What Is Social Media Marketing and Tips Of Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing refers to the process of gaining traffic or attention through social media sites.

Social media marketing programs usually center on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks. The resulting electronic word of mouth (eWoM) refers to any statement consumers share via the Internet (e.g., web sites, social networks, instant messages, news feeds) about an event, product, service, brand or company. When the underlying message spreads from user to user and presumably resonates because it appears to come from a trusted, third-party source, as opposed to the brand or company itself, this form of marketing results  in ‘earned media’ rather than ‘paid media’
Social media has become a platform that is easily accessible to anyone with internet access. Increased communication for organizations fosters brand awareness and often, improved customer service. Additionally, social media serves as a relatively inexpensive platform for organizations to implement marketing campaigns.
Social networking websites and blogs allow individual followers to “retweet” or “repost” comments made by the product being promoted. By repeating the message, all of the users’ connections are able to see the message, therefore reaching more people. Social networking sites act as word of mouth. Because the information about the product is being put out there and is getting repeated, more traffic is brought to the product/company.
Social media in business allows anyone and everyone to express and share an opinion or an idea somewhere along the business’s path to market. Each participating customer becomes part of the marketing department, as other customers read their comments or reviews. The engagement process is then fundamental to successful social media marketing.
Social media marketing provides organizations with a way to connect with their customers. However, organizations must protect their information as well as closely watch comments and concerns on the social media they use.
Social Media Marketing Tips
1.    Think of Social Media as Publicity Engine and Distribution channel:
The best Social media marketing strategy is to think of social media as a publicity engine and distribution channel for content. Even back before Facebook and Twitter, content was the fuel for traffic back to our web properties from social media news sites.
The content you create must attract your ideal prospect, not random traffic. To do that, you discover the problems and desires your ideal prospect has, and then create content that addresses those problems and desires at an introductory level. Once these prospects visit your site, you must entice them to follow your content over times by email service, which is still the highest-converting online sales channel.
The reason content works as a social media marketing strategy is that people not only want valuable information, they like to share it as well. This results in an amazing word-of-mouth effect where new people are exposed to you and your brand each and every day via those in their own networks.
2.    Research Popular Content From Your Competitors:
If a type of content is popular with the audience of your competitors and colleagues, it stands to reason that a similar post will be popular with the audience.
This isn’t about the copying content; it’s about a similar topic, but with a different slant.
3.     Limit Your Social Media Platform:
With countless social media platforms available today, it’s impossible to grow a strong presence on every one. Having a mediocre presence on six or seven social media platforms is far inferior to a strong presence on three or four when it comes to your social media marketing goals.
To find out if your target audience spends most of time on one platform over another, join online groups within those platforms that focus on your industry or niche. If you find that the members are really active and engage on the topics you’re focus on your business, there’s a good chance that a presence on thet platform will benefit your business.
4.    Connect With Mobile Users:
Mobile technology  has also become beneficial for social media marketing. Today, many cell phones have social networking capabilities: individuals are notified of any happenings on social networking sites through their cell phones, in real-time. This constant connection to social networking sites means products and companies can constantly remind and update followers about their capabilities, uses, importance, etc. Because cell phones are connected to social networking sites, advertisements are always in sight. Also many companies are now putting QR codes along with products for individuals to access the company website or online services with their smart-phones.
5.    Allow Employees To Advocate For Your Business:
Best social media marketing tips, and probably the one that is most underutilized by businesses, is employee advocacy.
You’re a business engaging in social media and creating content, but you’re only sharing that content from your company’s account. Wouldn’t it be great if all of your sales and marketing people also shared your content? It would help your company reach more people and help people and help your sales and marketing folks better brand your company in social media.
6.    Attend Live Events:
Live events are where you experience firsthand the energy and enthusiasm of other like-minded people who share your interests and business objectives. In addition to building meaningful relationships, you walk away with abundant ideas for invigorating your social media marketing.
One of the challenges of social media is translating weak connection into relationships that can potentially leads to mutually beneficial outcomes. The solution is to literally get out of the office to meet the people with whom you’re connected online, and make new connections that you can bring to your social networks. When you integrate the two, you enhance the effectiveness of both.