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According to Statista, there will be 4.41 billion active social media users by 2025.
4.41 Billion. This is staggering I know.
It goes without saying that social media is transforming the business landscape, creating new and innovative ways for businesses to communicate with their audiences.
Social media marketing is an extremely powerful and strategic tool that has been making waves in the business world. The way people share, connect and consume information has changed dramatically over the last decade with social media at the center of it all.
Whether you’re looking to increase brand awareness or drive traffic back to your website, there are plenty of ways you can use social media for your marketing needs. Today’s marketers have access to more data than ever before about their audience and how they behave online.
The cost-effectiveness of social media is an added bonus and the engagement rates are through the roof.
This makes it possible for businesses to create highly targeted messages that resonate with potential buyers while also saving time on research and development. With so many options available, I’m sure we’ll see some exciting new trends emerge in 2022!
We are here for it.
In this article, we will be looking at social media marketing and the most significant ways it is changing the business world.
Social Media Marketing is Changing Business-Customer Connections in Real-time
The social media revolution is still in full effect. It’s changing the way businesses communicate with customers, and how they interact on a daily basis
“Social Media Marketing isn’t just for hipsters anymore – it’s used by over 85% of all Fortune 500 companies.”
Jenn Guidry, Director of Marketing, eclincher.com
The world has always been about social networking but now more than before, social media marketing has given a voice to those who never had one.
It’s changed how people and companies interact – from customer service, product development, advertising, PR and more. It’s even made it easier for brands to establish an authentic online presence that connects with customers they way they prefer.
“Social media is now fully integrated into the customer journey and used for customer service before and after selling.”
– eclincher
Customer care is perhaps the most important aspect of running a successful business and social media lets businesses take care of their customers like never before.
Social media is one of the most effective platforms businesses can use to connect and communicate with their customers in real-time. Chatting directly in this way provides instant customer satisfaction, helping deal with grievances, and providing immediate support to those seeking assistance.
The social media landscape is evolving so quickly that social media platforms are fighting to stay relevant. What was hot last week, might not be as important this month or even next year. LinkedIn and Pinterest are starting to really get some love from companies in the B2B space and TikTok and Instagram are key for B2C lately.
Take inspiration from some of the top brands on social media that consistently perform well and claim the attention of their audiences.
Social Media Marketing Increases Business Sales
“As brands and consumers have evolved, so have social media platforms themselves, continually improving and updating to meet the ever-growing consumer demands.”
– Forbes
Since COVID-19 social media use has greatly increased. Many businesses are now providing home delivery, multiple payment options, and contactless payments to meet consumer demands.
As online shopping has increased, businesses are expected to offer contactless payment options. Whether in-store or online, contactless payment solutions like SumUp Air and Apple Pay are booming in popularity, offering faster and more convenient payments than ever before.
It’s been proven that social media marketing can help businesses increase their customer base and sales. In a survey conducted by Social Media Today, 78% of respondents reported seeing an improvement in the number of leads generated through social media websites like Facebook or Twitter.
If you go to social media right now on either LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook you’ll probably take a look at your Stories. Stories are the new storefront!
So, whether customers are social shopping or popping in-store, they can easily make a purchase. The easier it is for your customers to buy your products, the more sales you will make.
Social Media Marketing Promotes Transparency
It is estimated that around 54% of consumers use social media to research products and businesses. Consumers want to trust the brands they are buying from. They want to know their purchase is making a difference, supporting a good cause, providing value, and recommended by people they trust.
Social media has changed transparency in businesses, calling for more access behind the scenes of even the biggest operations. Today’s customers get to glance behind the corporate curtain before committing to a brand and making a purchase.
Social media allows other customers and influencers to provide reviews, recommendations, and comments on businesses of all sizes. Bright Local reports, 91% of 18-34-year-old consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. As such, businesses are striving more and more to offer top-notch services, run quality businesses, and do everything they can to keep their customers happy.
This exhibited transparency is also extending to social media marketing. With the necessary changes in advertising, it has become more difficult for companies and brands to hide behind a false front of glory and exclusivity with their products.
As such, many people have made social media marketing into an art form by building up large followings on Instagram or YouTube channels, being transparent with their content, and building a strong relationship with followers.
This is not to say that social media marketing does not come with its own pitfalls. There are many algorithms and other factors in place for companies to keep up their mask of exclusivity.
Furthermore, there are always new forms of social media coming out that will require businesses to adapt accordingly or risk being left behind at the wayside.
The transparency of social media marketing is what continues to keep it as one of the best ways for brands to reach new audiences, even in this digital age where people are skeptical about anything they come across online.
Social Media Marketing Drives Social Shopping
Consumers can now purchase products or services directly from social media. This new avenue is convenient – allowing customers to scroll social platforms and shop the products they see with one simple click.
Selling on social media has allowed businesses to reach far wider audiences, launch new products, offer discounts to social followers, and promote their brand through high-quality images.
With billions of social media users scrolling online every minute all over the world, businesses selling via social media are breaking into a wider revenue, boosting their sales, and reaching a greater audience.
Social Media and the Competition
Ever since social media has been integrated into business marketing strategies, the competition between businesses has become fierce. Even small start-ups can compete with large corporations if they have the right social media strategy. It’s all about creating great content and engaging with your audience.
“For start-ups and growing businesses, building a branded identity is key to success – period.”
– eclincher
Because social media has a far wider reach than traditional media outlets & is critical for anyone that cares how to grow brand identity. Businesses of all sizes have the chance to reach consumers all over the world in an instant – drastically increasing the competition!
Social Media Marketing Increases Brand Visibility
Social media Marketing increases brand visibility, making it the ideal tool for start-ups and small businesses. Traditional marketing methods, such as print marketing, only get you so far. Start-ups and small businesses can greatly accelerate their online visibility by utilising the benefits of social media marketing.
On average, people have about eight social media accounts – that’s a lot of platforms on which to promote your businesses! If your brand is showing up on each of these platforms, your visibility will greatly increase, and you will appear to exist everywhere.
Research suggests that consumers need to see a brand message seven times before they feel confident enough to make a purchase. Social media is a great way to rack up those brand views, get your products noticed, and encourage consumers to make a purchase.
Final Words
It goes without saying that social media has drastically altered the way businesses operate, driving smart companies to invest in social media management that lets their brand be seen, helps them engage better with customers, and drives more sales.
We hope this article has provided some inspiration around the benefits social media can bring to your business. While your social following won’t double overnight, through hard work and dedication, you will find the long-term pay-off is well worth all the effort you put in.
Stay creative. Stay consistent. And Stay social to help your business succeed in today’s digital landscape.
