content

The handiest part of YouTube social media marketing is advertising within videos. You can create video ads that appear on popular channels and drive traffic to your page. YouTube integrates Google Analytics so that you can track and measure your conversions.

Instagram

Instagram continually improves marketing features for businesses. You can develop insights, sell your products, and increase engagement all in one place. Some of Instagram’s tools include:

• Lead ads to get customers’ contact information
• Instagram stories
• Live video streaming

Instagram allows you to get creative with your content and look more personable to consumers. You can also use tags or mentions to engage with other brands.

Creating a Strategy

You should create your strategy before you jump into a platform. You’ll also need to take steps to understand your target demographic. Try to determine:

• The type of content (graphics, videos, text, etc.) that works for your brand
• The tone and style of your content
• The ideal length for your content
• The topics that will best engage your audience

Ask yourself what your ultimate goals are and how you will transition between campaigns. Understanding everything about social media marketing can take time, but it will help you improve your brand’s reach. For help with creating the best social media marketing campaigns, contact Gauge Digital Media by calling (410) 376-7709.