There are about 250 million internet users in India, and the number is growing even as you read this article. Furthermore, the studies have highlighted that an Indian user spends about 3 hours a day only on social networking. And why stop at the geographical boundaries? The number of social media users across the world is multiplying at a rate faster than your imagination. Apart from Twitter and Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Pinterest and Google+ have also become household names. Imagine the kind of reach your business will have if you fully exploit these powerful marketing channels.
We have come half way into 2015 and if you still haven’t reworked your old marketing strategies, it is high time to brush the dust off them and put into action these 6 indispensable social media marketing strategies.
1. Strategy #1 is to have a StrategySound planning is like the foundation of a building, without which it will fall to pieces. Regardless of how good your content is, it will not get you any benefits without a strategy. You will need to identify your target audience, decide what all social media platforms are to be covered and what sort of content has to be generated for them, amongst other factors. For all this, you should see what successful competitors are doing and try to modify their strategies for your organization and implement them.
2. Harness the Power of VisualsThe brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than it processes texts – maybe that’s why they say "a picture is worth a thousand words". Whether your marketing strategy involves Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat or Instagram – images have to be a part of your posts to be stored in your viewer’s memory. Also, amongst the Indian internet users, 70% of people use it for watching online videos. Thusly, YouTube is also a channel you should certainly focus on.
3. Different Strategy for Different PlatformsNo two platforms are the same and hence, it is mandatory to modify your content accordingly. The message being delivered could be the same, but it will be drafted differently for Facebook, LinkedIn, and SnapChat. Understand what sort of audience you are dealing with on each platform, and you will know how the content has to be altered.
4. Create a Powerful CampaignNews breaks and what follows immediately are #whathashappened and status updates. You need to tap the power of social media in a similar way – give out some powerful news which people can share and talk about. The campaign need not be directly related to your product or service, but it should get your audience engaged with your brand.
5. Share it More than OnceYour posts can get lost in time and many amongst your target audience would miss out on what you had to say. So, it is better to share the content more than once. By doing so, you will generate more traffic for the site, reach people who are in different time zones and reassert the message in the minds of those viewing it for the second time.
6. Google + is not to be Ignored Google +, although not as popular as Facebook till now, is fast gaining prominence amongst social media buffs. It is particularly useful for businesses as the platform gives you a free ad space when users come looking for you. It has the second-highest number of monthly users, a potential audience you should certainly not ignore. Also, its integration with YouTube means users cannot comment on videos without passing through Google +.
The world of social media is huge and is only growing bigger. It is the present and the future battlefield for all businesses, and the sooner you start, the better are your chances of winning the race. Implement these Social Media Marketing Strategies for now and keep a track of changes in the future to suitably modify your plans and maintain your leading position at all times.
