I am Wapwon, a social media marketing and PR professional based in Seoul, South Korea. I have been active on social media for almost two decades now, and I’ve done it all with a smile on my face. From blogging to creating videos, I’ve operated behind the scenes of social media for over two decades now. And while there are many similarities between being a social media marketing and PR professional and running your own business or venture, there are also many differences. Well-known names such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, George Washington and Barack Obama have all utilized social media platforms to reach out to their respective audiences in different ways. Even if you’re new to digital communication or just getting started with social media marketing, chances are you’ll find value in learning more about it before making any big decisions. Here are 5 things you should know about social media marketing from an established brand owner:
Hire a marketing professional
While many people get started in social media marketing by hiring a marketing professional, it’s important to understand the role of a marketing professional before you hire one. Some brands, like Google, hire marketing executives who run their social media operations; others, like Facebook, focus their efforts on gaining customers’ first impression. Regardless of how you choose to operate, a well-rounded knowledge of marketing and brand management is crucial for success in social media marketing. While there are plenty of great job applicants out there, a good starting point is to check out companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and LinkedIn. When evaluating companies, look for people who have achieved success in one field or another, as well as people who excel at their jobs but are looking for a way tofit in with the company community.
When to use social media
There are many benefits to using social media, but it’s important to understand when’s and why. When is it appropriate to use social media? How do you take advantage of social media ad networks and hybrid platforms like Instagram and Facebook? These are just a few of the many questions that will arise from your social media marketing efforts. For the best results, you should generally use social media at least a year or more before making any major decisions about which platforms and channels to use. Even if you have some experience with social media, it’s helpful to understand when you should be focusing on particular platforms or channels. For example, Instagram is great for sharing photos and videos, but it’s not the best platform to create content or teach techniques. You should also understand when it’s appropriate to use social media, as it’s a great way to get new likes and comments, but it’s not the best way to get past the glass half-way dividing the platform into good and bad areas.
How to market on social media
Now that you know what social media is, how it works, and what benefits it has, it’s time to get down to business. There are many tools that can help you do just that, including micro-influencers, content marketing, and paid media. But you have to make sure that you’re marketing the right way. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before you start a paid micro-influencer marketing campaign. First, you need to find a strong brand. You can’t just throw a few words into the wind and hope that the winds of social media will take them to the top of the social media charts. You need to find a brand that has a track record of success, one that already has a lot of likes and comments, and one that has a solid handle on the strategy and execution of paid social media campaigns.
Paid media
Paid media is when you spend money on ads or media that you don’t necessarily want people seeing, but that will drive traffic to your website, blog, or social media page. With paid ad networks, you can create ads that target specific audiences, such as your largest follower base or your most searched topic. Sometimes, you’ll choose to use paid ad networks for specific channels that you’ve chosen to promote, such as television. But even though you have control over exactly which ads to run on networks you create paid media with, you still need to keep in mind the overall goal of driving traffic to your website, blog, and social media pages.
Online presence
Online presence is the actual presence of a business on the internet. You need to find a brand that you want to be associated with and want to carry on the business’s name. It can be as simple as linking your website to your social media accounts or creating a blog post that is shared both on social media and in the comments section. Whatever you do, don’t confuse online presence with just being on the internet. It must be perceived as being online, either through a browser or device.
Social media presence
You don’t have to be on every social media platform in order to have a social media presence. You can either choose to be on only a few platforms or you can target specific audience segments through social media automation. For example, let’s say you decide to use your LinkedIn account to promote your company on social media platforms. Now, you have one thing on your side — a powerful brand and name that will be instantly recognizable. But if you want to expand your reach, you can also start with a social media presence.
Blogging
Blogging can be used as a way to generate leads, increase sales, and increase your social media presence. Although it’s not usually recognized as such, blogging can also be done as a form of paid media. By creating your first blog post and sharing it on social media platforms, you are acknowledging and introducing your brand to a large audience and gaining followers. When it’s your turn to speak and promote, you can optimize your post for SEO and ranking well below your competition. Blogging is also a good way to capture potential customers’ attention and make them care about your brand.
In-depth coverage
For detailed coverage of every platform you choose to operate from, or for in-depth content on any topic related to a specific platform, check out What platforms are right for your business?.
Social media marketing
There are many benefits to social media marketing, but it’s important to understand when’s and why. When is it appropriate to use social media? How do you take advantage of social media ad networks and hybrid platforms like Instagram and Facebook? These are just a few of the many questions that will arise from your social media marketing efforts. For the best results, you should generally use social media at least a year or more before making any major decisions about which platforms and channels to use. Even if you have some experience with social media, it’s helpful to understand when you should be focusing on particular platforms or channels. For example, Instagram is great for sharing photos and videos, but it’s not the best platform to create content or teach techniques. You should also understand when it’s appropriate to use social media, as it’s a great way to get new likes and comments, but it’s not the best way to get past the glass half-way dividing the platform into good and bad areas.
YouTube
For all the things that you need to know about social media marketing from an established brand owner, you can’t go wrong with one of the most popular channels on YouTube. By popularizing the ever-increasing number of social media campaigns, this video platform is used by millions of people around the world. You’ll find tons of information and tips about social media, marketing, and business strategies on this channel, so don’t miss out on any great advice.
Blogging
Blogging can be used as a way to generate leads, increase sales, and increase your social media presence. Although it’s not usually recognized as such, blogging can also be done as a form of paid media. By creating your first blog post and sharing it on social media platforms, you are acknowledging and introducing your brand to a large audience and gaining followers. When it’s your turn to speak and promote, you can optimize your post for SEO and ranking well below your competition. Blogging is also a good way to capture potential customers’ attention and make them care about your brand.
In-depth coverage
For detailed coverage of every platform you choose to operate from, or for in-depth content on any topic related to a specific platform, check out What platforms are right for your business?.
