According to Digital 2019 Reports, the internet receives more than a million new users every day. Social media alone has more than 2.3 billion active users worldwide. Many of these people use social media to find the services and products they’re looking for.
Do you know what this means for your business? Your potential clients are online, and you need to follow them there. The best way to reach these people and leverage the number is through social media advertising.
But wait! Advertising on social media isn’t that easy. It’s not about putting together a few Facebook posts and images, then staying behind to watch the reaction of your followers.
Social media advertising needs successful planning and execution for it to work out no matter the kind of business you run. You need to have a plan, do your research, and carry out some competitor analysis.
Well, apart from using the right strategies, there are also secrets you must unveil to succeed with your social media marketing. Here are seven of those secrets that will help with your social media marketing.
1. Start By Defining Your Target Audience
With the huge number of social media users, your ads will hit a dead-end if you don’t properly define your target audience. One of the best strategies to succeed is to know the kind of people you’re targeting and tailor your marketing message specifically to them.
Let’s say, for instance, you’re in the fashion industry selling streetwear. You must know the age group that will get interested in this kind of fashion. Once you know the audience, you also need to understand when to get them online and the right channels they use.
Are they on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?
Streetwear mostly targets the younger generation between the ages of 17 to 27. These people are mostly found on Instagram, Snapchat, etc. and that’s where you should focus your advertising message. Understand your audience personas to understand various social media marketing trends that will work for the specific segment.
2. Identify the Right Social Media Advertising Platforms
There are many social media platforms to use, but not all of them will work for your business. Many social media marketers run to Facebook because it’s the biggest platform with up to 2 billion monthly users. However, not everyone is active on Facebook, and it’s becoming oversaturated.
If you’re targeting the older generation, Facebook marketing will work best. However, younger people are more active on sites like Instagram, which is also the most growing social media platform. Also, consider your target group’s social status and their professions to know the platforms they’re likely to use.
If you’re in B2B business, LinkedIn might turn out to be the best platform. E-commerce businesses and other retailers might leverage the power of Pinterest for their success.
When choosing a platform, you need to understand your audience and find out where they are, even though some may be all over. Consider your type of business and the kind of people it’s likely to attract.
Try doing a simple competitor analysis to figure out what other businesses of your kind are using and see if you can follow suit. Only do this if the platform seems to be working perfectly for your competitor.
3. Forget About Free Social Media Advertising
Many people rush to social media ads because it promises free marketing. One thing they don’t understand is that the best social media marketing will never be free of charge. Of course, you don’t need to spend to fill up your business’s social media profile or put up posts.
But one thing you must know is that free marketing won’t cost you anything of monetary value but will take a lot of your time. It takes time, commitment, and energy to build an active social media presence. One wrong move and all that effort you’ve put up building yourself on social media go down the drain.
You’ll spend a lot of time, and you know what they say, ‘time is money.’ You might consider spending a few bucks on finding a professional social media marketer or working with an influencer for faster results.
4. Influencers Work Magic
Business advertising social media have work wonders through influencer power. Influencers have helped businesses drive engagement, generate conversations, and improve sales. These are the people who create the desire among your audience and get them to use your products.
Indeed influencers are the real gem when it comes to social media for business.
But is your business leveraging the power of influencers yet? If not, this might be why you’re still stuck with your social media advertising while your competitors are gaining a lot.
Take a look at this data. Reports have it that more than half a million millennials will try a brand because their favorite YouTuber suggested it. Influencers have worked wonders to control consumer behavior and see brands succeed.
However, influencer marketing can be challenging if you don’t approach it with caution. Influencer fraud is on the rise, and you must take time to know that your ideal choice has a genuine following. Find an influencer with a quality audience and liaise with them to see your brand grow the levels you desire.
5. Don’t Get Personal
Social media is one of those marketing platforms that you can use the way you deem fit. There is freedom of communication, and you can create a deep connection with your audience the best way. However, when it’s a business account, let it be solemnly for business purposes.
Don’t post personal photos or information in your business accounts. This is where your customers are going to find your brand, and you must maintain professional standards. A report from manifest shows that 74% of customers follow businesses on social media, and 96% maintain active interactions with the businesses they follow.
If you go personal with your posts, you might scare away customers who do not agree with your opinion. You should also be careful with what you post on your personal social media accounts because some customers may follow you there. Anything contrary will see you lose a potential customer.
6. There Is Great Power in Facebook Groups
One way to get a huge audience and reach out to your customers is through Facebook groups. Facebook groups have a wider reach than any business or personal account. People interact easily in groups and engage better.
As an entrepreneur, you need to create a group and find people in your niche to join. Make sure you stick to a niche that aligns with your audience and your products. Once you bring people on board, create killer content, and work on ways to drive engagement.
Try to connect with your audience in several ways. Ask them questions, and encourage participation, go live to chat directly with your audience. You can also make videos to market your business using the latest marketing trends.
One thing you must know is that bringing people onboard those groups is not going to be easy. Take this as one of the long-term social media advertisement projects.
Don’t push them as you can easily lose their trust. Marketing is not about being pushy but about creating a relationship. Work on building a community where everyone feels important, but not there because you want to use them to make sales.
7. Don’t Forget to Track Your Success
Of course, there are various strategies that are going to work for you and a host of others that will fail. It’s encouraging to know that the advertising methods you’re using are working, and you’re soon going to start reaping benefits. But then don’t get discouraged by those other strategies that will seem not to work out.
Track those posts that are performing well and find out why they did perform. Check out those other posts that didn’t drive any engagement and figure out what you did wrong.
Knowing those advertising techniques that worked and those that flopped will help you make better decisions in the future. You will know where to focus more efforts, where to pull up your socks, and which ones to drop. Generating a monthly and annual social media report can help you track your success.
You Can Make Everything Simple
Social media advertising may seem simple, but that’s not the case. There are strategies, secrets, and tactics that you must use to reach out to your audience and maintain a strong relationship. When you understand all these and implement them the right way, you will see how powerful this platform will ensure your business’s success.
So, are you ready to advertise your business on social media and see your business succeed? Well, you must consider these secrets but go slow on each of them. Your success lies in how disciplined, determined, and patient you will be.
If you feel stuck and need someone to hold your hand, we will be there for you. We’re all about helping businesses succeed and with our expert tips and advice. Fill out our contact form to get a quote.
