How to Use Social Media for Enhancing Brand Image & Customer Engagement
Social media has changed the way we communicate, think, and even go about our day-to-day lives. From teenage fun activities to old age political discussions, social media is everywhere. The pace at which social media platforms are reshaping societies is overwhelming — and concerning at times. From a business perspective, social media could be astonishingly useful if you embrace the right approach.
An increasing number of people spend more time on their mobile devices. That means the scope and prospects of social media are only growing with time. While businesses scale up their effort for enticing brand presence, politicians are finding unique ways to connect with more people. And in between, there are those users captivated by the seamless connectivity. And these are just some of the ways social media is reshaping our world.
What Makes Social Media So Popular?
The ability to share information with a limitless universe is what makes social media so attractive. But why do people share information in the first place? People share information and content for different reasons. While some share information to reveal valuable and entertaining content, others want to define themselves by letting others know their likes and dislikes, according a survey by The New York Times. Additionally, building relationships, making a brand presence, and supporting a cause are some other drivers of social media engagement.
Main Types of Social Media
When we say social media, we mean a virtually limitless world of different kinds of online platforms. The types of social media are as diverse as Facebook and YouTube and beyond. Below are the most well-defined categories of social media.
Social Networks
Social networks are one of the earliest forms of social media. These networks primarily aim to connect platforms while providing a platform for sharing thoughts. Social networks also enable users to share information about their likes and interests, post about life activities and communicate with others in real-time.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are the most well-known examples of social networks. The idea of social networking was globally popularized by Facebook after its launch in 2004. Although these three platforms rely on different kinds of online activities, their core architecture is based on the concept of social networks.
Media-Sharing Platforms
Media networks are designed for enabling users to distribute content. The content could be videos, images, or any other forms of media. YouTube and Instagram are the two most widely used social media platforms falling under this category. While YouTube enables users to upload and live stream videos, Instagram lets people share images and videos in attractive ways. Media-sharing platforms have evolved significantly over the past couple of years.
For example, Instagram has launched a flurry of new features, including Story, Reel, and more. These features are aimed at keeping social media users engaged with the platforms. Over the past couple of years, videos have emerged as the most enticing form of content across social media platforms of all kinds.
Discussion Forums
Discussions forums have been out there for a long time now. For example, think Reddit. But it is now that a growing number of businesses are using them to boost their online presence. Discussion forums allow users to respond to questions or comment on an ongoing discussion. That way, it starts conversations within a community associated with the online platform.
Customer Review Sites
Dozens of online platforms enable users to post their experiences about a product or service. For example, on TripAdvisor, you can share your experiences with a hotel or any other establishment. These sites also foster a global community that engages with each other via the platform. Members of some of the review platforms can also interact with each other directly through messaging.
Using Social Media for Advancing Your Business
As the business world gets increasingly digital, the role of social media is becoming more crucial than ever. Whether it’s digital marketing, brand awareness, or customer relationships, social media plays a central role. It’s particularly critical to the success — and failure — of your marketing campaigns. Below are some tried-and-tested ways to build an effective social media presence.
Be strategically active on social platforms
How carefully you maintain your social media presence determines your online brand image. Just creating an account on every social media platform won’t do the trick. The world of social media is vast and inexplicably competitive. Only a strategic approach to social media activities can bring the desired results. On the contrary, if you bombard your followers with posts, they might abandon your page to never come back.
Brands that succeed on social media maintain a well-thought-through set of activities. These usually involve enticing content, relevant posts, and personalized communication. All these are only possible after extensive audience research.
Stay focused on the interests of customers
The contents and messaging on your social media channels should always put customers first. Doing otherwise won’t get you anywhere. Create contents that focus on the interests of people that follow you on social media. The best way is to put a team of social media managers and content creators in place. With the right expertise, you can build an engaging social presence and spread the word about your brand, as well.
Once you achieve the threshold amount of engagement, you can start using the data to advance your plans. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide you with deep insights into user engagement. Use this stream of data to create strategic, effective campaigns.
Use images & videos thoughtfully
Social media users barely read plain text; it’s images and videos that drive the most engagement. If you can master the usage of pictures and videos, creating the desired impression becomes easier. A growing number of brands are using enticing videos and even memes to boost their social media engagement.
When you post attractive images and informative videos, followers share them. Sharing is considered the most effective way of expanding your social media presence. It also significantly helps to push your brand awareness efforts far and wide.
Conclusion
Social media’s business implications could appear tricky at times. However, with the right approach and insights, you could master it. Many businesses — small and large alike — have achieved remarkable branding goals using social media. Besides, social engagement also helps enterprises strengthen customer relationships and foster loyalty.
The key is to establish a social media presence that entices customers and prospects. We suggest seeking guidance from professionals who have proven skills in business social media management. A well-thought-out mix of expertise, technology, and insight could take your social media engagement to new heights.
