3 Ways to Harness the Power of Social Media

If nothing else, there is one thing about business in 2020 you must know - a social media presence is a necessity. Regardless of the size of your business or the types of products and services you offer, social media should be at the heart of your brand marketing. Social media is the most adaptable and inclusive way to reach your core audience - you get to construct your message exactly how you want and target any audience that has access to a computer or smartphone. Here are 3 ways in which you can harness the power of social media to take your brand marketing to the next level.

• JUST START

  • Social media marketing can be intimidating, especially if you are from a generation that didn’t grow up with it. There’s lots of jargon and buzzwords and it might feel like others are so much further ahead in their social media presence than you are, so what’s the point? While understandable, this is the completely wrong mindset to have. Yes, there are lots of components to social media marketing and people go to school to learn all the ways to optimize social media marketing, but you don’t have to be an expert to get started. One of the best things about social media marketing is you can put your plan in motion today and then just see what works. Maybe your audience loves videos of projects in progress. Maybe they will like selfie videos in which you share your favorite insider tips and tricks. Maybe they want goofy videos set to music without any dialogue. The possibilities are endless and even the most educated of social media marketers can’t predict with total accuracy what is going to work for your business. So the best thing is to just start posting and see what reaction you get. Eventually, if you post consistently and with variety, you will stumble upon a model that resonates with your target audience. Don’t wait - start now!

• Encourage engagement

  • People love to feel heard. Some might even argue that it is an innate part of the human condition. And they love to see their thoughts or advice taken under advisement and even implemented. Social media provides the ideal forum in which to initiate these conversations. Ask your customers what kind of products they want to see in the future. Or post a poll asking for input on a design choice. Encourage your customers to leave feedback or questions in the comments on your written content. There are a myriad of ways to get your customers to engage with you on social media. Importantly, make sure you engage back. If you post a poll asking for a vote on something, implement the winning choice. If they provide comments or feedback, take the time to thank them and reach out if they have questions or need assistance. Remember, engagement is a two-way street and you owe it to your loyal customers who took time out of their day to reach out to you to take time out of your day to respond to them.

• Provide useful content that isn’t geared towards sales

  • People can feel in an instant when they’re being sold something. Today’s consumers are more savvy and informed than ever before and they should be respected as such. If your content reads like a billboard advertisement, people will stop reading it. Importantly, they may not even communicate their distaste for it, they’ll just simply move on to something else. The best way to capture your audience’s attention is to make their time worthwhile. If they grant you 5  minutes during their morning cup of coffee to read your newest blog, they should feel like that time wasn’t a waste and walk away with some tips, ideas or food for thought - something of value that they didn’t have before reading your content. Educational and useful content will help you build brand loyalty and social currency among your customers, which will, in turn, drive sales and boost revenue. Focus on content that benefits your customers and you will see the benefit yourself in time.

Social media is an invaluable tool for building brand loyalty and boosting brand awareness. While you might be overwhelmed with all the possibilities, it is these same endless possibilities that make social media such a vital component of any modern marketing campaign. So register your accounts and start posting!