Social media are gaining more popularity than ever for various reasons. It all started with a simple desire for connection with others. Then companies began to advertise products on a large scale, and continue to do so today. However, we can observe a subtle shift in how they approach advertising. What is that change, and how does it affect our campaigns?
Where is it all going?
It can be said that we have seen everything on the Internet. There are spaces where you enter and have no idea where it leads. All actions are taken globally, making it challenging to develop a plan that effectively targets your user group. This is why it is worth seriously considering hyper-personalization, which is becoming increasingly popular.
The biggest challenge lies in the initial stages of starting an online store and personalized product business. Solid research and a well-prepared plan are essential for success. Established companies must stay vigilant, continuously seeking new advertising strategies to remain competitive. Whether you are a newcomer or a long-established business, advertising is one of the key factors that can help you sell products. So, how can we engage with social media and create profitable campaigns? Let’s explore this in today’s post.
Step 1: Strategy
First, you need to develop a clear strategy. Without one, your actions can be chaotic and lack direction, making it difficult to manage your work effectively. This is why it’s crucial to prepare a strategy and adhere to its core assumptions. How do you create a strategy for social media?
1. Define your goals – Consider the outcomes you want to achieve. What exactly should your strategy deliver? Is it brand awareness, lead generation, increased engagement, or growing your follower base? Think this through carefully.
2. Know your target audience – This may seem obvious, but we often assume we know our audience without researching or checking for changes. It’s essential to define your audience clearly, including their age, gender, location, behaviors, and interests. This helps you create content that resonates with them and encourages them to engage with your offer. Remember that your audience can change over time, so check if your assumptions are valid after a while.
3. Analyze your competitors – Not everyone enjoys this step, but it’s incredibly helpful to understand where your business stands among competitors. By doing this, you can spot differences, observe what people respond to, and learn which practices work well and which do not.
4. Choose the right platforms – After defining the fundamental information, it’s time to choose the platforms you want to use. If you’re already using several, evaluate whether some are ineffective. Focus on where your audience spends their time and which platforms suit your business best.
5. Create a content plan – Now, it’s time to organize your social media activities. What posts do you want to create and when? Using a social media calendar is an excellent way to stay organized and save time. There are plenty of great tools available to help with this.
6. Measure and optimize – This may sound repetitive, but nothing is more helpful than analyzing your performance. It helps you identify patterns, determine what’s working, and see what needs improvement. A solid analysis is key to making successful adjustments to your strategy.
Step 2: Be aware of the benefits
1. Brand Awareness
Most people use social media, and engaging with your audience through these platforms can significantly increase business awareness and recognition among potential customers.
2. It’s Free
Creating a social media profile is free, and you don’t need to spend much money to get started. If your budget is small or non-existent, social media is a great way to build your community. Additionally, social media advertising offers precise targeting options, allowing you to reach customers who are genuinely interested in your products.
3. Build Community
Social media makes it easy to connect with your audience. By responding to comments and engaging in real-time conversations, you create the impression that your business is approachable and always available, fostering a closer connection with your audience.
4. Lead Generation
Posts and ads with a clear call to action are more likely to drive traffic to your website, potentially leading to conversions. It’s always worthwhile to generate traffic to your store or site.
5. Valuable Customer Insights
Social media not only helps you connect with your audience but also provides valuable insights into how they react, what they like, and who they are. Analyzing their behaviors and responses to your content can offer useful knowledge, helping you refine your strategies and plans.
6. Trust Building
When people search for places to eat or products to buy, they often seek inspiration or information online. This is why having a social media presence is important—it helps build trust among potential customers. When a company has an active social media page, people are more likely to trust it and find more information. This is especially true for Generation Z, who often check to see what values a company holds and what kind of environment it fosters. Creating a positive, trustworthy space can lead to a favorable perception.
Step 3: Types of Content
This is a space where creativity and imagination have no limits. For many people, creating content for social media seems easy and does not require much time or energy. However, if you want to do it right, you need to pay attention and invest time in creating content that your audience will actually enjoy and engage with. It may seem simple, but standing out in the jungle of posts, graphics, and videos is not so easy. So, what options do we have?
User-Generated Content (UGC)
Today, User-Generated Content is key. There is no better promotion than users who genuinely use your product and create visually appealing content about it. Testimonials from users who vouch for the quality of your product are more trustworthy to people who are often tired of ads and promotions. Encourage your audience to share their content to boost the popularity of your products.
Employer Branding Content
Showcasing your employees can be very beneficial for businesses. It helps build an authentic connection and displays the positive energy within your company. Not only is this beneficial for you, but it also allows your employees to build their own expertise and recognition.
Behind-the-Scenes Content
People love behind-the-scenes content—how things are managed or produced, how companies operate, and what daily life looks like. This type of content helps your audience feel more connected to your company and can answer questions they might have about how something is created.
Entertainment Content
Funny videos and memes are always popular. It can sometimes be frustrating that a meme might get more attention than a well-thought-out post, but entertaining and light content is exactly what people need when they are overwhelmed by the constant flow of information. It may not have value in conversion, but it builds interest in your business. Remember to adjust humor to your brand.
Educational Content
It’s a great idea to include educational posts in your content. Educating your audience, whether about your company or other relevant topics, adds value. Customers often appreciate this type of content as long as the information is accurate and based on reliable data.
Think Outside the Box
There are many trends and popular ideas on social media, and it’s easy to follow common approaches to creating content. However, it’s often worth stepping out of your usual routine and trying something different. Seek inspiration and apply it to your work—it could involve changing your presentation style, experimenting with new formats, or trying something completely fresh. Be creative, and don’t forget to have some fun along the way!
Step 4: Marketing Tools worth to know about
Content Writing Tools
Free or Freemium Tools:
- Copy.ai: An AI tool designed to help generate text for social media, emails, blog posts, and more with ease and efficiency.
- ChatGPT: A highly versatile AI tool known for generating detailed responses, answering questions, brainstorming ideas, and providing corrections. While incredibly powerful, it’s important to use it carefully, as occasional mistakes may still require human oversight.
- Rytr: A user-friendly AI writing tool that helps craft high-quality content, including blog posts, emails, and social media captions.
- LanguageTool: A reliable writing assistant that checks grammar and style, helping ensure error-free writing.
- Grammarly: Another popular writing assistant offering robust grammar, punctuation, and style suggestions to improve your writing.
Paid Tool:
- Jasper.ai: A top-tier AI writing assistant designed for more advanced content generation, perfect for creating high-quality blogs, ads, and other marketing materials.
Graphics Tools
Free or Freemium:
- Canva: Widely popular and easy to use, Canva is a go-to tool for creating various design projects, from social media posts to presentations.
- Figma: Originally built for UX and UI designers, Figma is also an excellent choice for creating graphics. Its user-friendly interface makes it perfect for combining web design with social media content creation.
- Adobe Express: A fantastic tool for creating mockups, social posts, videos, and even generating art, Adobe Express offers a range of design capabilities in a simple interface.
Paid:
Adobe Suite: The classic choice for graphic design, Adobe Suite includes tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom. With integrated AI features, these tools make graphic creation easier than ever.
Video Editing Tools for Beginners
Free or Freemium:
- CapCut: A free mobile video editor that allows for easy trimming, transitions, effects, and adding music, especially popular with TikTok users.
- InShot: A mobile video editor with user-friendly tools for trimming and adding music, filters, and effects, perfect for quick edits.
- Veed.io: An online video editor that makes trimming, adding subtitles, filters, and text simple and accessible for all.
- TikTok Video Editor: TikTok’s built-in video editor is optimized for creating content directly in the app. It has tools for trimming, adding effects, and playing music.
- Canva Video Editor: A drag-and-drop editor perfect for creating quick and simple social media videos, with templates and easy-to-use features.
Paid:
- Kapwing: An easy-to-use online video editor with features like trimming, adding subtitles, overlays, and more, designed for social media videos.
- WeVideo: A cloud-based video editor offering a simple interface and a wide range of templates ideal for creating content for social platforms.
- Vimeo Create: A video creation tool with pre-designed templates tailored for producing social media-ready videos quickly.
Advanced Video Editing Tools
Free or Freemium:
- DaVinci Resolve: A powerful free video editor with advanced capabilities, including color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production.
Paid:
- Adobe Premiere Pro: Industry-standard professional software offering an extensive range of tools and effects for complex video projects.
- Final Cut Pro: Apple’s professional-grade video editing software, ideal for advanced users looking for comprehensive editing tools and smooth workflows.
Motion Graphics & Animation Tools
Free or Freemium:
- Blender: an open-source tool for creating 3D animations and effects. It is not easy, and some expertise is definitely needed.
Paid:
- Adobe After Effects: The go-to, classic tool for creating motion graphics and visual effects.
Social Listening & Analytics Tools
Paid:
- Brandwatch: A social listening tool for monitoring brand mentions and identifying trends.
- Brand24: Allows real-time monitoring of your company’s mentions with instant alerts and reactions.
- BuzzSumo: Perfect for discovering trending topics and tracking content performance across platforms.
- Mention: Monitors online mentions of your company across various platforms and websites.
- Talkwalker: An advanced social listening platform with AI-powered features for comprehensive tracking and analytics.
- Sprinklr: A robust solution for large enterprises, offering extensive social listening and analytics capabilities.
Scheduling and Automation Tools
Paid:
- Hootsuite: One of the most popular tools for scheduling posts and analyzing social media performance with robust features.
- Buffer: An easy-to-use tool that allows users to schedule posts, analyze content, and utilize an AI assistant for content ideas.
- Later: A scheduling tool with additional features for content analysis.
- Loomly: Supports content scheduling, team collaboration, and performance tracking for social media campaigns.
Influencer Marketing Tools
Paid:
- Upfluence: A comprehensive tool for finding influencers, managing campaigns, and tracking performance.
- Influence City: Assists in managing all aspects of influencer marketing, from discovery to campaign management.
- Traackr: A platform for discovering influencers and effectively managing influencer marketing campaigns.
Collaboration & Project Management Tools
Freemium:
- ClickUp: A popular platform offering task management, documentation, and goal-tracking features.
- Asana: A well-known task management tool, ideal for organizing social media content and team workflows.
- Trello: visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help teams organize tasks and collaborate efficiently.
Platforms with Creative Materials
Free or Freemium:
- Unsplash: Primarily offers free, high-quality stock images, with some paid content available.
- Freepik: Provides both free and paid graphics, with attribution required for free content.
Paid:
- Epidemic Sound: A subscription-based platform providing access to royalty-free music and sound effects.
- Artlist.io: Offers paid access to high-quality, royalty-free music and sound effects.
- Adobe Stock: A premium service offering high-quality graphics, videos, and stock photos.
- Envato: A marketplace offering various paid assets, including music, video templates, graphics, and more.
Step 5: Don’t hate AI – make it your friend
Initially, many social media creators were apprehensive and skeptical about AI solutions. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes, though the quality isn’t always perfect, and mistakes can happen. While that may be true in some cases, AI also has the power to unlock our creative potential.
Need to brainstorm but your team is busy? Ask AI for ideas. You might not use them all, but they can spark your creativity. If you need to write a small piece of text for a graphic, AI can generate something that you can then tweak to fit your style. Spending too much time cutting out people from images? Now, tools can do it for you in seconds. Need a voiceover for your video, but no one is available or willing to participate? Write a script and let AI voice generators do it for you.
In many situations, AI tools can significantly improve your workflow. Finding your own ways to incorporate them can be incredibly rewarding.
AI is becoming an integral part of many aspects of our lives and work. When used wisely, it can offer significant benefits, often saving us time and reducing frustration. For example, in the Printbox editor, Smart Creation tools for photobook creation allow customers to organize their images chronologically in minutes. While you can still tweak and perfect the final product to suit your needs, the key advantage is that it helps overcome the initial hurdle of not knowing where to begin. By removing that barrier, AI empowers us to focus on refining and enhancing our creative work.
Step 6: Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
Engage with your audience: Nothing garners more likes than company responses to regular people’s posts. These responses are always well-received from the customer’s perspective because they break invisible barriers and show that there are real people behind the brand.
Be authentic: People can always find the truth, especially younger viewers, who are skilled at spotting inconsistencies. Be genuine with them, and they will appreciate it.
Post regularly: It’s important to post consistently. If you don’t post, you’re essentially invisible. If you want people to see your product and brand, show it to them. However, don’t post too often—too much content can irritate viewers, and they can quickly get bored.
Use various content formats: To keep your audience engaged, don’t stick to just one method of posting. Use a variety of content types, such as photos, videos, infographics, etc.
Analyze analytics: It can be hard to accept that some ideas won’t be popular, but it’s essential to follow the data. We may believe strongly in something, but ignoring the facts can hurt our strategy. Always look at the statistics, make data-driven decisions, and optimize your efforts accordingly.
Don’ts:
Don’t follow every trend on the internet: Not all trends resonate with your niche. If you decide to jump on a trend, add your own spin to it. People can get bored of trends quickly, and if you’re late to the game, it may only irritate your audience.
Don’t post low-quality content: Sometimes, we rush or settle for poor-quality content. Your social media presence reflects your brand, so make sure that the photos or other content you upload are high-quality.
Don’t copy competitors: Looking at competitors for inspiration is fine, but don’t copy their content. Doing so takes away your uniqueness and makes you blend in. Expand on ideas to create something fresh that showcases your brand in a positive, distinctive light.
Don’t forget about accessibility: Your content needs to be accessible to your followers and potential new audiences. Ensure it is readable and easy to understand. A clean design and clear text are crucial for grabbing and retaining attention.
Don’t overpromote your products: Mix up your content to keep it interesting. Don’t make all your posts about promotions and deals. Over-focusing on sales can turn viewers away. Give them more reasons to follow and stay engaged.
Step 7: Choose what works best for you
Overall, the most important aspect of choosing the right strategy, content, or tools is finding what best suits you and your company. You don’t need to know or use every tool out there; just focus on the ones that simplify your workflow and provide the most value. With so many solutions available—and more to come in the future—it’s essential to stay prepared for change. Flexibility can be one of the best practices for social media creators.
Creators must constantly analyze and understand their audience and stay in tune with what’s happening in society. Paying attention to details and thinking outside the box is crucial because patterns of behavior are everywhere—we just need to recognize when and where to follow them.