Social media marketing has only really existed since the late 90s. Prior to that, there were few social media sites, and most businesses didn’t see them as a marketing avenue. With the popularity of sites such as MySpace and, later, Facebook and Twitter, however, companies have realized how useful these platforms are. But is social media marketing really effective, or is it just a passing fad? While some have said it’s going to fade away, most people agree that social media and social media marketing are here to stay. Here are a few ways this form of advertising is effective.
It’s an Equalizer
While large corporations will always have more money to throw at their marketing teams, social media marketing doesn’t require a huge budget. Anyone, even a sole proprietorship, can use social media to reach out to customers. You don’t have to spend any money to create profiles and reach out to customers.
It’s Where Customers Are
Today, more and more people are doing online research to find the products and services they need. If you’re not online, they’re not going to find you. There are billions of people on social media, and it’s where many go for recommendations.
You Can Easily Interact with Customers
Email is often seen as impersonal, and it’s difficult to interact with customers through it. Social media, however, changes that. You can have discussions with all of your customers or message them individually. Customers can talk to each other, too, which can help build a community around your business. Customers engage with you, and that has been shown to increase brand loyalty.
It’s Easier to Target Specific Customers
Most social media platforms provide advertising tools that allow you to get your brand name in front of the right people. You can have your ad shown only to those in specific locations, in certain age ranges, or who have related interests and hobbies. This is much more effective than even direct mailers because social media sites have more data about each customer, allowing you to narrow down your potential audience even more.
These are just a few of the reasons why social media marketing is effective. If you want to know more, we’re here to help. Contact BlendIM today.
