Social media marketing
is becoming an essential part of every successful business plan. Undoubtedly,
different social media platforms, with over 4.76 billion active users, can help
businesses expand their brand, generate leads, and
enhance sales. Many companies, however, need help to see the intended outcomes
of their social media marketing initiatives.
In this blog, we will
review some basic ways to improve your social media marketing and increase your
chances of success.
Ways to Improve Social Media Marketing
. Concentrate on High-Quality Content
Quality content is the
bedrock of any effective social media marketing plan. Your material should be
interesting, informative, and pertinent to your intended audience. Accordingly,
45% of customers unfollow businesses on
social media because their material is excessively promotional or
uninteresting. In contrast, 23% of consumers follow companies because of their
excellent content.
As a result, it is
critical to provide high-quality material that adds value to the lives of your
followers. This can be accomplished by utilizing photographs, videos,
infographics, and other visually appealing content formats more likely to
capture people's attention. Photos in social media postings garner 94%
more views than those without
images.
. Understand Your Target Market
Knowing your target
demographic is one of the keys to successful social media marketing.
Understanding your audience and their interests can help you generate suitable
material they will enjoy. Additionally, 89% of customers will purchase from a
brand they see and follow on social media, and 75% of consumers will increase
their spending with a brand they follow on social media platforms.
Consequently, generating
content that appeals to your audience's interests and pain points is essential.
Brands can engage with their audience, utilize social media analytics tools,
and monitor social media conversations about their preferences.
Recognize the Preferences of your Target Audience
Getting to know your
target audience deeper is one of the most fundamental aspects of any marketing
effort. Social media enables us to amass an extensive client information
database that may inform our business decisions and marketing efforts.
In addition to generic
demographics, the following are essential questions to address while generating
audience data for campaigns:
- Which platform(s) does your clientele utilize?
- Are all of my buyer personas attracted to the same platform? Or are their preferences differ?
- What do your consumers prioritize?
- What is necessary to encourage customers to purchase your product or service?
You should note that 74% ofyounger individuals (generation Z and
millennials) resent being targeted by social media marketers. A two-way
interaction involving sources such as blogs and online forums is necessary to
build trust with these generations.
. Use Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags are crucial to
social media marketing since they boost exposure and reach. Postings containing
at least one hashtag generate
12.6% more interaction than
posts without hashtags. But, excessive hashtag usage can hinder your reach and
engagement. To effectively use hashtags, you must research and employ hashtags
that your target audience uses. Also, you may establish branded hashtags to
improve brand visibility and promote user-generated content.
. Connect with Audience
The focus of social
media is engagement. You should note that 40% ofconsumers who follow brands on
social media do so to learn about new products or services, while 60% follow to
be entertained. It is, therefore, crucial to interact with your followers by
replying to their comments, emails, and mentions. You can also promote
involvement with social media contests, polls, and user-generated content
requests. By interacting with your followers, you can create a passionate
community that encourages brand recognition and boosts sales.
. Optimize Posting Times
Posting at the optimal
moment might affect your social media marketing outcomes. According to a study
by Sprout Social, the optimal times to post on Facebook are Tuesday at 11 a.m.
and 1-2 p.m., but the optimal times to post on Instagram are Wednesday at 11
a.m. and Friday between 10 and 11 a.m.
But, optimal posting
times can vary based on your intended audience, industry, and geographical
region. Thus, it is necessary to utilize social media analytics tools to track
the performance of your posting hours and adapt your strategy accordingly.
. Utilize Paid Advertising
Paid advertising can
help you reach a wider audience and boost your chances of success on social
media, where organic reach has decreased over time. Social media advertising
permits targeting specific audiences based on their demographics, interests,
habits, and geographical location. You can also choose from several ad styles,
including image, video, and carousel ads.
. Evaluate What the Competition is Doing
People typically form
their first impressions of a brand via social media today. How do your social
media efforts compare to those of your competitors? If you want a truly
informed plan, you must know what your competitors are doing in the market, so
you can devise methods to set your brand distinct. In addition, because social
media platforms make it simple to locate, track, and analyze competitors, your
team may quickly and effectively conduct an audit.
At least once a year,
you should audit your competition to determine what new methods they may be
employing.
However, you are only
sometimes required to seek inspiration from direct competition. You might
explore various industries to discover the most recent social media marketing trends your team could implement, or you find social media ads that resonate
with you.
Consider the content
published by your competitors and ask:
- What messaging and media channels are being utilized?
- Video? Images? What is User Generated Content?
- Which demographics do they seem to target?
- What are their expenditures?
- How often and when do they post content?
- Do they utilize influencers or collaborate with other companies to increase visibility?
- What appears to be performing well?
Answering these
questions will provide insight into improving your social media marketing and
increase the likelihood of gaining tremendous momentum through these channels.
. Track and Assess Your Results
Monitoring and analyzing
the results of your social media marketing is crucial for determining what
works and what doesn't. You may track your followers, engagement, reach, and
conversions by utilizing social media analytics tools. This information can
assist you in optimizing your social media marketing approach, enhancing your
content, and discovering new opportunities.
For instance, you can
make more if you observe that your postings gain higher engagement when you
include videos. If your audience is more active on Instagram than Twitter, you
should prioritize Instagram. By examining your data, you may make decisions
that will assist you in reaching your social media marketing objectives.
Final Words
Social media marketing
can be a potent tool for businesses seeking to expand their brand, create
leads, and enhance sales. You can improve your social media marketing and
increase your chances of success by emphasizing high-quality content and
understanding your target audience. Likewise, brands must employ hashtags
appropriately, engage with their followers, optimize posting times, utilize
paid advertising, and track results to stand out in the stiff competition.
About the Author
Maricar worked as a marketing professional for almost a decade. Leaving her corporate job for good to pursue her writing dreams, she has now ventured into SEO content writing. She writes for Softvire Australia, the leading software e-Commerce company in Australia, as well as for Softvire New Zealand. A Harry Potter fan and social media specialist, she loves to watch animated series and movies during her spare time.
