There are many misconceptions about social media, and unfortunately, small to medium-sized buy all of them. Some of the most damaging misconceptions include:

• Social media is a toy for the young
• People do not form “real relationships” on social media
• All social media platforms are the same

Social media allows you to connect to customers and improve brand awareness. If you hire social media marketing services, you will enjoy the benefits even more–and see the results reflected in your bottom line. 

What is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing uses platforms and services to market products and services. It functions on five significant pillars:

• Strategy: Goals and how to use social media to meet them

• Planning and publishing: This stage considers plans regarding content to create and how to share them–and to whom. You may choose blogs, videos, photographs, or scripted content meant to engage your audience. 

• Engagement: This step involves seeing what customers and followers say about your social media content. Are they sharing your articles? Reacting to your videos? Social media professionals use engagement tools to track these reactions. 

• Analytics: Using social media data to determine where your posts reach and whom. 

• Advertising: Whether you choose to use purchased ads on social media, and if so, how you promote and develop your brand through them. 

Most social media marketing plans include all these elements. It is often easier for businesses to hire a digital marketing firm to recommend a plan and follow through. While you could do this yourself, this marketing form contains complexities and requires constant monitoring. 

What are the Benefits of Social Media Marketing?

Social media is a valuable and effective tool for small and medium-sized businesses. Typical benefits of social media marketing include:

• Brand recognition: Consumers prefer to use brands familiar to them. If you increase awareness through your social media preference, you will attract new customers. 

• Analytic data: Social media analytic data reveals which advertising approaches work and with whom. You can use this information to change your direction or fine-tune your other digital marketing strategies. 

• Cost-effective: Social media marketing is affordable for advancing new and established businesses. Most of your efforts are free, and if you hire a social media marketer like SmallCrowd, you will find our service fees pay for themselves–even if you use paid ads on social media. 

• Market insights: Not only are you on social media but so are your competitors. You can see which brands receive more attention and how they attract it. You also receive more consumer demographics and who frequently visits your page. 

Generally, social media marketing gets customers through your door. If you post an engaging page and respond to inquiries, they are more likely to visit your website. You can also draw them to a storefront or encourage them to request a quote. Social media contains these features that make customer engagement easy. 

What Social Media Platforms Should You Use?

Some social media platforms work better than others, depending on your product or service. A social media marketing service agency can help you determine the best platform for your business. You will likely use several to meet your goals. 

Popular social media platforms for business include:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn

The most effective social media platforms depend on your target audience and the nature of your business. Instagram allows you to post photos of finished projects if you have a remodeling business. Its photo editing features include creating before/after pictures too! 

Companies offering services to professionals have better luck on LinkedIn and Facebook. If you rely on your blog to show expertise and reassure customers, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are effective. We can help you determine where to focus your social media presence.

How Social Media Marketing Services Can Help

Our social media marketing services help you by:

• Focusing on your social media strategy, so your business performs what it does best
• Keeping social media updated, even when you lack the time
• Giving your business a voice and personality that shines through your timeline
• Using written content, graphics, video, and other popular mediums to spread brand awareness

Small Crowd offers clients a customized strategy to make social media marketing effective for their bottom line. If you struggle with social media and wish to outsource its management to a skilled marketing team, we are here for you. Contact us today to start discussing social media marketing services for your small or medium-sized business.