UTILISING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS

Social media is at the heart of modern interaction, and that doesn’t seem like it’ll change any time soon. Every smartphone user today has access to at least one social media platform. Among these, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok & WhatsApp, and Instagram are the most used sites today.

Due to the ever-growing number of social media users, many businesses have seen it as an opportunity to include these platforms in their marketing strategies. The results have shown that regardless of the company's industry, advertising products on Facebook, Twitter, and other relevant sites can have a significant impact on the total number of sales.

So, how can you leverage the benefits of social media and grow your business? This article discusses several important tips you'll need to consider for your marketing strategy to succeed.

1. Identify The Right Platform

The first step towards the successful utilisation of social media is finding the best platform for your business. For instance, although all social media users are potential customers, those using Facebook could be more interested in your products than the rest. Therefore, you need to do your analysis and know the primary purpose of each of these sites.

For example, Instagram is mainly about sharing photos and showcasing your photography skills. Twitter, on the other hand, hosts people who are mostly interested in breaking news and other informative posts. As such, there are high chances that users on each of these platforms have registered an account to enjoy the aforementioned benefits. It's upon you to do your research and know where you can find your ideal target audience.

With this information in mind, you can then tailor your marketing strategy to fit the nature and needs of your potential customers. On Instagram, for instance, your posts must involve videos or interesting photos for them to attract any form of engagement. 

2. Utilise The Power Of Influencers

Every social media website has influencers who are always willing to market businesses from different industries. It's worth noting that you can advertise any product through this method provided you get the right influencer. For instance, if you’re in the construction industry, you can hire influencers who are already into construction, engineering, architecture, or design.

The advantage of doing so is that such influencers already have a huge target audience who followed them because of the content they publish. Therefore, posting your brand or products on their social media handles means you’ll be able to reach many potential clients within a short period. 

The quality of prospective customers you’re likely to get here is higher than those you’d get if you use your new social media accounts to market. Finding the right influencers and convincing them to work with you is perhaps the biggest challenge you’ll face.

There are a number of methods you can use to attract their attention. The most effective of them all, though, is commenting and liking their posts regularly. This way, your name will become familiar to them and you can then start building a business relationship with them. 

Of course, you can also inbox them as soon as you want to launch your marketing strategy. However, that’s not recommended because how you relate with your influencers can directly impact the success of this marketing project.

3. Run Regular Competitions

The benefits you’ll enjoy from social media highly depend on the number of engagements you initiate on these platforms. The more comments, shares, and likes you get, the higher your chances of succeeding in this area. So, how are you going to engage your customers more?

One of the best techniques used by many companies is running competitions. You can set aside a small budget to compensate weekly or monthly winners. Of course, to market your brand even more, the prizes you give out can be your own products or services. For instance, if you’re in the fashion industry, you can use some clothes or other fashion products to attract attention.

Since this is a way of promoting your products, it’d be a good idea to use some of your best products in this marketing strategy. That way, you’ll be able to convert many potential clients to regular customers.

Conclusion

Social media platforms have become part and parcels of any modern business. Every company that’s looking to build its online presence uses this marketing method in one way or another. If you’re just starting, then the first thing you should do is identify the right platform and create an account with them. In addition to using your account to market products, you can also leverage the power of influencers. Lastly, running regular competitions can also help engage your followers and, ultimately, attract more potential clients.