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What Is Social Media Marketing (SMM) And Why You Must Do It!

What is Social Media Marketing (SMM) and why you must do it! blog header

Introduction

Most of us nowadays spend hours scrolling through social media almost every day. Whether to check out funny memes, catch up with friends, or stay updated with the latest news.

But did you know that businesses are using these platforms for more than just fun? Enter social media marketing (SMM).

Social media & marketing- now has become a powerful tool. And it's changing the marketing game for companies, large and small, by helping them connect with people worldwide.

Here, we'll share everything about marketing on social media, how it began, and why you must use it. Keep reading to learn why social media marketing has become a must-have strategy for businesses today.

What is Social Media Marketing (SMM)?

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Photo by Pixabay

Social media marketing (SMM) is all about using social media platforms to promote something. It can be your brand, products, or services. It is a type of "digital marketing" or e-marketing.

Social media is a way for businesses to reach their audience directly by creating and sharing content like photos, videos, stories, and even live streams.

Popular platforms used for social media marketing are Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. Each platform has its strengths, and businesses choose the one that best matches their goals and target audience's preference.

Through social media marketing, companies can engage with their followers, build relationships, create brand awareness, and even drive sales. It's not just about posting random content, though. It's about creating the right strategy and knowing your audience. Then, share content that resonates with your audience.

Also, you can run paid ads to reach a wider audience. This really makes social networking for marketing a highly effective tool for substantial growth.

Brief history of SMM

Timeline of Social media Platforms' launching year.
Timeline of social media evolution

Social media marketing didn't start overnight. Bolt.com was the first social media site and was launched in 1996. Then came SixDegrees in 1997 which lasted till 2001. It was the first recognizable social media platform with the format we are familiar with today. Friendster, MySpace followed. Launched in 2003, MySpace was the first major social media platform and the first site to gain 1 million monthly active users.

But it wasn't until Facebook came into the scene that SMM really started to gain momentum. In 2006, Facebook started to expand its network which basically gave rise to the concept of SMM.

In the early days, companies didn't fully understand the potential of social media for marketing. They used it mainly to create profiles, not for business growth.

However, as more people joined these platforms, brands began to realize they could reach their target audience in new, personal ways. And it worked!

By the late 2000s, platforms like Twitter and YouTube joined the social media scene. They started offering even more ways to interact with customers. Instagram followed, focusing more on visual networking.

Today, with platforms like TikTok blowing up, SMM is an essential part of any business's strategy. Every platform now offers advertising options and advanced tools.

Pros Of Marketing Through Social Media

So why has social media marketing become so popular? The pros of using media marketing are endless. But let us point out 7 benefits of digital marketing that you must know.

1. Massive Audience Reach

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Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels

Social media platforms are home to 5.22 billion users. That is nearly 63.8 percent of our global population! So, with just a few clicks, you can actually promote your brand to a massive global audience. Here are some real-life success stories of how brands reached their target audience using social media.

2. Cost-Effective

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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

Social media is the most affordable way of marketing. You can just start marketing through social media with little to no money.

Organic posts are absolutely free. And even paid ads cost a fraction of traditional advertising methods like TV or print.

Almost anyone can afford this marketing option. Because of this, SMM makes it a pretty level-playing field for all size of businesses. If you can harness the power of social media marketing, it doesn't matter if you are a small business or a large corporation. You can rip the benefits of the media equally.

3. Direct Engagement with Customers

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Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

The best part of social media - it is a two way street. You can directly talk to your customers. Be it through comments or answering questions. You can even handle customer complaints. This direct communication builds trust and strengthens relationships with your audience.

4. Increase Brand Awareness

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Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels

You keep your brand top-of-mind of your audience by consistently posting and interacting with them. People are more likely to remember your brand when they see your content regularly on social media. 

5. Targeted Advertising

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Photo by ClickerHappy on Pexels

Social media platforms have advanced tools that let you target specific audiences. This really helps to ensure your ads are seen by the right people.

6. Trackable Results

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Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels

Most social media platforms provide analytics tools nowadays. So that you can measure the performance of your posts and ads. You can track how many people saw your post, clicked on your link, or made a purchase.

To measure how your social media content is doing, you can use free and paid social media management tools that are readily available nowadays. This makes analyzing your social contents (read your life!) much easier.

7. Build Customer Loyalty

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Marketing through social media can even let you build loyal communities. You can share behind-the-scenes content, host giveaways, and create engaging posts that keep your followers returning for more.

Cons of Social Media Marketing

Every coin has two sides. While social media marketing offers a lot of benefits, it's not without its challenges. Here are some:

Time-Consuming

Patience is a big factor when marketing through social media. Because it is time-consuming!

Maintaining your presence on social media requires constant attention that you can't skip. Creating content, responding to messages, and staying updated with trends can take up a lot of time.

It becomes more difficult when you are trying to leverage multiple social platforms. These platforms have different content requirement, different special features and in many cases different types of audience. Luckily in many cases you do not need to be on all of these platforms. And even if you do, you can start with a few and gradually build from there. 

Check out our article to know more about the top social media platforms and where your target audience may be hanging out.

High Competition

Because social media is accessible to everyone, the competition is fierce. Standing out among millions of businesses requires creativity and consistency. 

Need for Regular Updates

The world of social media moves fast. If you don't keep up with the latest trends, your brand might fall behind.

Negative Feedback

Social media allows for direct feedback, which is great—until it's negative. A bad review or a negative comment can spread quickly.

Algorithm Changes

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram frequently change their algorithms. This can sometimes affect how many people see your posts. Also, this makes it difficult to guarantee consistent visibility for your content without paying for ads.

One easy solution for this is to talk to the professionals. Just give us a knock and let's chat about how Stymix can help your SMM strategy!

Why You Must Do It For Your Business

No matter the size of your business, SMM is something you can't afford to skip. Here's why you must dive into social media & marketing:

For Large Corporations

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Photo by Expect Best on Pexels

As a large corporation, you need a strong social media presence to maintain dominance in the market. You can engage with a massive audience, reinforce your brand image, and stay ahead of competitors.

Social media platforms also allow you to quickly address any customer service issues or public relations matters.

For Small Businesses

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Photo by Amina Filkins on Pexels

Marketing through social media is now one of the most cost-effective ways to build your brand. Without spending too much, you can now reach a wider audience. Even with a small budget, you can use targeted advertising and engage with customers personally.

For Solopreneurs

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Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels

As a solopreneur, social media marketing is an easy and inexpensive way to get your name out there. You can showcase your expertise and gain new clients through direct interactions with your audience.

Social networking for marketing gives businesses of all sizes the ability to communicate with their audience. You can build trust and ultimately grow your business in ways that were never possible before. You simply need a great social media marketing strategy to get started.

Outro

In today's world, social media & marketing isn't something you can ignore. It's a powerful, low-cost way to connect with people, grow your brand, and boost sales. No matter your business size, social media helps you reach your goals faster. So, if you haven't started yet, now's the perfect time to jump in and see the impact for yourself!

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