Social media marketing has been paving the way in the marketing industry over the past decade, though very few people seem to truly understand how to make it profitable. Sure, it is nice to have a beautiful array of content and engaged followers, but if it isn’t bringing more money to your business, then your efforts are going to be mostly unsuccessful.
It’s true that social media marketing isn’t a surefire way to double or triple your earnings. Having a robust follower count may be impressive, but if they aren’t converting into sales then who is really winning the social media game? But with a few focused tactics, any social media campaign can be incredibly lucrative.
Let’s take a look at what, exactly, makes a profitable social media strategy.
1. Select the Best Social Media Platform for Your Business
When we refer to social media, most people think of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The truth is that there are over 200 social media platforms that exist, many of which have a thriving and active community. The key to an effective social media marketing campaign is to select the social network that gives you the best access to your target audience.
Most social media platforms were designed with specific demographics, industries, and locations in mind. This means that not all platforms are built the same, nor do they have the same audience behind them. While Facebook and Instagram certainly carry the bulk of users online, they may not be the users that will be buying your products or services.
When creating your social media campaign strategy, be sure to be clear about who your target audience is and where they can be found.
2. Determine Your Social Media Goals
Social media is indeed an invaluable tool in the business world today, but there are many different outcomes that can come from using it. Before you start posting pictures and paying for ads, determine what your brand’s goals are. Some platforms will help your brand increase its exposure, such as with Instagram, while others will boost sales, like with Facebook… Others still, such as Twitter, serve as a customer service platform for paying customers to reach the support team of the brand.
Determine what your goals are and then create a strategy based on that. With a targeted strategy, you are more likely to reap the benefits of the chosen platform.
3. Use Unique, Rich Media in Your Posts
Social media is the way that the majority of the world gets its information, today. So a plain text post simply won’t cut through all of the information that is currently flooding the news feeds. Instead, upload a wide variety of content that definitively brings value to your audience. This means that your brand should not be pitching sales content so much as simply providing valuable and relevant content to its followers.
Rotate between quality photos, informative videos, blog articles, or news stories to keep your feed relevant. One way to do this is to search for relevant content through curator platforms, such as with Quuu.
4. Strategy & Follower Engagement
All of the social media platforms rely on the “social” aspect above all else. One easy way to boost follower engagement is by engaging with your followers! Reply to users directly with @replies and engage with your target community as often as possible. Growr, for example, helps Instagram users engage with their target audience around the clock by automating likes and follows. Then, when the target audience starts responding to your automated engagement, you can reply directly to them and boost real, authentic engagement within your audience.
5. A Plan to Scale
Launching a brand on social media is very different from growing an audience. Growing an audience on social media is different, still. As your audience and brand grow, so should your strategy. Increase your output as you gain new followers and double up on your engagement. The very first rule of social media is to listen to your audience and respond accordingly.
6. User-generated Content
Also be sure to include user content that is relevant to your brand so that you stay connected with your audience on a more personal level. The Repost App makes this exceptionally easy to do by allowing you to quickly repost content that other users have posted on Instagram. Users want a personal experience on their chosen social media platforms, so give them exactly what they want!
If you add each of these key factors to your current social media campaign strategy, then you will likely see a boost in your engagement and ultimately your sales. What are some of your favorite strategies to increase profits through social media?
