Social Media, work or play?
Social Media is easy, right? It once was, probably until two years ago. We all move to Social Media Marketing with this common notion that we will create stellar content and hop on the following train. Businesses understand that this isn’t true anymore, and they have learned it the hard way. You may believe that your product and idea is amazing, and in all probability, it is. But that isn’t enough to make you a star on Social Media.
No one comes to Instagram to look at your company’s advertisement. If people come across one, they will scroll past it. Unless they find your posts truly entertaining or valuable, chances are they won’t even visit your profile. Ask yourself and be very honest, will you follow your business page if you weren’t associated with it? Is it really appealing and entertaining for an audience? What value does this page offer to you if you aren’t even an existing customer?
Why is social media marketing tough and how can we make it easy?
1. Hello There!
We are so used to the pre-social media marketing age that we forget not all platforms are the same. Just good content isn’t enough. These platforms are all about conversations. Drive a two way communication, try to humanize your brand. After all, no one really wants to be best friends with a business.
2. Let go of the biases
Sometimes social media also tells you how well your product or idea resonates with the audience. And it might not always look good. You need to maintain a neutral perspective while approaching your plan so that you can pick on these cues and fix things for good. Remember, numbers do not lie.
3. Public Eye
When you are present on an online platform, every single thing that is posted about you and by you is open to public scrutiny. As a marketer, you need to understand that following, engagement, and leads are not everything. Brand image is also equally impacted by the kind of reputation you maintain online.
4. Patience and metrics
Social media takes some time to build and give results. Do not lose patience and stick to your post schedule. Keep an eye on metrics, it is the only way to measure progress. Offline relationships and networking take time, and in the virtual world, the same people are sitting at either end of the connection. Building a community takes time.
5. Setting your expectation right
Expectations and approach are highly dependent on each other. When it comes to community marketing, brands often have this notion that their consumer’s point of view revolves around theirs. A community of like minded individuals who are passionate about your brand and will be always interested and proactively engaged.
However, most of the time community is all about setting up the right resources for people whenever they need them. You have to define the value you bring to them, and it must resonate with their needs.
Apart from this, do keep a lookout for changes in algorithms and introduction of new features and tools. Every platform promotes newly launched content formats. Like every other marketing channel, social media comes with its own set of complexities and challenges. The only way to crack this is by posting good quality, engagement driving content. Consistency is the key, keep on following the numbers to steer your ship in the right direction.
To understand the strategic and tactical nature of digital and social media marketing, explore Digital Marketing & Social Media Strategy executive certification from IIM Raipur. The course will help you identify and understand the key channels and options currently available for digital marketing campaigns on the internet.
