Social media has become the most powerful force in the marketing universe in the last decade. It’s not a surprise given the fact that networks like Facebook and YouTube gather over two billion daily active users. But what is social media marketing?
By definition, it refers to techniques that target social networks and applications to spread brand awareness or promote particular products. However, the benefits of this marketing channel go way beyond that because you can use it to:
- Increase website traffic
- Improve ranking in engine searches
- Enhance customer satisfaction
- Boost customer loyalty
- Build brand authority
- Generate qualified leads
- Drive conversions
But before you launch any campaigns, we strongly recommend you learn the basic rules of social media marketing. Here are the 15 essential tips for beginner-level marketers!
1. Choose a Few Platforms
Amateur marketers believe they have to exploit every single social platform available online, which is a big mistake. You should be selective and choose only a few networks where your audience spends most of its time. That way, you don’t have to waste time administering accounts which can’t influence the target group.
2. Profile Optimization
The next tip is to optimize each social media account properly. What does that mean? Well, there are several things to pay attention to:
- Upload a quality profile photo that perfectly represents your brand.
- If possible, add a link to your website.
- Write a brief description of your business.
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3. Make a Schedule
Consistency is crucial to the success of social marketing campaigns, so you have to make a long-term plan of activities.
4. Create Quality Content
Don’t publish a post if you are not sure that it’s very good. According to content creation professionals at the best essay writing service, each post has to fulfill a specific purpose and do it in a way that proves the credibility and authority of your brand. Generally speaking, images should be eye-pleasing, textual messages informative and entertaining, while videos must be interesting and engaging.
5. Mind the Quantity
There is no one rule to cover all networks, so you need to be careful when it comes to content quantity. For instance, Twitter encourages brands to publish multiple tweets every day because it’s the only way to get a foot in the door. On the other hand, one post per day is more than enough for Facebook marketing.
6. Timing
Timing is also important because you want to publish content when the majority of your audience is active. This also depends on the nature of your business and the preferences of your audience, so make sure to analyze their online behavior to figure out when they use social media.
7. Don’t Push It
Social media platforms are communication tools and you are supposed to use them for social interactions. Build relationships with your fans and don’t push it by publishing too much promotional content. Pinterest and similar networks are not about selling stuff, but rather about nurturing relations with your audience.
8. Engage 24/7
Speaking of relationship building, we should mention that fans expect you to be available 24/7. According to reports, most users want brands to answer their questions in a matter of hours (if not minutes). You must be there for your fans – post comments, ask questions, answer their inquiries, etc.
7. Play with Different Types of Media
Another useful suggestion is to mix your content. Don’t stick to just one format such as images or videos. Instead, you can play with different types of media to make your profile versatile and more entertaining in the eyes of an average follower.
10. Share Users’ Content
Sharing user-generated content is a great way to build trust between fans and your brand. When you find a nice photo or post mentioning your brand, don’t hesitate to share it on your profile. That way, you prove that you care for users’ opinions and appreciate their efforts.
11. Work with Influencers
Influencers can be a powerful weapon in your social media marketing arsenal, so make sure to find the right individuals who have the potential to represent your brand properly. Influential persons have a large base of loyal followers who listen to their recommendations, so you can expect influencers to bring you a wave of new leads quickly.
12. Social Share Buttons
If you want to grow the popularity of your website content, then you should add social share buttons. Doing so allows readers to share your posts on their own accounts and tell the world about your website. This is a simple process, if you have a WordPress-powered site: just choose one of these plugins and you can create social share buttons quickly.
13. Join Social Communities
Almost every social network administers thousands of communities where people with similar interests discuss different topics. You can find and join such groups, make comments, ask questions, and share interesting materials in order to grow your network of brand followers.
14. Use Social Advertising
It would be perfect to grow the number of your followers organically, but sometimes you just have to sponsor posts to boost reach. Doing so online is very easy since all platforms give you a number of advertising options. For instance, Facebook allows you to target audiences extremely accurately, choosing between core followers, custom audiences, and lookalike fans. That way, each ad is guaranteed to hit the right target.
15. Measure the Results
Clever marketers always keep an eye on the results of their social media activities. You must follow the goals and objectives of your campaigns and compare them with the actual results. It’s the only way to understand how it all works, identify pain points, and solve potential problems.
Conclusion
Social media attracts billions of users and grants you global exposure in real-time. You have to utilize this marketing channel to grow your brand and build an army of loyal customers, but you need to understand how to do it properly. We provided 15 social media marketing tips for beginners, so make sure to remember them and leave a comment if you have any questions. We will be here to answer you quickly!
