As an effect of social media, the relationship between businesses and consumers has completely changed. Businesses can no longer successfully advertise by just shouting their messages at potential customers, and no longer do businesses hold power over their message while consumers struggle to be heard.
Modern consumers can be heard loud and clear and everywhere. They are writing reviews on websites, articles on blogs, making YouTube videos, Tweeting, and updating their Facebook profiles. Businesses no longer have any choice but to pay attention because social media has also changed the way that customers think about purchasing decisions.
Most customers take advantage of social media outlets as a way to do research on products and companies before they make a purchase. So, if you own a business and your social media shows negative information about your brand, or no information at all, you are likely missing out on a lot of new business.
It is obvious that your potential customers are influenced by social media, and if you want them to be influenced in a way that will make them more interested in your product, you have to work on your social media marketing strategies.
Creating a strong social media presence requires consistency. To be successful with social media marketing you must engage with your target audience, and begin building relationships that will help you earn their trust and ultimately their business. For effective social media marketing strategy you will have to set goals like improving search engine ranking, and increasing brand awareness, and sales.
It is estimated that for each communication medium, the average person has about 150 contacts. While this may not seem like a large number, when it is multiplied by the connected structure of most social media platforms, that number becomes much larger in terms of reach. As an effect of information online being so easily shared, modern consumers end up with a platform of their own to broadcast their feelings to countless friends and contacts. How powerful can that be for your brand if they have good feelings about your product?
Social media as a means of communication with potential customers needs to be a focus of modern marketing strategies, taking into account the behaviors of the new consumers who want to talk with you, not just listen. It is most important to create messaging and campaigns that encourage consumer feedback, engagement and endorsement.
Because consumers have already changed, the more you try to stand by the old methods of shouting your message rather than listening, reacting rather than conversing, you will lose not only the money, but the trust of your consumers and the opportunity to build relationships for the future.