The impact of social media compared to commercial ads

It's no secret that social media has changed the marketing landscape. Where commercial ads used to be the primary way for businesses to reach their target audiences, that's no longer the case.?Nearly everyone is on at least one social media platform, and many people are on multiple. With such a huge potential audience, it's no surprise that businesses are clamoring to get a piece of the social media pie.

The Impact of Social Media on Marketing

There's no doubt that social media has changed the way businesses market their products and services. Thanks to platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, businesses now have a direct way to connect with their target audiences.

One of the biggest advantages of social media marketing is that it allows businesses to connect with their customers on a more personal level. Through social media, businesses can humanize their brands and build relationships with their customers. This wasn't possible with commercial ads, which were often seen as impersonal and intrusive.?

Another advantage of social media marketing is that it's highly targeted. thanks to features like Facebook's interest-based targeting, businesses can make sure that their content is being seen by people who are actually interested in what they have to offer. This wasn't possible with commercial ads, which were usually broad in nature and not targeted specifically to any one audience.?

However, there are some disadvantages of social media marketing as well. One of the biggest is that it takes up a lot of time. Unlike commercial ads, which can be created and aired at a slower pace, creating effective social media content takes time, effort, and urgency in order to jump on trends. For businesses short on time and resources, this can be a major drawback.?

Another consideration is reach. Even though nearly 70% of Americans are active social media users, that doesn't mean they're all seeing your posts. In fact, due to algorithm changes, organic reach on platforms like Facebook has been declining for years. This means that unless you're paying to boost your posts, there's a good chance that only a small percentage of your target audience is actually seeing them.?

Commercial Ads vs. Social Media

The good news is that you don't have to choose between commercial ads and social media—you can (and should) use both! Commercials are still an incredibly effective way to reach people, especially if you're targeting specific demographics like age, gender, location, etc. And thanks to platforms like YouTube and Hulu, you can now target your commercials even more specifically by running them before or during shows that your target audience is likely to watch.?

When combined with a solid social media strategy, commercials can help ensure that you're reaching the widest possible audience with your message. So don't write off either method—use them both to create a well-rounded marketing campaign!