Social media is everywhere now. Even if it is not that social, it is still omnipresent. As such, companies are starting to realize this, and take full advantage of it. They have perfected the process of social media marketing to spread the presence of their company, to advertise, to maintain their relevance among newer generations, and to find new markets in which to plant themselves.
If you have not started this with your own company, or if you are scratching your head, asking yourself “Wait, what is social media marketing?”, then you need to keep reading. This could be an unexplored avenue that your business may thrive in, and can actually be quite fun once you get the ball rolling. So keep reading, learn some tips and techniques, and then get your business started on it as well.
- What Is Social Media Marketing?
- How To Do It
- Resources
Social media marketing is a subtle form of advertisement. Think of it as a stealthy, guerilla, subliminal way of advertising. It is not blatant, flashy ads. It is not putting up billboards, pop-up ads, or even banners on the sides of websites. It is more like you are slowly working your way into the everyday lives of your customers and clients, or potential new ones.
By making yourself visible as a mere presence, you are not causing people to react to ads negatively, or put up walls against advertisements. You are just gently reminding them that you are around, and they will be more likely to recall you to mind when they need the services you offer.
One way to make yourself more accessible is to add social media buttons to websites. By allowing people to share your site and its content with the simple click of a button, they are much more likely to do so. The more work required, the less likely it is to happen.
When posting your own social media, whether it is over Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, or any other form, you must tread a fine line. You cannot post too much, lest you become spammy. You cannot blatantly advertise, because no one wants to see that on their social media feeds. You must post often enough to stay on your followers feeds, and the content needs to be relevant, often fun and topical.
For social media marketing tips, one great source to look up is a handful of social media marketing blogs. They can give you best practices designed for each type of social media. You can also find step-by-step instructions on how to go about posting things. Another great source is just looking to companies with great social media presences. Look at what is making them so successful, and figure out how to emulate that.
Now you never again need to ask yourself, or anyone else, “What is social media marketing?”. You know what it is, how to do, and even some places to go to get a little guidance should you need it. For being a free way to get your business out there, it can be a great way to advertise, introduce yourself to new customers, and even pull in some new business in the process.