Did you know that around 4.62 billion users are active on social media in 2022?
That’s over half of the global population!
And given that 96% of small business owners use social media in their marketing strategies, it’s pretty safe to say that social media platforms are the places to be.
But that doesn’t mean you should post just for the sake of it. Otherwise, you may not experience any significant results. In other words, social media requires a little bit of strategizing.
That said, let’s take a look at some social media marketing tips that should be at the top of your to-do list in 2022.
1. Be on the right platforms
Although it may be tempting to post on every platform available to reach as many people as possible, this strategy might not be such a good idea.
First off, by being active on multiple platforms, you’ll likely have a hard time managing your accounts. This leads to wasting precious time you could’ve otherwise spent creating quality content.
Secondly, there’s no reason to post content on platforms your target audience is not active in.
That said, narrow down your options to a select few platforms. More specifically, identify where your target audience is most likely active.
For instance, TikTok’s largest audience group is aged 18-24, making it the perfect platform for businesses targeting young adults.
On the other hand, most of Twitter’s audience comprises people from 25-34 years of age. Consequently, Twitter might be a suitable platform for businesses that target slightly older audiences.
2. Post behind-the-scenes content
Social media’s advantage over other marketing strategies is that it allows for a two-way conversation between companies and their audience: businesses interact with their followers via posts, while the audience responds through likes, comments, shares, etc.
This enables businesses to establish more meaningful connections with their follower base, increasing trust, brand awareness, and recognition.
But achieving this depends on the content you post. For example, posts strictly focused on promoting your products or services will likely not go a long way in earning your audience’s trust.
That’s where behind-the-scenes content comes in. Showing off the face behind the company will you humanize your brand.
Consequently, you’ll appear more relatable and trustworthy in the eyes of your audience and establish more powerful connections with your follower base.
That said, don’t hesitate to go live every once in a while and interact with your audience in real-time.
Also, let your followers have a peek into your daily routines: post photos of what you and your team are working on, provide updates on upcoming projects, and maybe even reveal your team’s pastimes.
3. Consider influencer marketing
Influencers are social media personalities viewed as experts within their niche. They usually have tightly-knit communities behind them; thus, influencers have the power to affect their follower’s purchase decisions.
In fact, 49% of consumers rely on influencer product recommendations. That said, influencer marketing is a must-have in your social media strategy. It enables you to put your products in front of a larger audience, raise awareness, and generate more sales.
Keep in mind that the success of an influencer marketing campaign depends on the influencers you choose to work with. In other words, you’ll need to find someone whose audience is similar to yours and aligns with your brand’s core values.
Tools like Buzzsumo will help you find the best fit for your brand. All you need to do is type in a keyword and go on from there.
4. Invest in graphic design
Visuals play a crucial role in your social media marketing strategy.
That’s because social media is a fast-paced environment. Users are flooded with dozens of other posts at any given moment, and they probably won’t spend the time to go through each post at a time.
In other words, your posts need to get users to stop scrolling, and plain text will not cut it. Generic stock photos might not do the job either.
You’ll have to create high-quality graphics that go along with your content. This will increase the chances of catching the users’ eye and determine them to check out your posts.
Secondly, you can create content strictly based on visuals. Think infographics, for example. They are great for presenting complex data in an easy-to-digest manner.
What’s more, people are 30 times more likely to read infographics than blog posts.
Lastly, visuals can give your brand messaging a little extra oomph. Using the psychology of colors, you can evoke specific emotions within your audience, conveying a more powerful message.
Investing in graphic design platforms is probably worth it. Although it may be pricey, plenty of websites provide discounts. For instance, DontPayFull offers discount codes for various graphic design tools, like Canva.
5. Post user-generated content
In short, user-generated content (UGC) is brand-specific content created and published by someone who is not a representative of your company, like your customers. UGC can come in videos, photos, reviews, etc.
So what makes UGC effective?
First off, 86% of consumers rely on authenticity when deciding what brands they like and support. UGC does just that: It shows off your brand from a consumer’s point of view, leaving all the smoke and mirrors aside.
Consequently, you’ll earn your audience’s trust in potentially increasing sales.
Secondly, UGC is cost-effective. As long as customers are happy with your product, they’ll likely spread the word about it on social media. That said, UGC can make your follower be actively involved in your marketing strategy.
Be sure to encourage users to post content regarding your brand. You can do this by hosting hashtag contests, for instance. Also, use social media listening tools to keep a close eye on what people say about your business on social media.
This can be a great source of UGC. But keep in mind to ask for the users’ consent before posting their content on your social media page and credit them in your posts.
Takeaways
All in all, social media can be a marketing powerhouse if done right, that is. To start off, be on the right platforms, more specifically, where your target audience is.
After that, make sure to enhance your brand’s credibility by posting behind-the-scenes and user-generated content. Also, give influencer marketing a shot, as this is an effective way to attract new potential customers to your business.
Lastly, don’t forget about graphic design. Create attractive visuals to capture your followers’ attention and persuade them to check out your posts.
