While telemarketing, print advertising, and direct mail still have their place, social media marketing can help launch your brand and customer base in a powerful way. Getting started with social media platforms can be a challenge if you don't have any previous experience or insight. Here are the fundamentals of finding your business' social audience through various popular online platforms. Understand Your Target Audience Regardless of who your customers are, you can rightly assume that a majority of them are online and on social media. According to the latest statistics, in a world of 7.3 billion people, 31percent are active social media users and 65 percent of American adults are active on social media. Before you jump online and start posting videos and status updates, however, it's important that you take some time to thoroughly define your target audience. Do you currently have a profile of your target market? Many businesses don't. Developing a clear and concise understanding of your target audience is the first step in successful social media marketing. Make a list of six to eight identifiers of your typical customers (male/female, age, geographic location, education, occupation, hobbies, economic status). Beyond this, list potential motivators that customers may have for purchasing your products or services. Are they bargain shoppers or people searching for a specialty item? Do your clients typically buy online or do they come into a physical location? If you aren't sure about the answers to some of these questions, study a competitor's data for some insights. Perform Keyword Research If you have a website or a blog, you've probably (hopefully) done some keyword research for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) purposes. Targeting certain keyword phrases ideally puts your website in front of the people who are looking for your particular products and services. Those same keyword phrases, along with that buyer persona that you've put together, can also help you maximize your social media impact in several ways. Having a list of relevant keywords can both help you find your audience on social media sites and give you ideas for interesting content. For example, if you've determined that your customers are interested in budget travel opportunities, and you own a lodge in Vermont, you may want to add such phrases as "cheap rooms Vermont" and "hotel discounts Vermont" to your list. There are several ways to do keyword research for social media marketing. Facebook is continuing to upgrade their search engine and now has a more powerful search tool for users. You can search public posts for up to the minute information on any search phrase, which can help you determine popular topics as well as who is interested in them.
Choose and Establish Social Media Profiles
Obviously, not all social media platforms are created equal, and many companies mistakenly believe that they should simply start with Facebook because it is the largest. This isn't always the case as B2B businesses have found that Facebook targeting doesn't provide as healthy returns as some other social media sites. However, if you're marketing directly to consumers (B2C), Facebook could be an excellent choice. Here are some useful stats on some of the top social networks.
What these numbers mean to your business? Based on your target market and these social media profiles, you should be able to determine what the best online platforms would be to begin your efforts. For example, if you are marketing to a younger audience, you'll want to concentrate your efforts on such sites as Instagram, Facebook, and possibly Twitter (check out Snapchat marketing as well). If your target audience is primarily women, Pinterest and Facebook might be better choices. Finally, if doing B2B marketing, LinkedIn and Twitter usually provide the best returns. It's important to remember that every audience is different and what works for one company may not work for another. Also, it's never a good idea to put all of your social media marketing eggs in one basket. Be sure to spread the love amongst several networks. Engage Your New Audience on Social Media Most companies fail to understand that successful social media marketing is built on relationships, which takes a degree of patience as well as time to nurture. Here are three simply strategies for building and engaging with your new social audience.
When you follow these steps, you'll be sure to find success in locating and engaging your target audience on social media. In today's connected world, a business without a social media marketing strategy is foregoing profits and leaving customer choice up to chance. Leveraging social media is one of the best ways to reach and engage both existing and potential clients, allowing for a business' continued growth. Source: http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/finding-the-right-social-audience-for-your-business/ |
Marcus Guiliano
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March 2020
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