3 Ways To Thrive In Social Media Marketing For 2020
It’s been a roller-coaster decade in the online and social media world. The internet streets introduced so many ways for us to connect and market online. From social networks, chatbots, AR features to smart homes, to Ads popping up no matter where you choose to scroll.
Although social media continues to play a huge role in the way we interact with each other in a personal and professional manner, there’s also a growing fear in how small businesses and social entrepreneurs will continue to use and create measurable social media marketing strategies.
As social networks begin to implement more socially conscious security and features, it may become more difficult to understand how to measure your efforts. There are potential changes on the horizon. Networks like Instagram are experimenting with ideas, such as hiding the number of likes on posts, in an effort to reverse the negative mental health effects associated with social media, as CNET reports. I invite you not to forget that social media is simply an extension of your brand and its marketing efforts. I like to think of Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and all the other slew of networks out there as the New York City Subway system. There is always a train ready to leave a station but whether or not that train will be working 5 to 10 minutes from now, or even the next day, is a chance that you take by riding the iron horse. These social media outlets are here for you to further extend your brand’s message and allow those that love your work/business to share it with their friends and family.
SO, if you want to succeed at riding the iron horse (in this case it’s social media) in the ever-changing system, you have to start using social media more as a way to get your brand on one of the moving trains, rather than making it the be-all and end-all of your marketing.
You can take the lead in your marketing with any of these steps below.
1. Using Lead Generation to Gather Data
Gone are the days when likes and followers measured the success of a profile. The ability to generate quality audiences is becoming increasingly more important to market directly to as well. You should aim to create content that leads to capturing email addresses and phone numbers.
How do you do this? You utilize social media to direct your audience to a page or pop up on your website where they can enter their email addresses to receive something of value to them from you, in return for their contact information. Now that you have this contact information you will be able to use this data on your own terms. Whether that is via email or Instagram Ads.
2. SMS Messaging
Did you know that you can utilize your call button on Instagram and Facebook to chat with your audience?
Picture this… I am a potential customer with burning questions and I utilize your txt feature to ask my question. You then direct me to a landing page where I must enter my contact information.
And voila, you just tied in text messaging to your social media marketing. This now gives you access to more data that you can use to engage with your audience via txt or email.
3. Private Chat Rooms
As we begin to get social media fatigue and move towards building stronger communities both on and offline, I invite you to explore private messaging networks like WhatsApp, Slack and my recent favorite, Mighty networks. In keeping with our data of connecting with your audience in more ways than just social media, you can also use social media networks as a funneling source for creating private groups on messaging platforms like the ones mentioned.
Take some time to focus on your most engaged or connected followers, which you can find through a social listening platform like Sprout Social. Then, invite them to join a private group on your private messaging platform of choice. Having these private communities will enable you to bypass the noise and crowded social media networks and allow for direct engagement with your quality followers. As we move into private chat spaces, it opens up the opportunity to share exclusive content, sneak-peeks, or solicit their opinions on new products or services you’re planning to offer. This engaged audience will now be excited and nurtured in a way that can assist in spreading the word about your brand organically through traditional social media channels.
Bueno mi gente, we have reached the end of my internet road. I leave you with this, Social Media is evolving just as our TV’s did and it is my job to keep you in the know. I encourage you to try one of the three suggestions and test them out with your audiences. Porque mi gente, Social Media is not going anywhere, but the way in which we use it and approach our marketing efforts is. Entonces, if you want to thrive in 2020 you have to be open to the changing times.
Nos Fuimos!
RitaVee