The Growing Importance of Social Media Marketing in 2023

Posted by Lesley Haverford on September 7th, 2023

A big part of staying afloat in today’s competitive business landscape is making use of all the available marketing tools. One of the most popular tools these days happens to be social media marketing. Whether we’re talking about Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, advertising your business on social media platforms is a low-cost way to boost the visibility of your brand, increase your website traffic, and generate more revenue.

As a marketer, it’s in your best interest not to miss out on such a vital marketing tool, especially when you consider all the different benefits it offers. With that in mind, let’s discuss the growing importance of social media marketing in 2023 and how you can make it work for your business.

Social media VS search engines

Whether we’re looking for a particular brand, product or service, many of us typically use a search engine to find what we need. Or, this used to be the case. According to data published by Google, many online users – around 40% of them – actually prefer using a social media platform to look up brands. Online users also tend to use Tik Tok and Instagram to search for tutorials, and this is particularly common among Gen Z users.

This tendency to turn to social media platforms rather than search engines to search for brands is likely to continue throughout 2023 and beyond. One way to take advantage of this rising trend is to secure a strong online presence for your business. Aim for consistency regarding your username, and definitely make use of all the hashtags and keywords that are relevant. Your safest bet would be to optimize both search engines and social media to ensure your audience can easily reach you.

Real people VS brands

When developing your marketing strategy, there’s a couple of questions to keep in mind at all times: What is it that consumers want? Who do they want to hear from and what do they want to hear? After all, it is real people that you need to appeal to, so, how do you do that? The truth is, modern consumers are more interested in what real people with real-world experiences have to say about a business rather than the brand itself. It’s those people that they listen to and trust, and it’s the authenticity that they seek and value so much.

This is why social media platforms can be wonderful tools for appealing to your audience. They’re communities that consist of real people who are there to share experiences and ideas, engage in discussions, give advice, and start conversations. Given how there are 4.48 billion social media users, it’s never been more vital to build a strong digital presence and create an online community that will help make your brand more relatable and accessible.

A way to build community that relates to your brand

Relatability, trustworthiness, and loyalty – these are all things you should be aiming for as a brand. Social media marketing can be a great tool for ensuring all these and more. The question is: How do you get there? How do you earn your customers’ trust all the while staying relatable? One of the best ways to do this is to build a strong sense of community among the consumers. The aim is to create a feeling of connectedness and make consumers feel comfortable so that they’re encouraged to share, engage, and interact within that community.

Social media marketing services can be of great help when it comes to engaging with your customers – both existing and new ones. By providing interesting and relatable content, you can make sure your community is active online. At the same time, by posting valuable, shareable information and tips, you can increase your reach and significantly boost your brand awareness.

The choice of content and promotional method are vital

When it comes to creating a social media marketing campaign, it’s not only about choosing the right type of platform for your particular business. It’s also about making the right choices when it comes to the type of content you’ll be posting as well as how you’ll be promoting your business on social media. Video content is particularly popular right now, with marketers investing in short-form videos more than any other format.

As for the promotion, your best bet would be to partner with micro-influencers. Not only are they easier to get in touch compared to influencers with a large following, but they’ll get your brand in front of their own audiences and help you connect with more potential customers.

Harnessing the immense power of social media marketing

There’s no doubt that social media has become an integral part of our lives, changing the way we consume content, live, work, and purchase products and services. As a business owner, ensuring the growth of your business is vital, and a well-thought-out social media marketing strategy goes a long way in helping you thrive in the digital era. The sooner you recognize the impact this powerful tool has and start taking advantage of it, the sooner you'll reap the multiple benefits that come with it.