Social media marketing is an essential tool for almost every business. It is not an isolated trend amongst young, famous, and hip. The data shows just how important social media marketing is. According to the 2015 Social Media Marketing Report published by the Social Media Examiner, many marketers believe that social media is key for building a better business.
Here are some of the most important stats from the study:
* 92% of social media marketers believe that social media is important for businesses.
* 90% of businesses say that social media increased business exposure
* 77% of businesses said social media increased site traffic
* 64% of marketers use social media 6+ hr a week.
* 41% of marketers use social media 11+ hrs a week.
* 19% of marketers use social media 20+hr a week.
What are the takeaways? Most marketers use social media for a significant portion of the week. This probably means that you should too, in order to learn more about the platform that you wish to profit from. Social media marketing, like most crafts, requires careful observation and immersion to master.
Social media is essential, not optional.
Social media presence impacts a business greatly. While measuring ROI through social media can present some challenges, it is possible. Tracking pixels on Facebook offer a way of discovering which members of your audience most enjoyed your content. Sponsored content on Facebook or Instagram can expose customers to your product when they might not have otherwise seen it. Interacting fast with publicly-dissatisfied customers can show that your QC is top-notch. There are many ways to keep existing customers satisfied and to gain more customers through social media marketing.
Find offline inspiration.
Social media noise offers lots of ideas, but it alone cannot inspire quality content. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are curated, already tailored to your preferences. If you want unique content, going offline through books or doing your own research into can be helpful. The social bubble can be more restrictive than we realize. Take inspiration from everyone and every place.
It’s not always about the money.
Increased site traffic and business exposure can result from paid social advertising as well as from organic results. While Facebook has become a pay-to-play platform, Instagram and Twitter still offer benefits for marketers relying on organic traffic. While dollars can buy followers or likes, the best guarantee of an account that converts is stellar content. Stellar content marketing is a rarity in the day where spam reigns. Social media marketing requires immersion and just as much artistry as traditional advertising.
By Esther Grace Ehrenman, Digital Editor and Strategist
