It’s 2023 — Get on the Social Media Marketing Train (If You’re Not Already)
In today’s world, digital marketing isn’t an option; it’s how you grow your business and build brand loyalty. People need to know who you are and why they should continuously choose you as a brand. Social media marketing in 2023 is an affordable and effective way to ensure your brand gets the market saturation it needs. One of the best ways to get recurring customers is simply reminding them you’re there.
Why Use Social Media?
There are billions of social media users across the globe. They use it to interact with their friends and as a way to learn about new brands. Plus, customers following and interacting with your social media is great social proof for potential customers checking to see if you’re legit or not.
But not all social media content is the same, just like the social network it’s on. Each one has different demographics and reasons why users log on. Depending on the social media platform, someone could strictly be there to communicate with friends and family while others are networking for their careers and applying for jobs.
Top Social Media Platforms
We know; there are tons of social media platforms out there, and it feels impossible to choose where your brand should spend most of its time (and marketing budget). By concentrating on one or two social media channels, you can create high-quality content that fits each platform. Much of this comes down to who your target audience is and what you’re trying to do there. Are you implementing a content strategy or just want to up your social media presence? These things matter whether you’re finding potential customers or keeping current ones interested.
Facebook is the largest platform and is ideal for reaching the 40+ demographic (yes, your mom is probably on Facebook). The content can be shared in images, videos, slideshows, and direct messages.
Instagram is part of Meta, the parent company of Facebook. The target audience is a bit younger than Facebook (31.2% are between 25 and 34), and there’s a heavier reliance on images and videos. A block of text won’t fly here.
Twitter is focused on breaking news and being able to engage with influencers. The demographics are 61% male, with 42% of active users between the ages of 18 and 29.
TikTok
TikTok is primarily short-form videos. In-feed ads and hashtag challenge ads are the most popular options for marketers. The demographic is one of the youngest, with some users as young as 13.
LinkedIn is primarily for those in business and seeking jobs. There’s a significant amount of networking. The demographic is equally split between males and females, but 58.4% of active users are between 25 and 34.
Snapchat
If you’re trying to talk to Gen Z, head over to Snapchat. It’s one of the more casual platforms with a single image and video ads being used. Most Snapchat users are between 16 and 24, though they can be both younger and older.
YouTube
YouTube is the king of content creation. Here, you can share long-form videos, whether it’s made by your team or you’re sharing user-generated content (UGC). YouTube has a wide range of demographics, with 81% of adults in the U.S. actively using the platform.
BeReal
BeReal is one of the newest apps to hit the market. Its primary focus is to (get this) be real with your followers and not sugarcoat your posts or curate a social media strategy. Users range from ages 16 to 44, with barely anyone over 45 stepping a digital footprint here.
2023 Social Media Marketing Trends
If you’re going to bother keeping up with a social media presence, you gotta stay hip. You don’t want to be constantly catching up with last year’s trends.
1. Influencer Marketing & Content Creator Partnerships
Influencer marketing sounds like a scary endeavor, but it’s really quite simple. And it’s not just for the big dogs anymore! Small businesses can get in on the fun, too. Content creators (that’s what they like to be called nowadays) range from mega all the way down to micro-influencers. These smaller content creators, even though they have fewer followers, can still make a big difference — especially if they fit in with your target audience. Create a long-term partnership with content creators to feel all the mutual benefits.
2. Short-Form Video Content Is Growing
Thanks to TikTok, short-form video content is having a moment. On TikTok, content creators post videos – typically less than three minutes – that are easy for users to watch and share. This type of content is so popular that other social media platforms felt the pressure to launch their own: enter Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
3. Repurposing Content
The first step is to create high-quality content. Then, you can do so much more with it. Write a blog for search engine optimization (SEO), then talk about that topic on a podcast. Don’t reinvent the wheel; use what you got — but keep the social network in mind! A post that does well on Instagram might not feel right on LinkedIn. For example, you can edit an educational webinar about your product’s new feature into a TikTok video, but you better make sure it resonates, or the algorithm will bury it.
It’s important to understand that social media trends are always changing. Social media marketing nerds like us keep up with that kind of stuff.
How to Capitalize on Your Social Media Landscape
Social media doesn’t have to cost anything. The reality is that plenty of people go viral every day – and there’s no reason you can’t be one of them. However, it takes a significant amount of planning and effort to capitalize on the social media landscape.
There are some steps you need to take:
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- Determine your audience
- Determine your marketing goals
- Establish yourself on one (or more) social platforms
- Begin branding yourself with content
- Keep up your social media presence for proper brand awareness
- Measure (and evaluate) social media metrics
Enough Stalling! Call the Experts.
Social media marketing in 2023 is a huge part of a great content marketing strategy, but you need the right tools to do it. At Lift Marketing, we’re great at social media management for brand awareness, advertising, content creation, or anything, really. Give us a call today and #GetLifted.
