Understanding social media marketing can be challenging, so Deborah E, an experienced practitioner in this field, shares her knowledge and experiences to demonstrate how businesses can use social media for growth and success.
Reaping the Benefits of Social Media
“When I first learned of anything social media-related was Facebook,” notes Deborah when recalling her initial experiences. Initially, Deborah found her perceptions of social media somewhat disparaging given its significance in financial services industries like where she worked at that time – particularly since financial professionals spending work time on Facebook seemed unfathomable to her at first. But, after being assigned the task of overseeing it for her company’s account, her understanding shifted significantly and an exciting journey of discovery began for her!
Learning From Experts
Deborah’s education in social media began when she joined a $10,000 per month PR company nearby. “I was able to go over for about an hour and sit down; then they said ‘Deb, get this company on LinkedIn'”, says Deborah. This immersive experience gave her invaluable knowledge about social media platforms and their importance in business strategy.
Deborah offers direct advice when asked where a business should start with social media marketing: jump right in. “Start tweeting,” she suggests, and build up their online presence by tweeting frequently for several months on various platforms (it can be impossible to remain active everywhere). Deborah stresses the importance of choosing which platforms one wishes to concentrate their efforts on as it will be difficult for a single entity to maintain an active presence across all of them.
Deborah advises that there is no single best social media channel for businesses; rather, the right channel depends on a range of factors related to business, niche, target audience and personal style or preference. YouTube remains her personal favourite but Deborah spends considerable time engaging with Facebook and Twitter as well.
Building Your Social Media Marketing Strategy
Crafting a successful social media marketing strategy doesn’t need to be complicated, says Deborah. You could start with creating a simple spreadsheet or calendar documenting content and frequency of post frequency; tools like Post Planner or Small Biz Trends may come in handy here; alternatively you could even program your own system if tech savvy like Deborah; what matters is that you maintain consistent engagement across channels.
Deborah advises that to build an effective community on social media, engagement, consistency and innovation are the keys. “Be engaged, be relational and discover an innovative edge,” she suggests. Deborah emphasizes the need for commitment if one wishes to build their online community successfully; taking too much time away can negatively impact its development.
Budget for Social Media Marketing
While many social media platforms offer free options, social media marketing incurs costs beyond money alone – including time and effort spent. Deborah recommends setting aside around $500 as “play money”, which should cover everything from hiring help to investing in services or tools.
Navigating Social Media Posting
Deborah advises against posting any content that could be offensive or inappropriate, emphasizing the importance of staying true to your brand and avoiding controversial topics. “Firstly, define your brand and understand its intended purposes before discussing controversial subjects.” Deborah emphasizes: “Secondly, avoid any of the obvious things like bullying, targeting any groups of people, etc.”
Unleashing the power of social media for business success may seem daunting at first, but with guidance from experts such as Deborah E, this task becomes less intimidating.
How to Effectively Utilize Social Media Advertising
Deborah recommends starting off small when it comes to using social media advertising, emphasizing the need to experiment and track analytics closely in order to see which strategies and tactics work best. Facebook ads offer great targeting options while remaining cost effective – however it is crucial that one understand their metrics and KPIs properly, Deborah advises.
Deborah stresses the significance of social media in SEO; while its direct effect may not be immediate, its influence can still play a vital role in an organization’s online visibility. By producing shareable content that captures attention, businesses can broaden their reach and increase backlinks – which have an indirect impactful on SEO rankings.
Deborah believes the future of social media lies with technology such as augmented and virtual reality becoming ever-more prominent, yet human relationships will always come first. No matter which new platforms or technologies emerge, engagement remains key to its success, she asserts.
Deborah advises treating negative comments or reviews on social media as opportunities rather than threats, and suggests publicly responding to each comment before taking it offline as soon as possible and trying to resolve it privately; “if handled well, this person could become one of your greatest advocates!” she suggests.
Deborah recommends continuous learning for anyone entering the social media marketing field. With social media constantly changing and evolving, keeping up-to-date on trends and technologies is crucial for success. “Be a lifelong learner, don’t fear taking risks, experiment and you may just find what works best for both you and your brand!” she advises.
Deborah concludes by emphasizing the need for balance. While an active online presence is necessary, social media shouldn’t consume your life entirely. “Find a healthy balance – be present online while also spending quality time offline with family and friends – remember, social media is just another tool in your marketing arsenal!” she advises.
Deborah E.’s insights provide businesses with an excellent opportunity to navigate the social media landscape more successfully, ensuring their marketing strategies are effective, up-to-date and contribute to overall business success.