Social Media Marketing

Spreading the word

This really shouldn’t come as a big surprise to anyone in the year 2022. However, if you are a small business owner and you’re not taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by social media by posting regularly, then you really are missing out.

Don't take my word for it. Have a look at what some of the top digital marketing blogs and industry organizations have to say about the effectiveness of social media marketing.

Influencer Marketing Hub Benchmark Report 2022

  • There were 4.48 billion active social media users in July 2021, 56.8% of the world's population.

  • Social Media Adoption Surges

  • Facebook Users Grew 77% Between 2015 and 2020

  • Time Spent Per User Per Day on Social Media

  • 71.6% of internet users now search for brand information on social platforms.

  • The Average Internet User (Aged 16-64) Spends Nearly 2 and ½ Hours on Social Media Per Day

  • 71.6% of Internet Users Search for Brand Information on Social Platforms

Facebook is an established social platform, making it more popular with the older generations than many newcomers.

Social Media Examiner - 2022 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING INDUSTRY REPORT

  • A very significant 90% of marketers use Facebook.

  • Increased exposure: Most marketers (83%+) who've been using social media marketing for 1 year or longer report it generates exposure for their businesses.

  • Forty-seven percent of marketers claim Facebook is their most important social platform. Facebook ads are used by 70% 

  • Instagram is hot: Seventy-nine percent of marketers are using Instagram. It's the second most important social platform for marketing (behind Facebook). 

  • A significant 61% of marketers plan on increasing their Instagram organic activities over the next 12 mon A significant 85% of all marketers we surveyed indicated that their social media efforts have generated more exposure for their businesses. 

  • Increased traffic was the second major benefit, with 75% reporting positive results. 

  • These benefits have remained in the top two spots for the last 8 years.

  • Increased traffic: Those who've used social media for 1 year or longer reported

  • substantially better results driving traffic (72%+ reported benefits), compared to those with less experience.

Global X - Social Media: The Next Chapter of Growth

  • Social Media Is Winning the Time-Share War vs. Legacy Media

    Social platforms gaining more user attention is a major contributor to the ongoing erosion of legacy media channels. In the U.S., the linear TV industry is going through a significant cord cutting wave

That’s not all!

1. Social Media is Extremely Cost-Effective

Social media marketing is possibly the most cost-efficient part of an advertising strategy. Signing up and creating a profile is free for almost all social networking platforms, and any paid promotions you decide to invest in are a relatively low cost compared to other marketing tactics. Being cost-effective is such an advantage because you can see a greater return on investment and retain a bigger budget for other marketing and business expenses. 

2. Increase Your Brand Awareness

Social media is one of the most cost-efficient digital marketing methods used to syndicate content and increase your business' visibility. Implementing a social media strategy will greatly increase your brand recognition since you will be engaging with a broad audience of consumers. Get employees, business partners, and sponsors to "like" and "share" your page. Simply having people interact with your content will increase brand awareness and begin building engagement. 

3. Generate More Inbound Traffic

Without marketing your business on social media, your inbound traffic is limited to your usual customers. The people familiar with your brand are likely searching for the same keywords you already rank for. Without utilizing social media as part of your marketing strategy, you'll have much more difficulty reaching anyone outside of your loyal customer circle. Every post you add to your marketing mix is a gateway to your website, and every piece of content you post is another opportunity to acquire a new customer. 

4. Improve Your Search Engine Rankings

Although posting on social media might get your business some site traffic, more effort than that is required to see significant success. Search engine optimization is very important for achieving higher page rankings and obtaining traffic to your business website. While social media doesn't directly increase search engine rankings, Social Media Examiner states that more than 58% of marketers who have been using social media for one year or longer still see improved search engine rankings. Being able to rank in the top positions for your keywords will revolutionize your traffic and continue to generate positive results for your business. 


5. Increase Your Conversion Rate

With increased visibility, your business gains more opportunities for conversion. Every blog post, image, video, or comment may lead viewers to your company's website and increase traffic. Social media marketing allows your business to give a positive impression through a humanization factor. When brands are interactive by sharing content, commenting, and posting statuses on social media, it personifies a brand. People prefer to do business with other people, rather than companies. Over 51% of marketers claimed that taking the time to develop relationships with consumers showed positive results in sales. The better impression you make on a visitor, the more likely they are to think of your business when the need for your product or services arises. Studies have also shown that social media has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing. When a brand is interactive online, consumers who follow your brand's accounts often begin to more completely trust the credibility of your business. People use social media platforms to stay connected to their friends, family, and communities. Since people are already talking, why not throw your brand into the mix? More likely than not, they'll mention your brand to a friend when your products or services are needed, overall providing your business with social proof of its quality. As reported by Social Media Examiner, about 66% of marketers saw lead generation benefits by using social media platforms at least 6 hours per week. Putting your brand in an atmosphere where people are sharing, liking, and talking, can only improve the conversion rates on your existing traffic.

6. Have More Satisfied Customers. 

Social media is a networking and communication platform. Creating a voice for your company through these platforms is important in humanizing your company. Customers appreciate knowing that when they post comments on your pages, they will receive a personalized response rather than an automated message. Being able to acknowledge each comment shows that you are attentive to your visitors' needs and aim to provide the best experience.

7. Improve Your Brand Loyalty

One of the main goals of almost all businesses is developing a loyal customer base. Considering that customer satisfaction and brand loyalty typically go hand in hand, it is important to regularly engage with consumers and begin developing a bond with them. Social media is not just limited to introducing your brand's products and promotional campaigns. Customers see these platforms as a service channel where they can communicate directly with the business. 


8. Establish Strong Brand Authority

Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty both play a part in making your business more authoritative, but it all comes down to communication. When consumers see your company posting on social media, especially replying to customers and posting original content, it makes you appear more credible. Regularly interacting with customers demonstrates that your business cares about customer satisfaction, and is available to answer any questions that they might have. Satisfied customers are eager to spread the word about a great product or service and they usually turn to social media to express their opinion. Having customers mention your business on social media will advertise your business, and show new visitors your value and brand authority. Once you obtain a few satisfied customers who are vocal about their positive purchase experience, you can let the advertising be done for you by actual customers who enjoyed your product or service.


9. Gain Valuable Marketplace Insights

One of the most valuable advantages of social media is marketplace insight. What better way to know the thoughts and needs of your consumers than by directly talking to them? By monitoring the activity on your profiles, you can see customers' interests and opinions that you might not otherwise be aware of if your business didn't have a social media presence. Using social media as a complementary research tool can help gain information that will aid you in understanding your industry. Once you gain a large following, you can use additional tools to analyze the demographics of your consumers. Another insightful aspect of social media marketing is the ability to segment your content syndication lists based on topic, and identify which types of content generate the most impressions. These tools give you the ability to measure conversions based on posts on various social media platforms to find the perfect combination for generating revenue.