The evolution of social media can largely be attributed to the incessant human need to communicate and through the dynamic advancement in digital technology. It is a story about establishing, sustaining, and strengthening personal connections at scale.
According to Merriam-Webster, social media is defined as “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).”
According to a Pew Research Center 2021 survey of U.S. adults, at least 80% use some form of social media. Globally, there are 4.55 billion social media users with more than 400 million new users as of October 2021.
Today, social media has transformed from direct electronic information exchange and virtual gathering site to vital 21st-century retail platform and marketing tool.
How did it begin? In what ways does social media affect people’s daily existence? What strategies do businesses and marketing professionals use to adapt to and take advantage of the digital consumer lifestyle?
Pre-Internet Roots
The dawn of social media began on May 24, 1844, with the first electronic message through a telegraph machine. The text, sent by Samuel Morse from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., said: “What hath God wrought?”
But historians agree that the modern origins of the internet are attributed to the creation of the digital network Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) in 1969 by the United States Department of Defense. But what was considered as the direct precursor to today’s social media was when the National Science Foundation launched the NSFNET in 1987. The first true social media platform, however, was introduced in 1997. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What is Social Media Management?
Simply put, it’s the process of planning, overseeing, and curating a complete social media strategy. More than just replying to tweets and comments, social media management is linked to other important aspects of an organization’s digital marketing strategy such as building awareness, generating leads, and ensuring sales.
Social media management provides a blueprint on how your brand will participate (think content publishing, rules of engagement with customers etc.) on social media platforms to generate results. To reach your customers, gain valuable insights, and grow your brand, social media management is vital for businesses of any size and type.
Top 6 Reasons Why You Need Social Media Management
1. Increase brand awareness
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms are a natural place to reach over half of the world’s population as new and highly targeted potential customers. These sites provide excellent marketing opportunities for brands to connect with people and promote products and services.
2. Humanize your brand
One of the key benefits of social media management for business is to create meaningful relationship moments with existing and future followers. Highlight customer feedback and testimonials to the public, show how you’re upholding your brand values, and prove that you’re putting the interests of your customers and employees first.
3. Establish your brand as a thought leader
People are looking to brands for insight, information, and in-depth analysis on a wide range of topics. No matter what industry your business is in, there’s no better place to share that than social media. Your content offers the opportunity to establish your brand as a thought leader – the go-to source for information on topics related to your niche.
4. Stay top of mind
According to a 2021 study by Pew Research Center, 70% of social media users log into their accounts at least once per day. This gives you amazing opportunities to connect with fans and followers. Keep your social posts entertaining and informative to keep you top of mind when they’re ready to make a purchase.
5. Boost sales
The process through which a new contact becomes a customer (or what is called sales funnel) is directly influenced by your social media activities. The time is right to align your social marketing efforts with sales goals.
6. Go viral
Your content is exposed to new audiences as people start liking, commenting on, and sharing your social posts. Take this concept one step further and go viral! This could potentially get thousands or even millions of shares which will generate useful leads for your business.
STAY ON TOP OF THE EVOLVING SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD
Manage your Facebook presence alongside your other social media channels with the help of experts from ClinkIT Solutions. Contact us today for a free quote and witness your brand grow and succeed through social media marketing.
