Long before Facebook was the social giant it is today, the humble beginnings of social media can be traced back to the early message boards and blogging websites of the late 1990s. It wasn't until MySpace and LinkedIn popped up on 2003 that social media began to change into how we know it now. From 2007, Facebook allowed us to create business pages for our brands which really changed the way we could interact with our customers. Whether we like it or not, social media is here to stay, and these are our top 5 reasons why your business should have a presence on social media, and more importantly, have a Social Media Marketing Strategy.

1. It is cost effective

When compared to traditional advertising mediums, having a social media presence is essentially free. From there you can scale up or down the level of activity you want to commit to. Facebook and Instagram make it really easy to specify a budget for paid campaigns, and then maximise the potential of who sees your posts. This is a great risk-free way to trial new ideas and to get your brand in front of new eyes. On top of that, loyal customers who like and share your page is free advertising that money can't buy.

2. Get to know your audience

Unlike traditional marketing campaigns such as magazine ads or web banners, with social media you get instant feedback (whether positive or negative) on how you are doing. If the campaign is going well you can immediately see likes and shares on your posts. If there is room for improvement, customers can leave real time feedback in the form of comments. Over time you start to get a feel of what your target audience enjoys, and you can give them more of that kind of content.

3. Give your message purpose and structure

Rather than being reactive to current events on an adhoc basis, a well thought out content calendar means you will be aware of upcoming events and public holidays well in advance and can begin to piece together a meaningful message that reflects the tone of your brand. It also means you gradually hype upcoming promotions and events ahead of time, giving each message space and room to breathe, rather than bombarding them with information all at the last minute.

4. Customer service

Have you ever waited on hold for hours, only to never speak to the person who can answer your question? Having a dedicated Social Media Community Manager means your customers questions can be responded to in a timely manner, in turn making them feel valued. You can also use your content calendar as a way to reach out to your customers and start new conversations. By directing the conversation, you can remain top of mind and drive new business opportunities.

5. Improve SEO

Use your content calendar as an opportunity to highlight new content on your website. Whether you have a monthly blog, have recently had a website revamp , or have just updated your services page, use it as a chance to drive more traffic to your website. Search engines know which websites are earning new traffic and which ones are just floating out there forgotten and ignored. A steady flow of traffic to your website is a great way to boost its search engine rating.

For more information on how a Lumberjack Creative Social Media Content Strategy can work for your business, let’s catch up over a coffee.