5 Reasons Why Social Media is a Necessary Evil
We've all been there. You're minding your own business, scrolling through your Facebook feed when you see it. That one post. The one from your Great Aunt Marge who always posts things that make you facepalm. Or maybe it's the one from your high school nemesis who seems to be living their best life (even though you know they're not). We're talking, of course, about those annoying posts that we see on social media. The ones that make us question why we ever bothered to create an account in the first place.
But for all the headaches that social media can cause, there are also some benefits to be had. In fact, social media can be a powerful marketing tool—if used correctly. Here are 5 reasons why social media is a necessary evil:
1. You can target exactly who you want to reach.
With traditional marketing methods like print or television ads, you're shooting in the dark a bit. Sure, you can select a demographic like "males aged 18-49" but you're still casting a wide net and hoping that the right people see your ad.
Social media, on the other hand, allows you to get laser-focused with your targeting. Facebook, for example, has over 2 billion monthly active users which means there's a good chance your target market is on there. And if they are, you can use Facebook's targeting options to make sure they see your content. With options like geographic location, interests, and even behaviors, you can be confident that your message is being seen by the right people.
2. It's inexpensive.
Compared to other marketing channels, social media is relatively inexpensive. You can set up a profile on most platforms for free and only pay when you want to run ads. And when you do run ads, you can start with as little as $5 per day.
3. Customers are already there.
As I mentioned before, there's a good chance that your target market is already using social media which means they're halfway to becoming customers! All you need to do is give them a reason to buy from you instead of your competition and you're well on your way to making a sale.
For example, let's say you sell shoes online. A customer searching for shoes on Google may come across your website but leave without buying anything. However, if they saw an ad for your shoes on Facebook and clicked through to your website, they'd be more likely to buy because they were already interested in what you're selling before they even got to your website. That's the power of social media!
4. It allows customers to connect with your brand.
In addition to providing a way for potential customers to learn about your brand or product, social media also allows customers who have already made a purchase to connect with your brand on a deeper level—which can lead to loyalty and repeat purchases down the road. When customers feel connected or bonded with a brand or company, they're more likely than not going to continue doing business with them in the future which is why social media is so important!
5. Everybody's doing it (so you should too)
Okay, hear me out. If you want to stay competitive in today's marketplace (and relevant), having some sort of presence on social media is essential. Your competitors are already reaching new potential customers via social media and if you're not doing the same, you're falling behind.
Although it may seem like more trouble than it's worth at times, social media provides marketers with an incredible opportunity to connect with their target audience in a way that was never possible before. So next time you see one of those annoying posts on your feed, just think about how much money was saved by not having to buy a TV ad!
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