Why Is Social Media Engagement So Important Anyway?

There’s a lot of discussion about on the best tactics to improve engagement. How do you generate engagement on social networks? What’s the best tactic to generate conversation? The thing that always stands out to me is that there’s not really any tactic to it – you have to engage with people. Social networks are like socialising in real life, if you want to talk to someone, you go talk to them, or give them reason to talk to you. If you want engagement, you talk, you listen (and listen and listen), then you respond. The ‘social’ part of ‘social media’ is just that, and you can’t forget it. But there's also an implied justification marketing through social media to many of these posts, as if the author is not only explaining, but presenting a case to those still unconvinced that social media engagement is necessary. If you look at the evolution of communications from a very basic perspective, it’s quite obvious why social media has become so important. Think back to the 70’s, when your parents were watching TV. They had no remote control, so what happened? They had to sit through ads. Ads were forced onto them, exposing them to your brand was, in relative terms, easy, because they had to watch - or get up off the couch and switch the station (and who wants to do that?). Then came the remote control, a revolution in TV viewing. People could switch channels if the ads weren't appealing. Brands had to work that bit harder, TV ads got more entertaining, incorporated more storytelling elements because if they didn’t, viewers would just switch. Then came cable TV, no ads. Brands had to work harder again, better quality ad campaigns, social media marketing certification increased storytelling. And now? Who watches ads on TV? The next generation of consumers don’t know anything about 'the old days’. They’re used to switching off if they don’t like your message. You tweet something they don’t agree with, they unfollow you. They're not interested in what's on TV, they go to YouTube. Everything is immediate and they’re used to creating a world of their own, where they only have to see and hear what they choose. And you need them to choose your brand. This is where the importance of brand identity comes in. Product alone, price alone - these things most likely won’t be enough. Your brand needs to be accepted, sought after. Your audience needs to know who you are and what you stand for. And with more and more people active on social media, getting their news, their updates, participating in more and more of their daily interactions online, this is where you need to be to connect with them.

An effective social media presence connects you to your customers

A business that is active on social media will often interact with customers or clients several times each week. Whether it is “liking” something they posted on Facebook or them simply reading an informative Tweet you publish on Twitter, an active social media presence keeps you on the mind of your customers. As a doctor, for example, you typically see your patients a couple of times per year. But if you are active on social media, you can potentially interact with them hundreds of times social media marketing consultant in that same year—keeping your practice fresh on their minds. So there you have it—if you are not yet active on social media, now you have three great reasons to engage this growing market. However, we have barely scratched the surface… stay tuned for more in the weeks to come! Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, are great places to form common-interest groups. Hobby enthusiasts, sports fans, Justin Bieber fans—it won’t take you more than a few moments to find these communities on Facebook. As you can see, this presents a golden opportunity for, for instance, the owner of an R/C shop. By either creating or joining a community focused on remote control vehicles, he or she can create a great place for enthusiasts to connect—all the while establishing himself as the natural choice for their next purchase. Your social media presence allows you to connect with billions of potential social media marketing ideas customers across the globe. It allows you the opportunity to reach your audience in an environment where they have mostly let their guard down. We are so used to being bombarded by commercials on the radio and on TV that many of us subconsciously tune them out. While social media is certainly going to see a dramatic increase in advertising over the next decade, as of now its advertising potential is largely untapped.

Enhance company trustworthiness

Social media channels are proactive tools when it comes to increasing your company trustworthiness. By closely communicating with your clients on a social media level, you become a trusted source of information which makes it a great asset when creating company awareness and brand credibility. Social media can be a great source of customer service, transforming negative customer’s experience into a positive outcome for your business. Always keep in mind that customer satisfaction is the key to retention and in the long run it is loyalty awarding to your brand. If you are eager to be found among the millions social media marketing packages of sites on the web, you sure need to work hard on enhancing your social presence. Social media leads to massive exposure due to its worldwide access, sharing capabilities, and huge amount of daily users. It delivers instant information in the digital marketplace, thus giving businesses the ability to advertise their products, going beyond distance. Statistics have proven that interacting in social media networks even 2-3 times per week can significantly increase your online presence in both the traditional and digital market space, while you are building new relationships outside the four walls of your office. Why should you care about social media? It may be fun, it may be something your kids are into—but as a business owner, why should you care? The short answer is simple—an effective social media presence will help you make more money. Today I am going to tell you how it will make you money. But first, I need to dispel a common myth which states that “social media is just another fad… it will be gone social media marketing proposal in five years.” The truth is that social media is not a new invention. It may be a new technological innovation, but it taps into an ancient human impulse. Humans love to talk. We love to see what our friends and family members are up to. We love to connect. And that is what social media is all about—connecting. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube may be new mediums, but they are simply the 21st century tool for accomplishing an essential human function.