“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.”
-Eric Qualman
What is Social Media?
Social media is “a collective term for websites and applications that focus on communication, community-based input, interaction, content-sharing, and collaboration.“
It is all around us from Instagram to Facebook to WhatsApp.
Every app now aims to have an interactive social platform to make it favorable and convenient.
What is social media marketing?
The rise of social media and eventual domination over how we think, act, and believe has been unprecedented and powerful.
And to be able to use this platform in ways that can make you earn not only revenue but also fame, travel, friends across borders, and of course some really good outfits and food.
And that is exactly what social media marketing is.
If you want to run a successful business or wish to be a famous influencer, social media marketing is your most important tool.
No matter who you are, if you wish to monetize your talent, skill, or product you need a social media marketing strategy, otherwise you are just posting in the blind.
Success is nowadays not only marked by economic figures but also Instagram statistics!
Businesses look into their social media impressions and analyze their content and strategy accordingly.
But that is where we are all going wrong.
What is wrong with today’s social media marketing?
Kim Garst famously said,
“Successful social media marketing is not built on impressions, it is built on relationships.”
Everyone is so focused on how much their reach is or how many likes and comments their page is getting that they are entirely losing the whole point of social media marketing.
Social Media Marketing is not solely about your business.
It is about the people looking into your business.
Let us take a short example in the offline world.
You go street shopping one day and there are two stores both selling you shoes.
One shop is advertising their shoes excellently mentioning in bold about the supreme quality, great prices and lastability with big flashy banners.
The other shop however does the same subtly along with engaging with every customer, providing them a beverage and customization options.
Which shop would you step into?
Most advertising nowadays is wasting unnecessary money on the former.
The latter form of advertising not only helps you attract customers but also helps you buy customer loyalty.
The best form of advertising turns your customer into a volunteer advertiser of your product.
But what is good social media marketing?
“Good social media marketing makes the company look small,
Great social media marketing makes the customer feel smart.”
When your social media strategy makes your customer feel empowered and in full control of their decision, congratulations you have won the game!
It is only a matter of great annoyance when somebody keeps pushing their product on your face.
For instance, if you go out to buy fruits and a roadside vendor keeps asking you to buy his sunglasses.
Not only do you not buy it but it also leaves you agitated.
But presenting your product in a way that someone feels happy, content, and especially not forced when they buy it is the best way to go.
So ask questions to your customer base before you pitch your product because amazing things happen when you listen to them speak before you speak.
Yet still, there are many who shy away from social media marketing for cost-effective measures.
Is social media marketing worth your money?
Any form of advertising if done skillfully will always be worth your money.
There is a famous quote that goes,
“Stopping advertising to save money is the same as stopping your watch to save time.”
Social media marketing can grow your revenue multifold with a decent budget if done right.
It is absurd to think that advertising via commercials is valid yet via social media it isn’t.
Commercials are a lot more expensive and time-consuming yet are preferred more than social media by a few.
TV and newspaper ads are not affordable for everyone but selling your product on Instagram is.
Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Business
- Social media marketing is one of the most affordable forms of marketing, but it also helps grow your brand at unprecedented rates.
- It also gives you the freedom to test out various marketing strategies which turn out to be extremely expensive with other advertising methods.
- Moreover, it is more interactive and gives you the chance to acquire instant and accurate customer feedback.
- The feasibility of customization is made more possible with the help of social media marketing.
- Social media marketing helps bridge the gap between a consumer and a brand, no matter how big or small it is.
So get up on the social media marketing bandwagon with Growthify media, and skyrocket your business success journey!