Is Social Media Marketing Effective?

Social media is everywhere, and everyone you know is online. With almost 5 billion people using social media, there’s no question why it’s the go-to spot for marketing. 

We have spent the time to list the pros and cons of marketing via social media to see if you think it’ll be an effective tool for your business. 

Pros

High reach 

As previously mentioned, there are almost 5 billion people online. That’s the population of the entire world from 1987. If you weren’t alive, that stat probably wouldn’t mean a lot to you, as it doesn’t to me. Not sure why I used it. 

Five billion people is a heck of a lot of thumbs scrolling social media. This means your target market is almost certainly on social, ready and waiting to stumble across your brand, with 87% of users already shopping through social media. 

This reach allows you to reach a vast market of people who might not otherwise see your brand, from potential customers who live abroad to those who don’t search Google for items but social media search bars instead. 

Get personal 

Social media posts don’t have to be serious. These social platforms can allow you to be just that. Social! 

Get personal. Sharing behind-the-scenes content and chatting to your followers allows you to build a brand people can relate to. 

This can also allow you to share a side of your business that wouldn't sit traditionally within your website or email marketing. 

Low cost 

Unless you want to jump headfirst into social media and plan on splashing the cash on ads, social is a meagre cost. 

You can set up each social media channel for free and begin marketing immediately. You need a phone, some pictures or design assets and some snappy copy. 

Utilising hashtags and tagging others you work with can also help boost your engagement, pushing your brand name out there!  

Cons

Saturated market 

With 5 billion people online, many businesses like yours will also be on social media. The market is highly saturated from both a consumer and business standpoint. 

Other businesses online may be more established; however, you can utilise this to your advantage. Get creative and stand out from the crows. Competitor research is your best friend here. 

Time consuming 

Starting on social media and ensuring you’re consistently providing quality content can be time-consuming. 

If you’re creating in-house marketing and are just starting on social media, exploring one channel you think will work best for your brand might be your best bet! 

On the other hand, you can always outsource your marketing. Why not check out our blog post on the pros and cons of using a digital marketing agency (tag once live) 

Tracking ROI can be a lengthy process 

It’s all well and good starting your presence on social media; however, becoming established online can take time. 

Once you join your social channels, you have to build an audience through consistency and quality posting and interacting with your customers and other brands. Building brand awareness online is your biggest goal. 

This, however, can be a lengthy process and can be disheartening when you don’t see an ROI right away. Building the trust and making a name online takes time before your socials are a go-to place for purchases. 

If all of this sounds a little overwhelming for you, but you want to make the best decisions for your business, why not speak to a good old-fashioned human? 

Give us a call, and our team of experts can advise what will work best for you and your business at 01642 955370. If the phone isn’t for you, you can also reach us by filling out an online form.