It's 2022, and social media is more important than ever. To stay ahead of the competition, you need to use the latest social media marketing strategies and have a strong social media presence. That's where we come in. Wordsmyth Creative Content has years of experience in digital marketing, including social media marketing. So how can you put your best foot forward for the rest of 2022?
We'll give you a sneak peek at some of the most effective social media marketing strategies that will continue to be popular in 2022. We'll discuss the different types of social media campaigns you can run and how to optimize your online presence for maximum results. We'll also discuss how to improve your social media marketing skills and become a social media manager that businesses can't live without. For the bottom line, read until the end!
What is Social Media Marketing?
Social media marketing is the process of using social media channels to promote and sell products or services. It can also be used to build relationships with potential and current customers. Social media marketing includes using various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and even LinkedIn. Social media makes it easy for brands to push content to their current and potential clients.
Social media marketing is a crucial part of any digital marketing strategy. Social media marketing aims to build brand awareness, generate leads, and convert potential customers into paying customers. A social media marketer is responsible for creating, managing, and executing marketing campaigns on social media. A social media marketer can be part of the company's internal team or an outsourced contractor.
Social Media Platforms
A brand can use many social media platforms for marketing itself effectively. However, some platforms are better than others for particular services. For instance, you wouldn't be reaching your target audience of men 45-60 on TikTok. To use social media to the best of your ability, you must define your target audience when creating your social media marketing plan.
Facebook is still one of the most popular social media platforms and should be a part of any social media marketing strategy. It's an excellent platform for sharing visual content, running ads, and building relationships with potential and current customers. Facebook ads are one of the best ROIs for digital marketing strategies.
Instagram is another excellent platform for promoting products and services. It's especially effective if you have a solid visual brand. You can share photos and videos, run ads, and even sell products directly through Instagram. Your social media pages should be linked to your Instagram account.
LinkedIn is a platform that social media marketers often overlook. However, LinkedIn can be an excellent way to connect with potential customers in a more professional setting. LinkedIn should definitely be part of your social media marketing strategy if you're selling business-to-business (B2B).
Snapchat is a newer platform that's growing in popularity, especially among younger audiences. It's a great platform for sharing behind-the-scenes content and creating short videos. Snapchat also provides the option of advertising on its platform.
TikTok is one of the newest social media platforms, and it's quickly becoming popular with all age groups. TikTok is a great platform for sharing short videos, building a following, and reaching the younger generation if that's your demographic.
Paid Social Media Marketing vs. Free Social Media Marketing
Understanding the differences between paid marketing and other marketing strategies is important. Paid social media marketing is when you use platforms like Facebook or Twitter to pay to have your content seen by more people. This can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. However, it's important to note that paid social media marketing should only be used as part of a larger marketing strategy.
Free social media marketing is when you use organic methods to grow your social media following and promote your content. This includes things like posting regularly, using relevant hashtags, and tagging other businesses in your posts. While it takes more time and effort than paid social media marketing, it can be a great way to build your brand on social media.
Other marketing strategies, such as content marketing and SEO, can be used to reach new customers and grow your business without using paid social media marketing. These strategies can be more effective in the long run, as they will help you to build a more sustainable online presence.
Target Audience Research
As we mentioned before, it's essential to know who your target audience is before you start creating content. Once you've defined your target audience, research the best ways to reach them on social media. Your target market is the group of people most likely to buy your product or use your service.
You can use social media analytics tools to find out more about your target audience. Some of the most popular social media analytics tools are Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer. These tools will show you who's interacting with your content, what time they're interacting, and where they're located.
Another way to do this research is through surveys and polls. You can create a survey using Google Forms or Survey Monkey and post it on your social media platforms. You can also use the poll feature on Instagram and Facebook to get quick feedback from your followers.
You can also use Google Analytics to track traffic to your website from social media. Google Analytics will show you what social media platforms are referring the most traffic to your website and which pages on your website are being viewed.
Once you've gathered this information, you can start to create content that appeals to your target audience. You should also consider what time of day they're most active on social media and when the best time to post is.
Content Creation
Now that you know who your target audience is and what platforms they're using, it's time to start creating content. It's important to create various types of content to post on your social platforms. This will help you keep your platforms fresh and engaging. Some ideas for content include:
Behind-the-scenes photos and videos - everyone loves sneak peeks into new products and behind-the-scenes work that goes into a product or brand.
How-to guides can range from basic to advanced, as long as it's appropriate for your audience.
Product or service infographics are a great way to use content effectively. Images are critical when creating content.
Tips and tricks posts - tips can include the best ways to use your products or be tangentially related to your brand (this is called adjacent content marketing)
User-generated content (UGC) - think of unboxing videos or customers sharing images of themselves in your branded clothing. Start reposting your fan's content to increase engagement.
Original blog posts - what speaks to your target audience? Are they looking for advice or educational posts about adjacent topics? Make sure you're using SEO for your blog posts, it's crucial in social media marketing.
There are many different ways to format your content, so get creative! You can also repurpose old content by turning a blog post into an infographic or creating a video from a series of photos.
When creating social media content, it's important to keep your brand in mind. Ensure the images and videos you share are on-brand and consistent with your other marketing efforts.
Posting Your Content
Once you've created some great content, it's time to start posting! Content strategies depend on many factors. You should keep a few things in mind when posting on your social media accounts.
First, consider the time of day and day of the week when your target audience is most active. You can use social media analytics tools to find out when your audience is online. Post at different times during the day or week and track engagement to target your audience's most active times.
Second, don't post too much, but also don't post too little! It's a delicate balance to strike between over posting and under posting. You don't want to overwhelm your followers or get banned from social media platforms for spamming. But you also want to stay on your customer's mind. HubSpot has various recommendations for each platform, but the overall goal is to post on each platform at least 3 times per week. Some platforms, like Twitter, are chronological in their feed algorithm, so it may make sense to post more frequently. In contrast, they recommend not posting more than twice a day on a platform like Facebook.
Vary the types of content you're posting. This will help you keep your platforms fresh and avoid boring your followers. Video content is king these days in social media marketing; try making one short video per day, and share that with your followers. Then, share an image, text, or infographic the next day. Using different types of content will boost your engagement.
And finally, make sure you're using hashtags, location tags, and @ mentions when appropriate. This will help you reach a wider audience and increase your posts' engagement. Hashtags are used on nearly every platform now, not just Instagram. Conduct some social media listening, go through your account, find where people mention you, and where your content is being reposted.
Apps for Posting Content
Several apps and programs can assist you in posting and scheduling your content. Some are native to specific platforms, while others work across multiple social media networks.
Hootsuite is a great example of an app that helps you post and measure your content across different channels. With Hootsuite, you can see all your social media activity in one place and quickly respond to any comments or messages. You can also create a content calendar and schedule your posts ahead of time. This is helpful if you want to make sure you're posting regularly but don't have the time to be on social media all day.
Another popular app is Sprout Social. With Sprout, you can create and publish content and collaborate with team members on social media projects. Sprout Social also helps you measure social media activity and track data analytics.
We love Meet Edgar. Meet Edgar is an app that helps you recycle your content. With Meet Edgar, you can create a content library and categorize your content so you can easily repurpose it later. For example, if you have a blog post about social media marketing tips, you can add that to your "Social Media" category in Meet Edgar. Then, when you want to post something on social media, you can go into your Meet Edgar content library and quickly find relevant content to share. This is a great way to ensure you're always sharing fresh, relevant content with your audience without spending hours creating new content.
No matter what app or program you use to help you post on social media, the important thing is that you're consistent with your posting. Consistency is critical when it comes to social media marketing!
Social Media Metrics
Once you've been posting on social media for a while, it's time to start analyzing your results. You can look at a few social media metrics to see how your content performs.
Engagement rate: This is the number of people who engaged with your post divided by the number of people who saw it.
Reach: This is the number of people who saw your post.
Impressions: This is the number of times your post was seen.
Clicks: The number of people who clicked on a link in your post.
Shares: This is the number of people who shared your post with their followers.
You can find all of these metrics in the analytics section of your social media platform. If you're using a third-party social media analytics tool, you'll be able to find these metrics there as well.
Comparing Your Results
Once you've analyzed your results, it's time to compare them to your goals. If you're not seeing the results you want, like increased conversions, don't despair! There are always ways to improve your social media marketing strategy. Try experimenting with different types of content, posting at different times of day, or using different hashtags and @ mentions. And don't forget to keep an eye on your competition. See what they're doing and try to do it better!
SEO for Social Media Marketing
One of the best ways to improve your social media marketing strategy is to ensure your content is optimized for SEO, search engine optimization. This means using the right keywords and phrases in your posts so that people can easily find your content when they're searching for it online.
To get started with SEO, do keyword research to determine which keywords and phrases are most relevant to your business. You can use tools through SEMRush or Google Analytics. Then, start using those keywords in your social media posts. Make sure to use them naturally, and don't stuff your posts with too many keywords. A good rule of thumb is to use one keyword or phrase for every 100 words of content.
In addition to using the right keywords, you should also make sure your social media profile is optimized. This means filling out your bio with relevant keywords, using keyword-rich descriptions of your business, and adding links to your website and blog in your profile. In addition to using keywords and phrases in your profiles, make sure your contact information is well placed and easy to find.
Social Media Marketing Strategies
Want the bottom line when it comes to social networks and digital marketing strategies?
Post Consistently
One of the most important things you can do on social media is to post consistently. This means posting regularly, at least a few times a week. When it comes to social media marketing, consistency is key!
Use Relevant Hashtags and @Mentions
Hashtags and @mentions are a great way to get your content seen by more people. When using hashtags, make sure they're relevant to your business and that you're not using too many. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than three hashtags per post. As for @mentions, be sure to tag other businesses and influencers in your posts. This will help to get your content seen by their followers, and it may also lead to opportunities for collaboration.
Post Engaging Content
It's not enough to just post regularly on social media. You also need to make sure you're posting engaging content that will capture the attention of your target audience. Try experimenting with different types of content, such as videos, infographics, and blog posts. And don't forget to use eye-catching visuals!
Monitor Your Analytics
Finally, make sure you're monitoring your social media analytics so that you can see what's working and what's not. This will help you fine-tune your social media marketing strategy and ensure you get the most out of your efforts.
Want to know more about what social media marketing specialists and social media managers do? Check out this blog!