Gone are the days of traditional marketing that is both expensive and ineffective. These days, the best way to market and advertise is with social media. These types of platforms are rising in popularity. Instagram for example has 1 billion users and 500 million daily users, while TikTok, another popular social media platform, has 689 million users. Social media is also no longer just for your average Jack or Jane who use the platforms to share intimate moments with family and friends, businesses and brands now use social media to get a wider reach. All businesses should take advantage of social media. Other than being very convenient and easy to use, there are many other reasons why social media is the place to be, and here are a few.

Brand awareness 

In total, 3.39 billion people around the world use social media which shows how wide of an audience that this industry has. Social media is filled with numerous niches and communities that you can reach and interact with, which is important because the more reach you have, the more brand awareness you have, and the more people know about your brand, the more people will support you. For instance, Twitter has 132 daily active users, and getting in front of an audience this big has far-reaching implications. There are even services available, like Twesocial, that help build your following using only organic means. 

The big thing that ties all of these platforms together is hashtags. One way you can reach communities, or even build your own, is through the use of branded hashtags which is a hashtag that you create that is exclusive to your brand. Having a branded hashtag benefits you because you get to see what people think about your brand, and this can help you build a community. 

Low-cost

Everyone has a smartphone these days and social media is consumed mainly on mobile devices. It is possible to do marketing on your phone which is very convenient and cost-effective. When marketing with a marketing firm you pay a huge amount of money for marketing whereas on social media it costs very little and you reach a wider audience. Social media also gives you the option to do organic marketing which is absolutely free and helps you build a trusted and loyal community of supporters. 

You are in control 

Brand identity is very important and you need to establish one. The great thing about social media is that you are in control of the narrative. You can tell your brand story which is important because it allows you to be as authentic as possible and gives your audience the opportunity to get to see your brand in the light that you want to be seen in. Being in control of your brand identity gives you more control over your marketing and having complete control over your brand identity benefits you because you get to communicate your brand’s personality which shapes your audience’s perception of who you are. It also creates trust and loyalty which is very important. 

Loyal customers 

Social media is great because it gives you the opportunity to interact with your customers directly which in turn creates more brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. The best way to do this is to engage with your customers which is basically the process of interacting with your customers. Engagement is important because this is how you build a relationship with your audience. You can engage by liking, commenting, replying to direct messages, hosting polls and questionnaires, etc. 

Get insights 

Social media is a great place to receive feedback from your customers. You have the opportunity to track campaigns on social media which helps you identify what works and what doesn’t. Platforms like Instagram also give you access to analytics, which benefits you because analytics helps you track engagement, interactions, and reach, all in the name of connecting you with more followers.  By analyzing your analytics, you can determine how to adjust your social media strategy and give your audience what they want to see. 

Social media is the present and future of marketing. It is the most effective form of marketing and the audience on social media is massive. Social media marketing has a lot to offer. You can build brand awareness and establish your own community through the use of branded hashtags, it is a low-cost form of marketing as opposed to marketing firms who are expensive and ineffective, you completely control the narrative and are in control of your brand identity, and lastly, you get the opportunity to interact with your customers directly.