Written by: Katie Pierce

Social Media Is a Robust Tool For Marketing

Much has been said about social media that puts it in a bad light. Pseudo-intellectuals are quick to throw words at it like 'escapism,' 'control,' 'exploitation,' and sometimes something as banal as 'stupid.' And therein lies the joke: these individuals use them to gain their insight traction.  

What they fail to admit (or would not) is that they are part of that community that uses social media to establish clout. It's marketing at its finest—the irony, the gall. But for businesses that hold no political interest nor bias, immersing in social media can do plenty of good for their operations.

Sprout Social predicts that social media users in the United States will surpass 308 million in 2023. The social media management platform furthers that this is an increase of more than 6 million users from their expectations for 2022. 

Sprout Social also reports that customers across different industries have grown accustomed to reaching out to companies through their social media channels. 

Meanwhile, the data presented by Hootsuite shows that in 2021, social media usage grew with an average rate of 13.5 new users every second.

That same year, more than 93% of regular internet users were reported to log into social media every time they commence a session.

The time is ripe for brands to strengthen their social media arm to reach further into the pool of prospective clients.

To understand why the statistics are useful, let's look at five ways businesses can use social media to boost their growth.

5 Ways You Should Be Using Social Media For Your Business

While there are disadvantages to using social media as part of your business's marketing campaign, these do not, in any way, dampen the significance and effectiveness of the advantages.

Issues such as the lack of resources for managing business presence, active daily monitoring, and inappropriate behavior on your platform can be resolved by automating processes and designating people with the appropriate skill set.

Once resolved, they can even help prop up social media's advantages to your business. Here are the most notable ones:

1. Use Social Media To Bolster Brand Awareness

More than half of the world is using social media. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook have become venues where companies would try to get their brand traction. 

To reach a greater audience, you must learn how to establish your presence on social media. An article from Act.com says that 91% of social media users follow their favorite brands through their preferred platforms. But what comes especially surprising is that according to Instagram for Business, 83% of Instagram users discover other brands on the platform. This tells us that social media platforms are good advertising venues for brands. Instagram is dubbed as the "#1 platform' where brands can establish relationships with their customers.

If you have a virtual event in mind and know that this is key to getting your brand noticed, promote it on social media. You may opt to boost or rely on your followers' interaction to increase engagement for your virtual event. No matter what you choose, it is crucial to craft your content well and post at a more opportune time. This brings us to the second tactic.

2. Increases Your Website's Traffic By Posting Relevant Content

Posting material on social media platforms is a great way to direct people to your website. For example, you can post a link to a blog that is currently live on your site. This allows people to click on the link and read the content.

When you join discussions through threads and comments, there is always a chance for people to notice you and check out your profile. Engaging proactively with no-nonsense banter will attract them to you. So when you compose your profile, include a link to your website.

3. Engage Through a Personable Approach

It sounds cheesy, doesn't it? What this says is that by using social media, companies can give their brands a human face. Albeit only electronically, they can ground themselves with their target audience.

Social media usage allows brands to communicate directly with their followers. Through posts and private messages, they can introduce the company and the team members who make their products possible. They can also show the people who are using and have benefited from their brand.

Through personable communication despite the physical barriers, companies can establish a sense of authenticity that their customers appreciate and trust.

4. Use Social Media For Lead Generation

With social media, people are not compelled to make any commitments to a product they expressed interest in. This is yet another way that social media humanizes the brand. 

Social media is a good venue to gather leads who can be converted into actual customers. Lead generation has become a significant part of using social media for business. This led to the influx of advertising format creation catered lead collection.

Posting videos and pictures on social media may hook more people to follow you. Regular posting may incite their curiosity about what your brand does and how it does it, leading to inquiry and research. Businesses must take advantage of this by feeding their social media accounts relevant content.

5. Establish Partnerships!

Social media gave rise to influencers. Focused on a niche or a field of interest, influencers catch the attention of their followers through consistent release of multimedia content. Through these materials, they can promote brands and services without being too much of a hard sell.

Companies can establish partnerships with influencers and known personalities through social media. The company must assure the influencer that what it is offering is backed up by content, research, and a tight marketing strategy.

Social Media Are Fertile Grounds

Despite what the pseudo-intellectuals and the discourse despots are saying, social media remains as fertile grounds for productive and profitable endeavors. That said, companies can and must use it to great effect if they want to catch the attention of this generation and establish a relationship with them.

Social media has decentralized the power of speech towards different sectors. All your business has to do is listen to the voices and determine which one resonates with your business.