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Is social media still effective as a marketing tool?

With more than 300 social networks available on the market we tend to ask the question if all this posting is worth the hassle and if people even read post made by a small business. In some cases when organizations use social media as a marketing tool the messages can be seen as span, but there are a few ways in which social media can still be used effectively as a marketing tool which will now be discussed:

Community orientated

One of the advantages of running a small business page is the community in which it subsides. Posting about the annual cherry festival the town hosts and where your company will be contributing makes you part of the community. This can make people more open to your company and see it as part of their everyday lives because you are part of newsworthy events or actions in their direct community.

Effective campaigns

Having an effective and striking campaign can really enhance participation from followers. Doing something striking like a game or puzzle that does not require too much effort from the user  can help your company strike jackpot and bring a playful element to your page and not just another advertisement post. Examples are Purple Lucozade campaign and Infinity chewing gum campaign.

Interesting

If your posts are interesting people will stop and stare, using your unique brand attributes that you have developed in your social media your page is supposed to stand out and attract more attention. Like Savanna, a alcoholic beverage, who’s brand is a very dry but funny brand who made this post:

“Are you following us on Instagram yet? We've got some awesome, never-before seen images from behind the scenes at our TVC shoots.”

Could have rather said something that would complement their brand and is similar  like:

”Josh saw that he had a new follower, his neighbour Araujo; the camera in the kitchen kind of gave it away. Now he spends his free time following back, all the way back to his gangs head counters, it seems like the right thing to do. Savannah its dry, but you can drink it. Follow us on Instagram for inside photo’s and video’s of Josh’s “last words”, oh Araujo with his jokes.

Selling the essence of the product, not the product

Selling the feel of a product’s experience rather than giving information about the product can attract more users. When selling a barbecue sell the feeling of braai (Barbecuing), when selling a laptop sell the feeling of being connected and when selling a loan sell the experience of being in control and owning something.

With social media it is important to remember that you are entering a social environment and anything that you would normally discuss at a social event can be used if you are not going to talk about the triple cartridges that a printer could offer for only R499, then don’t advertise it that way.