Social Media Marketing in 2023: Going Beyond Likes and Followers

Social media marketing has become essential to any business’s digital marketing strategy. With over 3.6 billion active users on social media platforms, ongoing growth of social media platforms and the increasing amount of time people spend on them, it offers a unique opportunity for businesses to reach their target audiences in a more personal and engaging way.

It has come a long way from its early days when the only metric that mattered was the number of likes and followers you had. In recent years, social media platforms have also integrated features that go beyond the traditional like and follower metrics such as live-streaming, stories, and messaging. These features allow for real-time communication and interactive content, which are important for building a community and engaging with followers.

However, many businesses focus solely on increasing their number of likes and followers, without fully utilizing the potential of social media marketing.

In this article, we will explore some ways businesses can go beyond likes and followers to achieve real results through this effective digital marketing strategy.

1. Define your target audience

The first step in creating a successful social media marketing strategy is to define your target audience. This includes understanding their demographics, interests, and pain points. Once you clearly understand your target audience, you can create content that resonates with them and create ads that are more likely to be seen by them. Additionally, you can use social media insights and analytics to track the performance of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

2. Create engaging content

Creating different types of content is key to keeping your followers interested and engaged. This can include informative blog posts, infographics, videos, and live streams. Additionally, businesses can use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to showcase their products and services through creative visuals and short-form videos.

3. Utilize paid advertising

While organic reach on social media can be limited, paid advertising allows businesses to reach a larger audience and achieve specific goals. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer various targeting options, such as demographics, interests, and behaviors, which can be used to reach specific segments of your target audience. Additionally, businesses can use paid advertising to drive website traffic, increase brand awareness, and generate leads.

4. Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing involves partnering with individuals with a significant social media following to promote your products or services. This can help increase brand awareness and credibility and drive sales. Additionally, influencer marketing can help businesses reach new and specific audiences.

5. Measure and analyze the performance

It’s important to regularly measure and analyze the performance of your social media marketing efforts to understand what’s working and what’s not. Instead of focusing solely on metrics such as likes, shares, and followers, businesses should track key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with their marketing goals, such as website traffic, lead generation, and sales. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide built-in analytics tools that can help you track the performance of your posts, ads, and overall account. Additionally, businesses can use third-party tools to track key performance indicators, such as website traffic, conversions, and ROI.

Overall, social media marketing is about much more than just likes and followers. It is a multifaceted tool that can be used to achieve a wide range of goals and objectives, from building relationships and driving sales to network and community building. In 2023, it will be an ever-evolving field, requiring businesses to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in order to effectively reach and engage with their target audiences.

If you want to learn more about digital marketing, you can listen and subscribe on our Spotify, Google, and Apple accounts. Webinar episodes are free to watch on Truelogic Inc. YouTube Channel.