My recent learnings - Social Media Marketing

I'm a firm believer that every day is a school day and I recognise that I won't know everything there is to know about marketing. After all there are over 250 different types.

That was the mindset that I went into a social media workshop with this week. I was one of three presenters at the event held at Spark House and I was giving small businesses an insight into social media marketing - the importance for start-ups.

Some of the lessons I'd shared were:

- Post consistently using multichannel marketing and when you do, make sure you add value.

- Where possible, own the asset.

- Fish where the fish are.

The feedback so far has been fantastic, but I was equally thrilled by the chance to glean insights from my fellow speakers Thomas Atkins and Caz Grant . Social media marketing is like riding a roller coaster; the moment you think you’ve got a handle on things, the ride takes another twist. That's why it’s vital to keep learning and adapting.

One of the key takeaways from the other presenters was the importance of humanising your content. It's important to recognise that people buy from people and that we, as individuals often have larger followings than the brand we represent. This is certainly the case when it comes to small businesses. Our personal brands can help drive attention and build recognition for the brand or company we work for. This underscores the necessity of maintaining an active presence on platforms where your audience is already engaged.

During this week's session, Tommy also told us that it's ok to use AI to help us with content ideas and showed us that essentially, you get out what you put in. Feed the AI engine with good commands and prompts and you'll benefit from better ideas. When used correctly, it can provide ideas to humanise your brand and foster a deeper connection with your audience.

All three of us referenced the importance of video-based marketing. Caz explained that she'd already been recording, Tommy told us about the videos he drops on socials every Tuesday and I mentioned how in a world where we have less patience and scroll constantly, video is more likely to stop that scroll.

I love data and I made that clear to the audience. I set up websites specifically to help collect data, to build lists and to understand trends. This data gives me better analytics that I can use for marketing.

Let’s not forget the power of analytics. Monitoring and analysing your social media metrics can also provide invaluable insights into what’s working and what isn’t. Tools like Google Analytics, Hootsuite, and Buffer can help you track engagement, reach, and conversion rates. This data-driven approach allows you to refine your strategies and improve your ROI.

The workshop also emphasised the importance of keeping up with new trends. For example, short-form video content is currently king, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels leading the charge. According to a report by Wyzowl, 84% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. This is a clear indication that investing in video content can significantly boost your marketing efforts.

In conclusion, the landscape of social media marketing is ever-changing, but by staying informed, leveraging analytics, and consistently providing value to your audience, you can navigate the twists and turns.

Keep posting, keep engaging, and keep learning!