The internet and social media, in particular, have exploded with traffic with even more new and regular returning visitors. More and more businesses are trying to get exposure through digital marketing and even more so with social media marketing. Companies are happy to pay for user attention that’s how competitive the digital landscape is. The evolution and popularity of digital marketing mean it is no longer just an opportunity but a weakness if you can’t be seen or heard online through the many social channels.
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Lesson 1: Choose Your Social Platforms
Many businesses get overwhelmed when starting with social media platforms and they want a presence everywhere. Be realistic when starting out and pick a handful of social sites based on which sites your target audience prefers. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin. It is better to narrow your focus down and provide more attention in a handful of sites.
Lesson 2: Underpin Your Social Media Presence by using a Compelling Brand Story
It is easy to get started with social media activities and updates. But do all your social media activities fall under an overall brand story? Most often than not this is where businesses go wrong with social media. They forget to keep their brand story intact when sharing social media content. Let’s say your brand’s story is a book – each day you should be sharing one page from that book so that you are sharing your brand’s story one piece at a time. This, of course, takes planning and effort but will help you build your brand online.
Lesson 3: Use Multimedia and Video Content
Long form multimedia content such as videos are the best way to build brand recognition according to Tai Lopez a social media influencer and entrepreneur who has been successful through YouTube videos.
Most people are aware that Google is the world’s most popular search engine but did you know that YouTube is the second biggest search engine behind Google? So when you create video content you can upload it YouTube to get more visibility and engagement. Here are some tips you can use to optimize your video content for YouTube.
Lopez also suggests trying Instagram stories and Snapchat. These allow brands to engage with their viewers even more than traditional social media.
Lesson 4: Add Value and Be Unique
This sounds like the most simplest advice and it is but it is also the one that is hard to adhere to. There are many brands online that do not share valuable content that is actionable. If you share content that is only about your product or service it is just advertising that people will ignore. Social media has allowed us a great platform to connect with people directly and instantly. You can get people’s feedback using a picture of your product even before producing it. But some people don’t use it to share unique insights, stories or content. If we are like everyone else online then you don’t have a voice – then why would anyone listen to you? Being unique doesn’t mean you can’t share other peoples’ content and stories – it just means you don’t simply copy a competitor or forgot to be authentic.
Takeaway and Conclusion
The digital landscape is evolving and is more competitive than ever. It is very easy to get started and is not so costly either. If you haven’t started exploring the marketing avenues online get started today. Be authentic, unique and always add value to those who look up to you. Build brand recognition and following first before you start selling your products and services.
