We Love Social Media. Here’s Why.

The first in a series of blog posts about the pains, pleasures, and the considerable marketing potential of Social Media.

Building your social media platform is an excellent way to make your brand’s presence felt and absolutely worth the time and attention. Social posts have an immediacy unlike any other form of marketing, and for that reason have the potential to be uniquely exciting. Don’t let yourself be fooled by the casual nature of social posts however. A savvy social media presence is carefully planned.

The first step to a strong social presence is having a robust sense of your company’s unique brand and the voice you want representing it. How you present your brand over social media will likely determine the feel your future clientele get about your company. Smart and capable is a must, but are you funny? Quirky? Up on current events? Community focused? The way that you represent yourself through these posts determines a great deal of the first touch. Consider your existing clientele, as well as who you are looking to attract moving forward. Millennials, slow as they are to purchase homes and cars, will increasingly gain influence as a purchasing power, and social media is an easy way to gain knowledge about your company.

With this in mind, it is essential to consider how your company’s social media presence jives with your current media strategy and website. While you can gain traction through social media as a more informal outlet, you will want a sense of brand integrity. There should be a good relationship between your overall media strategy and the way you present yourself on social media. A good social media presence walks the line between approachable and professional.

Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun with it! Social media is this amazing place where you have the opportunity to participate with your clients and connect as a community. While it is a challenging medium that requires finesse and creativity, using social media can also allow you to reach your customers in a humorous and human way. It’s meant to be fun and engaging, and a little spontaneity never hurts!

Next up: 5 cool social media sites doing it right.