How to Use Social Media Marketing

Posted on 28th Apr 2013 @ 12:16 AM

                                                                                   How to Use Social Media Marketing

Using social networks as a marketing tool and somewhat disappointed by the results? Or considering integrating social media as part of your branding strategy? Learn about some basic pros and cons when it comes to social media marketing on the main networks - Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ .  Social networks are all over the place today and businesses that understood their potential using them as marketing and promotion tools.  

Which sites are essential for social media marketing?

     Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+ are the most trafficked and most famous social media sites. You don’t have to use all of these tools, but it’s helpful to at least set up a profile on all of them. Don’t get overwhelmed! Learn and implement one and a time, then focus on the one that has the highest return on investment for your business. 

How can I save my time when marketing on social media?

    Preschedule your statuses updates and use tools that can update multiple social media properties at once. One of the most effective free tools for doing this is HootSuite.com. There also a free mobile application for this job. But watch out for terminology that’s specific to one social network. For example, it can be confusing to post a status update that uses mentions or hashtags (technology that’s specific to Twitter) on Facebook. So when you’re posting across networks, make sure your message works across all the different social media sites that you’re posting to.

Is social media marketing useful for every business?

     YES! Social media marketing is useful for every business that has customers who are using the internet. If your business serves a country that doesn’t have the internet, or if all of your buyers are over the age of 85 then maybe social media marketing isn’t for you!

Does social media marketing really work?

     Brands and businesses are certainly making a stronger push than ever on social media, which makes sense — that’s where the people are. Figuring out just how much social media marketing returns on investments of time and money, however, is harder to do. Sixty-four percent of business owners say social media marketing is a promising tactic and they believe it provides returns — but they aren’t willing to go all in with it just yet and favor a more cautious approach. Another 20% are more bullish on its potential, according to the same study, while just 6% are hardcore skeptics. So Yes! “Social media” is a term that just encompasses new ways of talking to prospects and clients online. And talking to people is always an effective way to market your business!

Is social media marketing expensive?

     Yes and no! The tools are free, so social media marketing is largely an investment of time. As a small business owner, time is a valuable resource and you likely don’t have the capital to hire a department just to manage your social media outreach. But overall, social media is a MUCH more cost-effective strategy than any traditional form of display advertising. Social media marketing continues to build your reputation and bring in leads even when you’re not actively building it out. Ads are gone completely once you stop paying for them.