On the flip side, some enthusiastic start-ups are so desperate and flying blind without giving it much thought.
Social media is a place where young people watch funny videos, send and receive emojis and make fun of one another for no reason. Using social media for marketing is a fancy idea. Not really. But unfortunately, some people think so.
We know a young entrepreneur who is posting 60 creatives per month; as if he is doing some rituals. Results? Nobody knows!
While some people are not aware of the power of social media, some think that mere presence can do wonders.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Social media platforms are in fact powerful tools for businesses to promote their offerings and increase sales, but a well defined purpose coupled with the right strategy is vital for success.
How to promote business on social media?
Before we discuss the nitty-gritty, let’s get the big picture first.
Of course, you know your customer but where are they?
On Facebook or Instagram? LinkedIn or Twitter? YouTube or Pinterest?
No doubt, Facebook is still the unrivalled leader in the social media landscape. Nevertheless, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and many other new age platforms come with endless possibilities to empower your brand, and if executed properly, marketing through social media will turn out to be a game-changer for your business.
Some platforms are more effective than others and it depends on your target audience, their lifestyle, income, demographics and more importantly age group.
So, choosing suitable platforms will set your course in the right direction. Like any other marketing initiative, social media marketing too calls for well defined objectives, both long term and short term. Vague plans take us nowhere.
Shall we set some specific goals for you?
- You are going to reach 10K followers by the end of this year.
- You want to increase the share of online sales to 40% by the end of 2022.
Realistic. Achievable. Next, let’s discuss how you can leverage social media to gain more visibility, drive traffic to the website and ultimately grow your business.
Now you know what works well for you. Go ahead and create business pages on relevant social media platforms. If you have created the pages already, revamp them. Cross check the address, basic information and contact details.
Is the text on the cover page visible? If not, fix it.
Does the logo look blurred? Replace it with a high resolution image.
Maintaining social media pages properly and posting content on a regular basis will help you gain credibility among your potential customers (your social media platforms are buzzing with activities and so is your business. You are always available and accessible).
So far so great! Now, how to start? Can we show your product range and promote the offers? Or should you speak about your brand values?
During the initial stages, keep engagement as your priority and let product promotion take a backseat.
Phase 1
Grab the attention of people by providing them with helpful tips and valuable information. People want to keep up with the latest trends. Create content around current topics and share. Entertain.
Now you might think. You are into real estate business and how can you put a cat picture on your social media? You are selling bouquets and how can you talk about Jeff Bezos vs Musk?
No. You don’t have to jump on the bandwagon.
Here is the idea: There must be a space where your products and people’s interests overlap. Create content around such relevant topics and share.
What kind of content triggers a response and tempts people to join the conversation on social media? Create polls, ask simple questions and run fun filled contests. Above all, reply ASAP. Keep them engaged.
Special days and festivals are as important as product promotion. Share content that aligns with and appreciates your target audience’s culture and sensibilities.
While doing all this, make sure you monitor the performance. Identify the content buckets that perform well and increase the frequency..
How much traffic does your website get from social media?
Take some time and read the monthly reports thoroughly. Going through the data in detail will help you get more clarity and arrive at actionable insights..
There are different kinds of metrics available for you to analyse and evaluate your activities. However, you have to approach and understand your social media performance in a holistic manner. Keep improving.
As you are taking baby steps, take advantage of influencer marketing. It will help you increase brand awareness and gain visibility.
You must have seen the social media pages of big brands boasting of millions of followers and winning thousands of comments for every single post. But let’s not compare. Instead, we should observe their activities and learn how to use social media effectively.
Your brand has unique differentiators and with tailor-made strategy and compelling content at your disposal, you will definitely earn genuine followers and nurture a sense of community.
Well. You are going to do everything as discussed. But, how will that help you sell your products?
Don’t worry. All roads lead to Rome.
It’s a long journey and with a little patience and continuous effort, you will realise your marketing goals and take the business to the next level.
When we said it was a long journey, we didn’t mean that it would take decades. In this hyperconnected digital ecosystem, the more frequently you interact with people, the faster you can create the desired perception. Engagement is the key!
Now, we need to discuss one more important aspect.
What’s the right time to run paid ads? Click here, to continue reading
Contributed by
nevertoosmalltoBRAND