Social media now permeates every aspect of our life. The number of people using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., continues to rise. This means that businesses should also take advantage of these platforms to promote their brands.
Social media marketing is a type of Internet marketing where companies share information about themselves or their products on websites, blogs, and other forms of electronic media. Social media marketing uses various tools and strategies to connect businesses with customers.
15 ways to get started with social media marketing
- Use video in your content
One of the most interesting types of content online is video. They can help you build trust with potential clients and encourage them to buy from you. Video content is easy to create and it’s free to use. Making videos does not require any unique abilities. All you need is a computer, camera, and some creativity.
It’s important to note that not all videos will be effective at promoting your business. For example, if you’re selling a product or service like a car, then there’s no point in uploading a video explaining how great your car is. Instead, upload a short video showing off the features of your car.
The same goes for your blog posts. If you’re writing about something that doesn’t apply to your audience, they won’t read it. Make sure that every post you publish relates to your target market.
- Create infographics
Infographics are visual representations of data. They are very effective at conveying complex information quickly and easily. Infographics are great at helping you explain complicated concepts and ideas. A well-designed infographic will be eye-catching and interesting to read. Additionally, it will bring in more people to your website.
The best way to create an infographic is by using a tool called Canva. It allows you to create beautiful graphics with its free design templates without having to know anything about design. You simply choose what kind of graphic you want to create (for example, a pie chart) and add images, text, shapes, colors, and more. Once you’re done editing, you can save your work and share it with others.
It takes time to learn how to create high-quality infographics. But once you do, you’ll have many opportunities to use them. There are lots of different kinds of infographics out there, including those related to travel, food, news, sports, health, finance, technology, science, education, politics, arts, history, fashion, beauty, religion, pets, vehicles, and even hobbies.
- Create a YouTube channel
YouTube is another platform where you can promote yourself or your company. Unlike social media page, however, YouTube isn’t just for watching videos. You can actually create your own videos and upload them directly to your account.
You can also include links to your website and other social media accounts in your videos. When viewers click on these links, they’ll go back to your site. And when people visit your website, they may find useful information that leads them to purchase your products.
The downside to YouTube is that only 1% of its users are active creators. That means you’ll likely have to compete with millions of other businesses for attention. The good news is that this competition makes it easier to stand out because viewers are looking for unique and creative videos.
- Create content that helps users solve problems
There’s a good probability that someone else has the same issue you have. That’s why it makes sense to offer solutions to common problems. Your job is to find out what those problems are, and come up with creative solutions to address them.
To do this effectively, you first need to identify your target market. Who are they? What problems do they face? How can you help them? These questions will help you develop a strategy for creating useful content. It could be as simple as answering frequently asked questions, providing helpful tutorials, or offering tips and advice.
- Promote your business through email marketing
Email marketing has become one of the most popular ways to promote any type of business. Even if you don’t have much money to spend, you can still get started with free tools like MailChimp, Constant Contact, or HubSpot.
These platforms make it easy to send personalized emails to customers. For example, you might send discounts based on previous purchases. Or you could let loyal buyers know about upcoming sales events.
Once you start promoting your business through email, you’ll notice that your conversion rate increases dramatically. That’s because you’re targeting the right audience at the right time. But make sure you follow the basics of email marketing campaign such as adding your logo design, making it mobile optimized, and use white space and dividers for effective emails.
- Include polls in your blog posts
Polls are another way to gather feedback from your audience. People love participating in surveys because they give them a chance to show off what they know. In addition, polls allow you to gauge how much interest there is in certain topics. If you want to increase traffic to your site, then this is something you should consider doing.
The best part is that polls are relatively easy to set up. All you need is an online survey tool such as Survey Monkey or Typeform and Zonka Feedback. Then you can ask your readers to share their opinions.
- Use Google Adwords to attract new visitors
Google provides the advertising service known as Google AdWords. This service allows you to place ads on search results pages. The idea is to position your ad so that potential customers see it while searching for relevant keywords.
When you advertise using Google AdWords, you pay each time someone clicks on your ad. As long as you have enough budget, you can run your campaign for months without spending anything. You must, however, exercise caution to limit your spending. Google will stop displaying your advertising if this happens.
- Build a community around your brand
You can use communities to build trust among your followers. They also provide a platform for you to interact with them directly.
For example, you might create a Facebook group called “How To Do X”. Once you post a question, members can respond. You can even ask people to vote on answers. When you receive several good suggestions, you can choose the one that seems to be the most popular.
- Run contests on social media
Contests are fun ways to generate buzz around your business. All you need to do is announce a contest on your social media channels. Make sure to include rules so that everyone knows how to participate. Also, encourage participants to share photos of themselves wearing your products.
The more people who take part in the contest, the better. And when you reach your goal, you can reward top winners with prizes and discounts.
- Collab with other brands
If you’ve got a great product but no marketing strategy, try collaborating with other companies. You can partner with brands that complement yours. For example, you may work together on a project where both of you contribute content.
This kind of collaboration helps you gain exposure. It also gives you access to resources that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
- Run giveaways
Giveaways are a fantastic method to market your business. You don’t necessarily need to spend money on these promotions. Instead, you can simply offer free samples of your products to your followers.
It also works well if you have an affiliate program. For instance, you could send out emails promoting a particular product. Those who sign up for your affiliate link get a discount code. Just use Canva’s free design templates to make a beautiful and exciting layout of your giveaway!
- Use influencers
Influencer marketing is a powerful form of advertising. Influencers usually have large followings. So, they can help increase traffic to your website.
Influencers often have blogs or YouTube channels. But you don’t always need to hire an influencer. You can find plenty of bloggers and YouTubers willing to collaborate with you.
- Make memes
Memes are funny images that make people laugh. They can be used to highlight important messages about your brand. It’s easy to make memes because there are lots of meme generators available online.
The main reason why memes are effective is that they stick in people’s minds. If you want to create a memorable image, it’s best to use something that makes people smile.
- Host a webinar
A webinar is a live presentation held via the internet. You can host a webinar to give your audience information about your company. Or, you can hold a Q&A session where you answer questions from your followers.
It also lets you connect with potential customers. This is especially useful if you sell physical products. You can show off your inventory during the webinar.
- Go live and respond to your followers
Live streaming is another way to engage with your audience. You can stream videos directly to your social media page. Then, you can interact with viewers by answering their comments and questions.
You can also interact with your followers in real time. Just keep in mind to always act professionally. Don’t say anything inappropriate.
Conclusion
Social media has become one of the most popular forms of communication today. As such, businesses should not ignore this platform. In fact, social media marketing is essential for any business. It enables you to interact with your intended audience. In addition, it helps you build relationships with them.
So, what are you waiting for? Start using these tips today!
