Through real-time online connections with existing and potential customers, a company can convey information regarding its brand, product and service. Social media marketing provides companies with a way to engage with existing customers and reach new ones while allowing them to promote their desired culture, mission, or tone. Social media marketing has purpose-built data analytics tools that allow marketers to track the success of their efforts.
Social media has changed the way we function as a society, including the way we connect with one another. There are certain key pillars of social media marketing:
- Strategy: This first step of social media marketing involves determining goals, the social media channels to be used, and the type of content that will be shared.
- Planning and Publishing: Organizations or individuals should draft plans of what their content will look like (i.e. will there be videos? Photos? How much script?) and decide when it will be put out on the platform.
- Listening and Engagement: Then comes monitoring what users, customers, and others are saying about the posts, brands, and any other business assets. This may require the adoption of a social media engagement tool.
- Analytics and Reporting: Next is analytics and reporting. Part of being on social media is knowing how far posts are going, so reports of engagement and reach are very important.
- Advertising: The final step is also very important. Purchasing ads on social media is a great way to promote and further develop a brand.
