Social media marketing involves the use of social media networks in order to increase awareness of your brand and to achieve marketing goals. This mainly consists of an advertisement on the various forms of shareable social media content. What kinds of content can be used?
- Content, such as blog posts, articles, and lists
- Video content
- Image content
Any and all content that can be shared on social media can be used in a social marketing campaign. The key is being able to capitalize on the opportunity available. How can we do this? The first step is to have a plan.
How to Develop a Social Media Marketing Plan
Social media allows advertisers an unprecedented amount of reach within the target market. The first thing to do is to identify your target audience. If you have a product that is targeted towards males in their mid to late 20’s, content such as sports, cars, and women are perfect examples of the kind of things that this market consumes. With this knowledge, we can then decide on what our goals will be.
How to Develop Goals
The key to this is understanding exactly what it is you want to accomplish. Take a look at the following examples and see which suit your own individual needs.
- Increase brand awareness
- Drive increased website traffic
- Converting new consumers to your specific brand
- An increase in communication with the target audience
What Kinds of Tools are Available to use in Social Media Marketing?
There are many different tools at your disposal for use in a social media marketing campaign, but the most important thing to remember is that Content is King. As long as you continue to provide compelling content, with fresh perspectives, you will have success. It is when the brand stagnates that you fail to develop awareness. It is also important to ensure that you are providing a consistent image of your brand. If you are in the business of sales, but communicate knowledge about celebrity life, you are not helping your cause.
The best way to do this is to use a blog. Having a steady stream of marketing content available, while also providing a less formal way of communicating with your target, can help you to further your campaign.
Another tool available, and one that should be used with frequency, is Google Analytics. With this simple tool, you can track the success of your social media marketing campaign through site traffic and page views. This will give you a better idea of what is working for you, allowing you to produce the kind of content best suited to your needs.
Social media is a powerful tool to use in the marketing world. Understanding how to use it effectively can greatly increase your business.
