Social media marketing is a strategy that involves the use of various websites and social media platforms to promote a product or service, usually through a combination of paid and earned media. This strategy can be implemented in various ways, such as establishing a social media “culture” and setting the scope of the campaign.

Through social media marketing, businesses can allow their customers and Internet users to create and share content, such as product reviews and online comments.

Social networking websites

Social networking websites allow users to connect and communicate with each other. This interaction can be more personal than traditional marketing and advertising methods.

These are social media platforms that allow users to “retweet” and “repost” comments made about a product or a company. By doing so, the user’s connection is able to see the message and hear it.

Mobile phones

The total number of people who use the Internet has continuously increased. As of 2015, there are more than three billion people who are active on the World Wide Web. Most of them are in the US.

Many companies are now putting QR codes along with their products to enable consumers to easily access their websites and online services from their smartphones.

STRATEGIES

There are two basic strategies for engaging the social media as marketing tools:

A.  Passive approach:-

Social media platforms are places where consumers can share their thoughts and opinions about various products and services. They can also be used to gather valuable market intelligence.

Videos and pictures of the new iPhone 6 became viral online after it was revealed that the device could be bent by hand. The issue, which was rare, caused confusion among users who had waited for the new model.

B.   Active approach:-

Social media can be used to reach specific audiences and engage in direct marketing conversations with them.

Media platforms that predate social media such as newspapers and broadcast TV can also provide advertisers with a targeted audience.

Through digital tools, advertisers can target ads to specific demographic groups, such as those who are interested in political activism or social entrepreneurship.

ENGAGEMENT

Social media engagement is different from passive viewing. It means that customers and stakeholder are actively participating in the conversation instead of being spectators.

Each individual who is participating in social media marketing becomes a part of the marketing team. This is because the customer, who is not a customer, receives feedback and positive or negative comments from other users.

Due to the rise of social media marketing, it is more important than ever to gain the interest of potential customers. This can be translated into buying behavior or donating to a political campaign.

The first part is the proactive part, which involves regularly posting new content. This can be done through digital photos, videos, and text. The second part is the reactive part, which involves responding to the feedback and suggestions of social media users.

TV news programs are typically limited to one-on-one interaction with customers. This is not ideal for customer feedback. Another example is the letter to the editor, which is typically not published in traditional newspapers.

CAMPAIGNS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Small businesses can also use social networking sites to promote themselves. They can create exclusive deals and specials that are only available to them through their local area’s social media platform. This method of promotion is very effective for boosting a business’s brand awareness.

Small businesses often use social networking sites to gather feedback from their customers about new products and services. This method helps them gain valuable insights into the potential profitability of their products and services.

LinkedIn can help small businesses hire employees. It also helps them find potential candidates.

TECHNIQUES AND DRIVE

One of the main purposes of using social media in marketing is to reach out to those who have no idea about the products or services of the company. Through social media, these companies can reach out to those who are interested in learning more.

While Facebook, Google+, and Twitter have a larger base of monthly users, Instagram has a higher interaction rate than the other visual media platforms. This is largely due to the way consumers consume content.