7 Signs That You Should Invest in Social Media Marketing

You wonder whether social media is just a fad or if now is the time for you to jump on the social media bandwagon? Here are seven signs you should invest in social media marketing.

Why Invest in Social Media Marketing?

Social media is one of the most critical aspects of digital marketing, which provides incredible benefits and many opportunities for companies to reach millions of customers worldwide through their social media channels. And if you are not applying it, you miss out on a tremendous marketing opportunity because it simplifies spreading the word about your products, services, and mission on social media networks.

According to this article, social media history dates back to when people wrote letters to stay in touch. With the onset of the 20th century and technological advancements, the interactions on social media have transformed.

According to this article, nearly 3 of every four small businesses plans to invest in social media marketing this year. That finding stands out in a new survey from The Manifest.

Marketing through social media is one of the most effective ways to advertise your business. Most small businesses will invest more in social media, especially on Facebook. But it challenges finance departments to measure the ROI of campaigns that aim to tap into the unique passions of segmented online communities. Notwithstanding, as a marketer, I advise clients not to view social media or their social media profiles from financial revenues alone. It’s about creating awareness with existing and potential customers and customer loyalty for your brand.

Social media platforms provide a chance for small businesses and brands to develop and engage with their target market, i.e. a close-knit community of both current and future customers.

Now, you’ve heard about social media, you have a social media profile, you’ve seen some social media ads, and you see how it has worked for other businesses. But you’re still not sure that marketing on it is the right move for your business. Does the thought of spending money from your tight budget on social media content or social media campaigns make your stomach churn a little?

Here are seven no brainer signs you should invest in social media marketing for your business or brand.

1. Inconsistent Social Media Updates.

If your last tweet or Facebook post was over a year ago, this is a sure sign that you need to invest in social media marketing as part of your marketing strategy.

Social media is here to stay. It’s not a fad, and it’s the channel through which brands can interact with their existing and potential client.

You need to post valuable content and engage with your followers regularly for your voice to reach your target audience on your chosen social media networks.

On social media, inconsistent messaging, pushy sales pitches, and inauthentic content can negatively affect your brand and potential revenues. It’s essential to stay focused on providing actual value consistently for the people you’re interacting with online.

Inconsistent updates and branding across social media platforms can throw social media users off your brand image. Consistency in your social media management is vital in social media marketing. For your audience to recognise your brand, you must be consistent.

2. Don’t See the Value in Social Media.

Are you finding it difficult to see the value of social media marketing in your business? It is often the case when you don’t have a clear social media strategy. That’s another sign that you ought to invest in social media!

Depending on your social media strategies, you could use different key performance indicators to gauge the value of your social media efforts in your business (compared with traditional marketing). These differ from one company to another. You may not relate the performance indicators that apply to your competitor to your company.

It would be best to find your unique performance indicator to measure your performance and find value in each social media user and social media in general. Although the bottom line is to improve sales, the actual value of social media goes beyond income.

For instance, is social media improving your business’s customer service? Many SMBs aren’t sure because they don’t know the actual value of social media. They’re frustrated because they don’t see how valuable social media can be for business, especially with shoestring marketing budgets. Or maybe they don’t believe that social media works since they cannot calculate any clear-cut conversion rates, etc.? They think social media investments in relevant content or social media marketers are a complete waste of time. But compare your social media budget with the cost of your current marketing activity to see whether it is a waste of time.

3. Your Website Is Outdated.

When was the last time you updated your website? Are you still using generic stock photos on your site and meaningless scrolling text, marquees and animation? Do your website visitors have to waste precious time waiting for your useless flash intro page to load before they can enter your site?

If so, your website is outdated. If you have not updated your site in over a year, then it’s already a dinosaur.

Technology is moving at lightning speed. Google and other tech giants are raising the bar high to ensure that only the best businesses thrive online.

If you have not updated your website in over a year, then this is another sign that you ought to invest in social media marketing.

As a critical driver of new business, your website is the centrepiece of your digital marketing and social media marketing strategy. An outdated website isn’t likely to be a good representation of your company.

If this is the case, it’s time for a new website. Besides getting a new website, also consider search engine optimisation. An optimised website captures user attention and positions you ahead of your competitors.

4. Your Target Audience and Competitors Are on Social Media.

Regardless of how well your business is doing financially, if your customers and competitors are on social media and you are not, this is a clear sign of danger!

It would be best to have a presence where your customers and competitors will keep growing. Make it easier for your existing and potential customers to reach you by hanging out where they hang out.

Facebook, for instance, boasts of over a billion active users. X (Twitter) has over 300 million users, the same as LinkedIn.

There is no way you will not find your existing or potential clients and your competitors hanging around all these social networks. If you are not engaging with your customers on these social networks, then you are missing out.

For instance, the emotional ties your business can make via social media can strategically encourage competitors’ customers to switch to your brand. So please look at how well your competitors support and service their customers via social networks. Check to see if there are any tweets or posts with complaints. These are opportunities to offer your brand to your competitors’ customers as a better alternative.

5. Your Printed Marketing Material Is Not Yielding Results.

Have you got vast piles of leftover flyers, brochures and other printed materials wasting away from your previous marketing campaigns? When was the last time someone called your phone to make inquiries after they received your flier or viewed your advert in the newspaper, magazine or television? Has anyone called to make inquiries after listening to your latest radio jingle? It is a clear sign you ought to invest in social media marketing to complement your other marketing efforts.

Are your printed marketing materials not yielding expected results with your target market? Print marketing in 2021, in tandem with social media, can improve your chances of reaching your target customers. As mentioned earlier, it offers you an opportunity to compare and determine what kind of marketing campaign will yield the highest ROI.

Contrary to popular belief, print marketing is not dead. Be strategic in using it. For best results, you need to integrate your traditional and digital marketing efforts.

6. You Have a Lot of Expertise in Your Business.

Have you got a lot of expertise in your business and are eager to share your wealth of experience with others?

Social media marketing offers you a channel to share your expertise with your customers and followers through original content and messages to promote engagement with your consumers.

Social media marketing is ideal for establishing your brand’s thought leadership position in your market or industry.

Do you possess a unique set of skills, knowledge and experience? It makes you an asset to your customers. Make your expertise central to your business at all times. Once seen as an expert in your particular field, it can open up the door for business growth. These days many people are looking for answers. If you want to grow your business, you need to provide answers to your customer’s questions.

Take advantage of blogging and creating great content in other formats to share with your social media community.

7. You Are Rebranding, Expanding or Launching a New Product.

Are you rebranding, expanding your business or launching a new product? That’s the perfect opportunity for you to invest in social media marketing. Use social media channels to share your story with the world and build your community.

A successful rebranding exercise can allow you to access new markets, win new customers, and so much more. Launch your rebrand and use your social media posts, social media content, social media ads, or influencers to tell the world about it.

Conclusion

These are my top seven signs that gauge when businesses should invest in social media marketing.

If you have a business, it is best to have a social media presence – it is that simple. Without a social media presence, a company is like driving at night with no headlights. It’s dangerous, and it significantly lowers the probability you’ll end up where you wish.

Are you interested in social media marketing? Do you need any help with social media management or social media advertising?

Let’s talk, and I will be glad to help. If you have questions or queries, ask me on X (Twitter) @ademolaabimbola or @mauconline. See you next time.

Related Article(s)

• Digital Media vs Traditional Media: Which Is More Effective?
• The Top Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
• Frequently Asked Questions on Social Media Marketing
• How You Can Stay Ahead of The Competition
• 3 Ways to Use Social Media for Your Business
• Your Website Is Central to Your Digital Marketing
• Understanding Social Media Marketing
• How to Market on Social Media
• How to Be Successful at Social Media Marketing
• 35 Common Misconceptions about Social Media Marketing

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