Social media can be like a drug to most of the users; the more they get it, the more they want. Facebook and Twitter are used by over 2 billion people daily. The average usage of smartphones by Emiratis is 7 hours per day. Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are what keeping the people glued and increasing screen time. Since celebrities and public figures have a massive following on these apps, that’s why businesses also try to make things work for them.

Social media can rightly be termed as the fastest growing marketing sector. Having a Facebook page and a Twitter account is necessary for any company when it comes to building brand visibility and credibility. For businesses, great marketing is all about telling a story that can capture maximum number of eyeballs. And social media platforms provide them just the stage to do just that.

Incorporating apt social media strategies for the coming year can be the catalyst for the success of any company. Small businesses and startups need this more than anyone else. The following are the top 10 strategies that can work for them not only in 2020 but for many years to come.

1. Content Marketing Strategy That Works For You

Quality content is what people look for. And that’s why content marketing is so important for the success of any company. High-quality SEO optimized content with all the right ingredients like the use of catchy phrases and CTAs can make for great reading and optimum results too. Through the implementation of an fitting strategy, great content can drive an organic traffic to your business.

2. Personalized Experience for Customers

We all love being taken care of, and personalized experience online is one way to treat your customers well. Chatbots are not only a great way to automate daily tasks, but when implemented properly, can offer companies to create a truly personalized and immersive experiences for their customers. A chatbot is one digital tool that has the potential to get the attention of potential customers so that they feel comfortable with it. And what better way to integrate it within social media platforms.

3. Community Marketing

Getting the followers for a page is not that difficult but to keep them engaged for a long time can be difficult. Make the visitors on your social media pages think that your company exists in the real world too. Thus, portraying the true personality of your company through humor and emotions can make people relate to your brand very quickly. Don’t commit the mistake of posting the same type of posts.

Companies can make their communications interactive through community building. Some smart ways to do this is by asking questions from them, gather their opinions, and share reliable news and in-depth analysis by acting as an authority on the subject.

4. Allocate the Right Budget

Spending millions on marketing for big conglomerates is a routine thing, but for startups and SMEs, it is a different case altogether. Thus, these companies need to allocate just the right budget to their social media campaigns. Above all, a comprehensive strategy is needed to reach their potential customers and get the desired ROI. Companies must understand that social media is used by everyone on a personal level. That’s why companies must act swiftly to develop a deep bond with their target audience.

5. Video to Rule as the Primary Type of Content

Short videos are going to be the key when it comes to reaching out to target audiences. Not many people have time to read long blogs that can take 10 minutes or more. A short video, around 30 seconds or a little more, can offer much information to the audience in a versatile and engaging form. Social media is designed for people to connect and share content, and a video can go viral in no time at all. This can have stellar ROI for the company, which has produced the video.

6. Focus on Augmented Reality (AR)

Just like Snapchat made it big by using filters related to dogs and flowers, for example, AR can offer businesses much more than that. Much like the stories feature, a product can be presented in a different way to the target audience through popular social media platforms. And it is not just about fancy filters; games like “Pokémon Go” has shown the world the potential is endless as this technology can offer engaging social media content such as live AR events, videos and enhance the display of products online.

7. Primary Source of Sales for eCommerce Stores

Companies who rely on e-commerce stores on social media marketing need to rejoice as good times are ahead for them. With social media becoming popular, features like a Facebook marketplace or Instagram store are not far away and without a doubt social media platforms will start to dominate. With stellar features, social media platforms are going to rule the online marketplace as shopping online will be more of a fun activity rather than a treacherous one.

8. Running a Social Media Contest

For years, free giveaways and coupons have attracted people to visit a website or fill out a survey form to win big. Similarly, running a contest on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can effectively yield fruit. The strategy behind social media contests was to get followers, but now brands are interacting with their audiences by focusing on engaging content and connecting with social media users.

Companies can expect to turn existing followers into a community, attract new followers and raise brand recall and feedback from the target audience.

9. New Kids on the Block

The rise of new social media platforms will also benefit new businesses who think that making a name for themselves is very difficult. Tik Tok is one example as the platform has taken the world by storm and has attracted the teen crowd and young adults from across the globe. With over 500 million active users worldwide, the potential for celebrity endorsements, just like Instagram and Facebook is enormous. And businesses need to seriously think Tik Tok as a way to increase their reach to their audience.

10. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Professional Networks

Just like social media, the power of professional networking sites like LinkedIn can’t be ruled out. It is one of the most underrated factors that is not used by many companies. It is one of the emerging social strategies. Companies need to treat your LinkedIn page as a continuous campaign that will yield positive results for sure. The use of banners and CTAs can make visitors look at your page with interest drive traffic back to your website.

Over to you

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