It was between 2003 and 2004 that we were first introduced to social media sites like Facebook and MySpace. However, back then, we mostly used those platforms to reconnect with family and friends. And many used those sites to play multiplayer online games.
At some point, we weren’t only using social media to share photos and statuses with our network. We were also using our accounts to share our consumer experiences, such as raving or ranting about a product or service. And if you were an entrepreneur, you may have even used social media to invite your connections to support your business. The popularity of social networking sites eventually gave rise to social media marketing. And even big brands noticed the power of social media and created business pages to promote their products and services to their audience.
The Evolution of Social Media and Social Media Marketing
When you think about it, social media has been leveraged as a marketing tool for almost two decades. And over that time, new social media platforms have risen in power, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, and TikTok. Beyond that, social media platforms continued to evolve. Some rebranded, introduced new features, announced new policies, and some ceased to exist.
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also announced algorithms that would change the user’s experience. This change dramatically disrupted marketing strategies. With algorithms dictating content placement on users’ feeds, marketers struggled to maintain their visibility and continue to engage with their audiences.
Many of the changes in the social media landscape occurred in the past few years. So if you’re still using the same social media marketing strategies from 10 or even five years ago, you’ve probably noticed that you’re not getting as much from social media as you once did. Ask yourself the following questions. And if you answer “no,” your social media marketing strategy may now be outdated.
- Are you on social media channels most used by your target audience?
- Are you able to sell products directly from your social media business page?
- Are you using paid advertising?
- Do you have a content strategy and follow a content calendar?
- Are you posting stories or video content?
- Have you considered using TikTok as a marketing tool?
- Do you run a monthly social media audit?
- Do you use analytics to identify your top-performing content?
- Have you considered paid ads on smaller networks like Snapchat and Pinterest?
- Have you invested in social customer care? Do you feel you deliver effective customer support through your social media accounts?
- Have you considered collaborating with influencers or amateur content creators?
If you’ve answered “no” to most or all of these questions, it’s time to revisit your social media marketing strategy. Social media trends continue to change as users and consumer demand evolve. And if you want to stay competitive, you should be updated on the latest social media trends.
For more on social media marketing and business opportunities, connect with me today.
