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If you’re trying to wrap your head around modern social media, chances are you’re a bit overwhelmed. Hey, we totally get it. It’s a lot to take in, especially since the social space is almost unrecognisable from what it was a decade ago.

Fret not. MOOD is here to help.

Social media has become an integral part of the online marketing world. It allows businesses to engage with their audiences and promote their products and services through multiple channels. Now, more than ever, it is more important that businesses and marketers understand social media marketing basics.
Whether you’re just getting started and feeling like you’re all over the place with all the information around you or you have years of experience, we’ve outlined below what social media marketing is and why it is essential for your business’s success.

What is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing (SMM) refers to the use of social platforms, like Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn, to promote a brand, market specific products and services, or attract new leads. The possibilities are endless and boosting your online visibility and brand credibility couldn’t be easier.

The most popular social channels used today are:

What Are The Benefits Of Social Media Marketing?

Did you know that there are currently 4.7 billion social media users? That’s 59.0 percent of the total global population! These users spend an average of 2 hours 30 minutes per day scrolling through these platforms. (source: https://datareportal.com/social-media-users)
One of the major advantages of SMM is that it’s completely free and easy to manage compared to other strategies such as paid ads and email marketing. It also opens doors to a much wider audience.
However, even more importantly, social media marketing can yield long-lasting results over a much shorter period of time. For example, SEO often takes up to six months to generate those first leads. With SMM, however, you can drive visitors to your site within your first few weeks.

Get Started With Social Media Marketing Basics

Every company using social media channels is fighting for attention, and only the best brands will rise to the top, so get your game face on. The steps below are essential regardless of your goal, as each step is a vital part of your overall SMM strategy.
Everything starts with research. Different audiences prefer different social media platforms so let’s start by finding out where your prospects lie. This doesn’t mean that you should only choose one platform, but identifying your target customers and their preferences helps you pick the right social channels and adapt your content accordingly. For example, a hair salon will find greater success on Instagram but an accountancy firm can attract a lot more clients on LinkedIn.

Have you taken note of where your competitors are? Have you monitored their online performance? By doing this, you will be able to identify which channels are working best for them and use it to your advantage, increasing the chances of your plan working.
Each platform you choose may have a slightly different way of setting up brand channels. However, this needs to be done and the sooner the better. Remember, 4.7 billion social media users… if you want to grab a particular IG handle you’d better act fast, particularly since your top choices have possibly already been taken.

Your main focus here is to maintain an outstanding brand identity so dedicate some time to your ‘about us’ sections and bios, keeping them simple and straight to the point. Be sure to enter your professional business details and use a phone number, address and website to increase credibility

Your social media channels should be instantly recognisable so be sure to use professional design in your profile, including your logo and brand colours. This allows you to establish consistency and make lasting impressions.

Once everything is set up, it’s time to make a content marketing strategy that defines the following:

– The type of content you will share

– How often you will publish new posts

– When you will share your posts

– How you will interact with your audience on social media

Choosing the right form, whether it’s images, videos, or plain text, is essential, but it’s not always an easy decision. Trial and error is key here as things will become more apparent as you try out different forms and learn from your audience. Also, don’t forget to follow your content plan and be consistent with your schedule.

Just as analysing your company’s performance is standard, your SMM performance is crucial. You need to know if your content is driving the results you want and how to improve it.

The most important metrics you should track for SMM are:

– Post reach/impressions

– Post engagements (likes, reactions, comments, shares)

– Number of page follows/likes

– Account tags views (for videos)

– Each social media channel has these metrics available for you to see on your profile.

You may notice that your audience interacts with reels better on Instagram or that Facebook is driving more enquiries with images, for example.

Getting your brand noticed takes time, however, as people have more exposure to it you’ll gain more authority on the platform. Your final step is to drive those leads to your site and convert them into loyal customers, Alternatively you could sell your products directly through those social channels.

By this point, your audience already trusts your brand and knows about your services. So, all you have to do is make them an offer they can’t refuse. Sit back, relax and watch the power of social media do its thing.

TO CONCLUDE,

like any marketing strategy, social media marketing is going to take time and effort. Keep in mind that you may not see results in your first few weeks whilst you’re still exploring different platforms, but be patient and believe in what you are sharing; your numbers will improve.
Need help getting started with social media marketing? Schedule a call with us and we’ll help you figure it out.