The Innovative Ways These Social Media Platforms Have Revolutionized Communication
Using social media has become a necessity in today’s world. It has become so pervasive that people are no longer able to conduct their daily activities without using it. From connecting with friends and family to staying informed of news, social media has integrated itself into everything we do. The ease of use and instant gratification it offers have made it practically irresistible for the masses. With the advent of social media came its users as well as its marketers. The second group was able to learn from the first due to their similar natural tendencies—responding quickly to stimuli, thinking visually, and being agile communicators who can adapt to change quickly. These same qualities that made brands successful on social media helped make these platforms revolutionary communication tools for everyone else as well. Here is why:
YouTube and Instagram: A brief history of how they came to be
The idea for a video sharing site was first conceived in 2005 by former UCLA student and entrepreneur, Jae-Myung (Tae) Park. It was called “Ode.” After Ode was acquired by Google, the new owner rebranded the site as “YouTube.” In 2006, YouTube was launched as a way for parents to share their children’s videos by uploading their own videos and get free YouTube views. Over the years, it has become a platform for everyone to share their content, from musicians to sports stars. It was not until 2015, however, did it introduce an option for brands to create sponsored videos. Instagram was created in October 2010 by Canadian developer, Mike Koudas. It was acquired by Facebook in September 2012 and rebranded simply as “Instagram.” The app’s main goal is to help people share images on the platform. From images of food to vacation snapshots, the app enables people to easily share their content and get free followers.
How Brands Are Utilizing social media to Grow Their Business
Social media has been known to boost brand equity. It has been proven to boost brand awareness, increase customer engagement, and draw new customers. The most common ways to use social media to boost your brand equity are by driving organic search traffic, increasing brand favorability, and increasing sales. Drive organic search traffic: social media can boost organic traffic to your website by driving repeat visitors and new visitors to your website. You can boost traffic by posting engaging content, engaging with your audience, optimizing your posts, and getting engagement with your post’s comments. Increase brand awareness: social media can increase brand awareness by making it easier for your target audience to find you. People who search for your brand on social media sites are more likely to find your website and make purchases.
How Consumers Are Using social media to Grow Their Brands
The rise of social media has made it possible for brands to tap into the power of word of mouth (WOM). Today, consumers are more likely to share positive experiences about brands than negative experiences. This not only increases brand equity but also builds brand trust. Now, brands are tapping into this trend by partnering with influencers who can harness the power of WOM. Brands are also creating content that is relatable to consumers’ daily lives. By partnering with social influencers, brands can create authentic and shareable content. For instance, a fashion label could partner with a social media influencer to create content centered on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. The content can then be shared and commented on by the consumer audience of the influencer.
Current Challenges for Brand Communications on social media
There are several challenges that brands are currently facing when using social media. One of the biggest challenges is how to appropriately measure the success of the campaign. Success can be measured in different ways, such as increasing brand equity, boosting traffic, and increasing likes and comments on content. Another challenge is the difficulty of finding a balance between the right amount of content for the right audience. According to a study, brands are creating too much content for their social media posts. A lot of brands are simply posting new content daily, which is not beneficial for engagements and conversions. A better approach is to create engaging and relevant content that also has a strong visual appeal.
It’s Not Just About Connecting with Brands; It’s About Building Relationships Too
When it comes to connecting with brands, the most important thing is to make the connection. The connection should be genuine and honest. It should not be done just for the sake of connecting with a brand. Brands should be connected to your audience on a personal level. For example, if you are a beauty vlogger, you can start a conversation with your followers by asking them questions, sharing photos of them, or even commenting on their photos. You can also ask Q&A with your followers to help them get to know you better. For brands, connecting with your audience should be more than just connecting with your fans. It should be done in a way that builds a relationship with your audience.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that social media has become a necessary part of the marketing mix for brands. From driving organic traffic to boosting brand awareness, social media has become an effective tool for growing business. However, with the rise of new social channels, many brands struggle to find their own voice and efficiently communicate with their target audience. It can be challenging to navigate these channels and create engaging content that drives engagement. It’s important to remember that social media is more than just a channel for brands to post advertisements. It’s an essential tool for connecting with consumers, building relationships, and creating positive experiences for both brands and their followers.
