Become your own social media expert and boost your business
You know how people say, "You're living under a rock" if you don't know about something popular?
Well, we're pretty sure that even the most introverted, rock-loving dwellers have heard about social media. It's everywhere, and there's no stopping it.
So, as a business owner, you'd naturally want to take advantage of that, right?
In today's digital age, social media has become more than just a platform for sharing reels, going viral with challenges, and finding out that your 8th-grade geography teacher is now, in fact, living in a whole different country—it's a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage with their target audience.
So we wrote this article to show you the business potential of social media channels, explain how to craft a killer social content strategy, and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.
Let's get into how you can take your social media skills to the next level.
Owning and running a business is a full-time job. There are loads of moving parts and someone's got to keep it all on track.
With all that responsibility, you'd be totally justified for thinking that social media is a waste of your time and that you've got better things to be doing. We'd totally understand.
But you'd also be missing out on a lottery ticket of an opportunity for business growth.
Today, we can all collectively stop bashing social media and start using it for good!
Let's see how!
Your Brand LOVES Social Media
Businesses are often accused of being disingenuous or fake with the way they talk to us, hiding behind PR lingo and automated messages.
Social media provides a unique opportunity for businesses to step out of this box, while also showcasing their brand personality, values, and offerings. By engaging with your audience in an authentic and relatable manner, you can build trust and loyalty, ultimately leading to increased brand awareness and customer loyalty.
And if you think we're just hyping up the brand+social media love combo because we like both of them—think again, because we have stats to back it up! According to HubSpot, up to 90% of consumers are more likely to engage with posts that engage the company's personality. In a nutshell, making your brand a part of the way you post on social media is a surefire way to get your users more interested in what you have to say.
And the best part? It spreads like wildfire! Per Oberlo, 71% of consumers who've had a positive interaction with a brand on social media will recommend it to friends and family. When we say a sure-fire way towards interest, we mean it!
Sales and Leads Live on Social Media
Social media isn't just about building brand awareness—it's also a powerful sales and leads generation tool. With the right strategies in place, you can drive traffic to your website, capture leads through targeted advertising campaigns, and convert followers into paying customers. According to a report from Meltwater, 25% of all internet users take advantage of social media to discover new products, and that number is constantly rising.
The funny part is that it's often done unconsciously—just think of how many times you've ended up on a company's website having seen a reel or post just moments before. It's a subtle art, and it can really help your business objectives.
Social Media Is the Holy Grail of Customer Engagement and Retention
We may be getting a bit repetitive, but one of social media's biggest advantages is its ability to foster meaningful connections with your audience. So, passing up on that would be pretty crazy, right?
By actively engaging with followers, responding to comments and messages, and providing valuable content, you can turn casual followers into loyal brand advocates. Just think of your own interactions of this kind—you're much more likely to connect with a company or brand when you know that they're actively taking steps to respond to your questions, answer your feedback, or help you get to know them.
As a matter of fact, this is becoming a necessity nowadays—per SproutSocial, 70% of users expect to receive personalized responses to their queries.
All of this sounds pretty nice, right? Maybe it's even got you thinking about applying some of it to your own business, if you've not already done so.
How do you get started though?🤔
Get to Know Your Audience
This one's a no-brainer.
Understanding your target audience is the first step in any successful social media strategy. By conducting market research and analyzing your existing customer base, you can gain valuable insights into their demographics, interests, and pain points, allowing you to tailor your content and messaging accordingly.
This conversely also helps you avoid using the wrong tone with the wrong audience, which is a big no-no in social media.
Understand and Pick Your Social Media Platforms
Not all social media platforms are created equal, and not every platform will be right for your business. Take the time to research and identify which platforms your target audience frequents, and focus your efforts on building a presence there. Again, conducting that target audience research is essential as it trickles down into all other steps.
Create a Social Media Marketing Plan
A well-defined social media marketing plan is essential for success.
Get your pen and paper ready (or go digital, whatever feels better) and start with the basics: outline your goals and business model, map your target audience, work on content strategy, figure out a posting schedule, and set up metrics for success to ensure that your efforts are strategic and cohesive.
Now that you have a plan, let's get down to brass tax re: what your social media should look like.
Quality Content RULES on Social Media
In the noisy world of social media channels, quality content is king. 👑
Focus on creating content that is valuable, relevant, and engaging to your audience, whether it's informative blog posts, eye-catching graphics, or entertaining videos.
We ain't just saying this because we love a good, clean look and cute writing—quality content is an actual game-changer for your business when it comes to search engine and SEO rankings.
Wanna know why? Well, according to Slickplan, Google's search algorithm considers the quality of content as an essential factor in ranking search results. And the higher up you are in search results, the easier you'll be to spot for potential customers.
Social Media Posts: Best Practices
We all love consistency. And when it comes to social media, consistency is key.
Establish a posting schedule and stick to it, but don't sacrifice quality for quantity. Never forget that your audience will rather read a short but sweet piece of content, rather than an overdrawn one which will make them wish for their bed and blanket.
Aim to strike a balance between promotional content and value-added posts that resonate with your audience.
Provide the Eye Candy: Compelling Graphics Matter
Visual content performs exceptionally well on social media, so invest in high-quality graphics and images that capture attention and convey your brand's message effectively.
Per Venngage, over half of marketers used visuals in 91% of their content. And going with original, quality visuals makes it so much sweeter, as it'll pull in your readers with ease.
So, all of this seems pretty doable, right?
Social media is fun, engaging, and has a real-life, palpable influence on your business strategy. But, you may be wondering how the real people you post for will take to your content.
Let's take a look!
Love Your Social Media Community and It'll Love You Back
Building a loyal community on social media requires more than just posting content—it requires active engagement. Take the time to respond to comments, answer questions, and foster meaningful conversations with your followers.
This'll help you seem (and be) more genuine and it's also a great way to show off your knowledge and build authority.
Fostering Relationships: Strategies for Getting to Your Audience
In addition to engaging with your existing audience, don't be afraid to reach out and connect with potential customers and influencers in your industry. Building relationships and professional networks with key players can help expand your reach and credibility on social media.
It'll also—again—help you boost that authority factor. After all, no amount of knowledge will mean much if your customers don't think you're worthy of being listened to.
Treat Customer Inquiries and Complaints With Care and Respect
Social media is a public forum, and how you handle customer inquiries and complaints can have a significant impact on your brand's reputation. Always respond promptly, professionally, and empathetically, and strive to resolve issues to the customer's satisfaction.
SproutSocial reports that up to 76% of customers positively value a quick response by a business on social media, which adds up to an even more important element once you know that a staggering 80% of millennials prefer to use social media for customer service (over the likes of web, phone, or online chat, per Qualtrics).
Analytics Is Your Friend for Better Social Media
Regularly monitor and analyze your social media marketing performance using analytics tools to identify what's working and what isn't. Use this data to refine your strategy, optimize your content, and drive better results over time.
Working blind may look okay at first, but social media campaigns that consistently miss the mark can be a big problem down the line. The sooner you get into analytics, the happier you'll be in the long run!
Once you do end up getting into analytics, you'll notice that some types of social media are more popular and impactful than others. Wanna take a look at those industry trends with us?
What Are Current Trends and Strategies in Social Media Marketing?
Video Content Is Taking Over on Social Media
Video content continues to dominate social media platforms, with formats like short-form videos, live streams, and stories gaining popularity among users. Incorporating video into your social media strategy can help increase engagement and reach a wider audience.
Interactive videos, especially, are all the hype lately. You can read up about them in a bit more detail here (link to "Content Marketing Services: The Art of Audience Engagement" once it's live on WTJ), but suffice it to say that this type of content has a very high return on investment (ROI), and is also supremely reusable.
Just how reusable, you ask? Well, Linearity reports that up to 77% of content marketers note that interactive material has a high reusability potential, leading to increased traffic on the merit of multiple exposures.
Live Streaming and Stories Are on the Rise
Live streaming and stories offer a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with their audience in real time, providing behind-the-scenes glimpses, product demos, and interactive Q&A sessions. Incorporating these formats into your social media strategy can help foster a sense of authenticity and immediacy with your audience.
Anything that brings you closer to your audience and shows them that you are not just your business, but another person just like them, is a legitimate and worthwhile social media strategy. Live streaming and stories have got that part covered perfectly.
Here's the hitch though—you know how we said above that social media is a 24/7 duty? Well, we weren't joking. 😅
As someone running a business, you're likely not to have that much time left over to work on your social media in the first place, especially if you're just getting into it.
So, that's that then, right? We've wasted your reading time up until now just to tell you that it's all worthless because of the time investment needed?
Well, not really. Not at all, actually.
As it happens, there are companies out there specializing in exactly this kind of thing. With the help of these, you can get started with social media from scratch, boost the social media you already have, and understand ways of keeping the good times going for long.
Digital marketing companies (like Worth The Journey, since we're on the topic) can do this—but they can do much more as well. Let's see what else is in store.
Video Content Is Taking Over on Social Media
Video content continues to dominate social media platforms, with formats like short-form videos, live streams, and stories gaining popularity among users. Incorporating video into your social media strategy can help increase engagement and reach a wider audience.
Interactive videos, especially, are all the hype lately. You can read up about them in a bit more detail here (link to "Content Marketing Services: The Art of Audience Engagement" once it's live on WTJ), but suffice it to say that this type of content has a very high return on investment (ROI), and is also supremely reusable.
Just how reusable, you ask? Well, Linearity reports that up to 77% of content marketers note that interactive material has a high reusability potential, leading to increased traffic on the merit of multiple exposures.
Live Streaming and Stories Are on the Rise
Live streaming and stories offer a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with their audience in real time, providing behind-the-scenes glimpses, product demos, and interactive Q&A sessions. Incorporating these formats into your social media strategy can help foster a sense of authenticity and immediacy with your audience.
Anything that brings you closer to your audience and shows them that you are not just your business, but another person just like them, is a legitimate and worthwhile social media strategy. Live streaming and stories have got that part covered perfectly.
Here's the hitch though—you know how we said above that social media is a 24/7 duty? Well, we weren't joking. 😅
As someone running a business, you're likely not to have that much time left over to work on your social media in the first place, especially if you're just getting into it.
So, that's that then, right? We've wasted your reading time up until now just to tell you that it's all worthless because of the time investment needed?
Well, not really. Not at all, actually.
As it happens, there are companies out there specializing in exactly this kind of thing. With the help of these, you can get started with social media from scratch, boost the social media you already have, and understand ways of keeping the good times going for long.
Digital marketing companies (like Worth The Journey, since we're on the topic) can do this—but they can do much more as well. Let's see what else is in store.
Understanding the Role of Digital Marketing Firms in Social Media Marketing
Digital marketing companies specialize in helping businesses navigate the complex world of social media marketing. From developing strategic plans to creating compelling content and managing advertising and social campaigns, they can provide the expertise and resources needed to maximize your social media return on investment.
Perhaps equally as important, though—they can take that chore off of your hands, giving you more time to work on other business goals.
Identifying and Engaging with Relevant Companies in Your Industry
When choosing a digital marketing company to partner with, look for one that has experience working with businesses in your industry. They'll have a better understanding of your target audience and competition, allowing them to develop more effective strategies tailored to your specific needs.
Don't make the mistake of just jumping onto the bandwagon and following the most popular company. Some digital marketing agencies may be better than others, but only in certain fields.
Do your research and understand your needs before starting your social media agency headhunt.
Make Your Choice of Digital Marketing Company Easy
When evaluating digital marketing companies, consider factors such as their track record of success, range of services offered, pricing structure, community management skills, and client testimonials. Ultimately, choose a partner that aligns with your goals, values, and budget, and that you feel confident can deliver results within a wide variety of needs.
Consider all of these factors, do your homework for all of them, and be sure that you're ready to make your choice assuredly when the time comes.
Once you've decided, you'll likely want to know what the process will look like?
Here's a quick overview.
Reviewing, Reworking, and Rebranding
Once you've partnered with a digital marketing company, the first line of business will be to conduct a thorough review of your existing social media presence and develop a strategy to enhance your brand's visibility and engagement, working on your social network.
Why is brand so important? Well, according to Forbes, a strong brand culture and transparency are big factors for buyers, with 66% of them preferring purchases from such companies.
Digital marketing companies may rework your content, rebrand your social media accounts, and implement new tactics to achieve your goals. They have social media marketing tools at their disposal which will make your life that much easier.
Be aware, though, that you'll be involved in all steps of the process, so be sure to make your voice and opinions heard!
Using Analytics for Long-Term Success
Digital marketing companies leverage advanced analytics tools to track and measure the performance of your social media campaigns. By analyzing key metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversion rates, they can identify areas for improvement and refine your strategy for long-term success.
Analytics can go way deeper than that, though, and can help your business dive deep into the minute details needed to target audiences for the most effective strategy.
With all of this said, this is only scratching the surface of what digital marketing companies can do for your social media presence. Our best advice would be to get super detailed and thoroughly research the potential companies you're looking at. At the end of the day, they'll be your partners in boosting the success of your business.
Social media offers unparalleled opportunities for businesses to connect with their audience, drive sales, and build brand loyalty. We hope we've made this much clear.
There's no running away from the fact that it can be a long and difficult journey to get your brand where you want it to be, but you also don't have to go it alone.
By understanding the potential of social media, crafting a strategic plan, creating compelling content, and partnering with the right digital marketing company, you can become your own social media expert and take your business to new heights.
And if you ever want to talk about any of it, we're here to help you out with a free, half-hour social media chat where we can talk tactics, strategy, or simply moan and complain about social media trends we dislike.
So, whether you go for it alone or find your ideal social media partner, just know that we've got your back and think you're pretty amazing for doing this!👏
Why should business owners even care about social media networks?
Social media offers a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, drive sales, and foster customer loyalty and community engagement.
How can social media benefit my brand?
Social media allows businesses to showcase their brand personality, values, and offerings, thus building trust and loyalty among their audience while creating positive online marketing. Additionally, positive interactions on social media can lead to recommendations to friends and family and a whole slew of virtual communities.
How can I get started with social media for my business?
Begin by understanding your target audience, identifying the social media platforms they frequent, and creating a social media marketing plan that outlines your goals, target audience, content strategy, posting schedule, and metrics for success. Then, hunt down the social media management tools needed to get the show on the road.
What type of content works best on social media?
Publishing content that is valuable, relevant, and engaging to your audience is the name of the game. This can include informative blog posts, eye-catching graphics, entertaining videos, and interactive content like polls or quizzes. Different communication strategies work better or worse for different situations.
How important is engagement on social media?
Engagement is crucial on social media as it fosters meaningful connections with your audience, turns followers into loyal brand advocates, and positively impacts your brand's reputation and online presence. Responding promptly and professionally to comments, messages, and inquiries is key.
What are some current trends in social media marketing?
Video content, including short-form videos, live streams, and stories, is gaining popularity among users. Additionally, interactive content and behind-the-scenes glimpses can help foster authenticity and immediacy with your audience.
How can digital marketing companies help with social media?
Digital marketing companies specialize in helping businesses navigate the complex world of social media marketing. They can provide expertise and resources to develop strategic plans, create compelling content, manage advertising campaigns, help with customer relations, and analyze performance metrics.
What should I consider when choosing a digital marketing company?
Factors to consider include the company's track record of success, range of services offered, pricing structure, client testimonials, and industry experience. Choose a partner that aligns with your goals, values, and budget.
What's the process like when working with a digital marketing company?
The process typically involves a thorough review of your existing social media presence, the development of a strategic plan, content creation, implementation of tactics, and ongoing monitoring and optimization of your social channels using analytics tools.
How can I learn more about social media marketing or get assistance with my strategy?
Industry professionals can help. Consider reaching out to social media professionals for a consultation or chat where you can discuss tactics, strategy, or any questions you may have about social media marketing.