Television commercials, billboards, newspaper ads – these are what people used to think about when they heard the term “marketing.” For many years, these traditional mediums were the standard, but the industry is evolving. This year, digital ad spend is set to surpass traditional ad spend for the first time in history. There are many factors influencing this change, but one of the biggest is social media. If you want your business to be prepared, it’s time to start making social media marketing a focal point in your marketing strategy, instead of an afterthought.

Here are four reasons why you need to make social media a priority for your business:

Establishes Trust and Credibility
Consumers expect brands to have a social media presence in order to establish trust. People turn to social media to learn more about brands and their products/services, which is why it’s important for your business to establish a strong social presence. Inactive or inconsistent social content can easily undermine your credibility and cause customers to seek out a different brand.

To make the most of your social accounts, it’s important to engage your followers by sharing content your audience values. In doing so, you offer more opportunities for authentic engagement and interaction to strengthen trust and brand loyalty. Making the decision to partner with a team of experts is a great way to strengthen your social presence, keep your audience invested, and attract new customers.

Measurable Results and Insights
One of the biggest selling points for social media marketing? The ease with which data can be measured for posts and advertisements. Social media platforms can track audience demographics, purchases made through ads, website clicks, and much more. The metrics and data collected can be further analyzed to determine effectiveness and how to better optimize for future campaigns. Plus, you gain better insight and understanding of your audience – something traditional marketing can’t offer.

Audience Targeting
Social media networks don’t just give people a place to showcase their unique personalities, passionate interests, and characteristic traits – they also track some of this information and make it available to marketers. While traditional marketing is typically limited to a broad region or select market, social media marketing has far fewer limitations. With social media marketing, audiences can be identified through precision targeting and reached using tailored messages. Not only can you engage people who are interested in your products or services, you can reach the people who are most likely to convert.

You’ve probably heard people question whether or not social media is “worth it” or insinuate that cutting social could be a money saver. (We have.) When it comes down to it, quality social media marketing pays off in unmatched cost-efficiency.

Social media marketing is a cost-friendly way to gain and cultivate a strong following for your business, especially when compared to traditional advertising efforts. Here’s why: Traditional marketing is more expensive, there is little to no control over where your money is spent, specific targeting isn’t an option, and it’s difficult to measure. Whereas social media marketing operates effectively with smaller budgets, offers precision targeting and customization options, allows for spend tracking, provides reporting tools, offers campaign optimization, and so much more – all with one goal in mind: to ensure you get the most for your money.

Traditional marketing will continue to serve a purpose, but social media marketing is paving the path for the future. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why more businesses continue to prioritize their social media efforts. Are you on board with social media marketing, but don’t have time to handle it yourself? Let us work our magic – reach out today!