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It’s fair to say that the last two years have been somewhat traumatic for many small and medium sized businesses, as they’ve had to cope with the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. With countries being forced into lockdowns, thousands of businesses had to close their doors and find new, innovative ways to keep selling their product and their brand.
The online world was the saviour for many, and with the world beginning to open-up again, 2022 is looking increasingly like the year that many businesses can start bouncing back. But the pandemic also gave people time to reflect on their own careers and explore new opportunities to start up a business themselves.
For struggling companies, or ones looking to emerge from the Covid nightmare stronger, or businesses starting out in this curious new world, marketing your product or brand online has never been so important. So, have you ever thought about using a proven Social Media agency to add enormous value to your digital marketing campaign?
What Social Media Marketing opportunities are out there for 2022?
The power of Social Media has transformed the world of advertising and marketing, offering businesses countless ways to reach consumers on a local, national, and global scale. Although social commerce is nothing new, businesses had to rely on it heavily during the pandemic and for many consumers, it was the only social interaction they could enjoy. It also helped to see the online buying and selling of products boom, which is sure to continue. An example of using content to engage people and show off the best side of your business is with a social media wall; it’s very easy to make a social media wall once you know how to do it.
With some consumers reluctant to head back to the high streets, they might start turning more to Social Media for an immersive experience where interactive elements are used to assist social selling. Online or live videos showcasing a service, interactive product demos, or the use of AR and VR-based Social Media campaigns are growing in popularity. These types of mediums offer an excellent opportunity for businesses to reach customers they haven’t tapped into yet.
We are also entering the age of the Metaverse where new digital worlds, currencies and social platforms are being born. Although this is still largely uncharted territory, it could slowly become more mainstream and is another avenue businesses should start to explore.
Brand accountability has never been so important on Social Media
There has been a growing trend for consumers to hold brands and companies accountable for products, services, or customer experiences via Social Media platforms. A good or bad review where potentially millions of people will see it, can make, or break a business overnight.
Being able to keep your pulse on a conversation around your brand can stand you in good stead for providing an appropriate response if required. A brand should have a human side too, with personality and perspective. Now more than ever, consumers will look at more than a brands product. They will also explore a brands purpose, mission and any social issues surrounding it.
Why I should invest in Social Media Marketing
There are billions of Social Media users around the world with pretty much every target audience you can think of accessible within minutes. Brand awareness can be spread by simply using a hashtag, commenting on posts by other people, or messaging customers directly to create a strong brand identity.
It has become the quickest and most cost-effective way to speak to your target audience or customer directly, to offer advice, promote a product or respond to a query. You can also discover what consumers are talking about through social listening, so you can get ahead of the next trend.
Social Media allows you to build that all important customer loyalty and you can even gain referral traffic from your Social Media profiles direct to your website by adding links or swipes to your posts. From here, an interested consumer can quickly become a paying customer.
However, it is absolutely saturated and to stand a chance competing on these platforms, the hours have to put in, which is where a good London Social Media agency can play its part.
Tips and advice to help start a Social Media plan
As with any business approach, you need to start with a plan, and marketing via Social Media should be no exception. Here are some basic things to look at when first generating your strategy.
Firstly, know your audience. The better you understand your target market, the more you’ll be able to focus your campaigns to reach those people who are most likely to become your customers. By defining a clear understanding of your Social Media target audience, the more you’ll be able to identify your niche and start dominating the social space.
Secondly, decide which platforms are right for your brand and your target audience. Don’t assume you know where your consumers spend their time online. Do the research. It is also important to note, that choosing your platforms doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. You can use different social platforms to reach different audiences.
Thirdly, start to build relationships. One of the unique benefits of Social Media marketing for small and medium sized businesses is that it allows you to talk directly to your customers and followers. Relationships can be built over time, leading to extended consumer loyalty. If people are engaging with your social content, engage back. This will help to build trust and form a loyal following that can lead to ongoing custom.
Next, as part of your Social Media plan start up, pay attention to trends. Understand what people are looking for when they sign into their social platforms so you can create appropriate content that they will respond to. Social Media users want to stay up to date with news and current events, share photos or videos with others, or find funny and entertaining content. Always try to keep your audience’s current needs in mind and your content fresh. What worked last year might not work now.
Finally, don’t be afraid to study your competition. There’s nothing wrong with looking at how successful brands within your niche use Social Media, as it could form a blueprint for your own success.
So, what next?
There can’t be any doubt that using Social Media marketing is a cost-effective way to unlock a goldmine of potential customers, develop a strong brand identity, and build a loyal consumer following. All you have to do is tap into it and used the correct way, reap the rewards it can bring.
