Social Media Marketing

 

Social media is everywhere and is one of the largest, and easiest, ways to get people connected and involved. Whether it is for personal use or business, social media has endless uses. I find that social media and its use in marketing to be one of the most interesting aspects of social media. 

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-iphone-showing-social-networks-folder-607812/

So, what is social media marketing? The informational YouTube video created by Simplilearn below helps explain what exactly social media marketing is, and why it is helpful. In this video, you will learn how an author, Phil, uses social media to help sell and bring awareness to his new book. This video explains what digital marketing is and how the social media part of digital marketing can provide advantages in spreading the word about a product, service, or campaign.  It explains the advertising options that social media platforms provide that can help a business advertise for a lower cost than traditional advertisements. (Simplilearn, 2020)

Social Media Marketing In 5 Minutes | What Is Social Media Marketing?

Using social media for marketing can be a very powerful tool. Per Forbes, integrating social media into a company’s social media strategy can help build brand awareness and reputation by allowing businesses to amply their brand visibility.  Social media marketing also helps businesses engage with customers and build relationships with the click of a button. Being active and timely on social media can also build trust with your consumers by creating an online or virtual community. This can also help drive traffic to your business. For example, having a strong social media presence may persuade consumers to visit their website, which could inspire them to make a purchase, resulting in revenue. Another way that social media marketing is powerful is through user-generated content. User-generated content inspires consumers to share experiences and create their own content that could be related to the business. This could be done through partnering with local social media influencers and having them create user-generated content. (Joshi, 2024)

One may wonder, “how can I develop the best social media strategy”? Well, you can start by following the below guide. (Joshi, 2024)

• Develop a social media strategy that outlines goals, targets, specific platforms, and performance expectations.
• Use high quality content that is engaging and valuable to your target audience.
• Keep your profile optimized to ensure that they are easy to use, easy to find, and appealing to the eye.
• Engage with your audience to keep them involved and intrigued.
• Analyze what is working and what is not working for your business.
• Keep up with the trends and use ones that could drive more business.

Photo by Cup of Couple: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-man-holding-paper-cutouts-in-the-shape-of-conversational-clouds-8015694/

As mentioned, many companies use social media as part of their marketing strategy. A part of a business’s social media market strategy could be a social media campaign. Per Meltwater, a social media campaign is planned events strategically placed over a specific time period, designed to achieve certain goals and targets, that can also be tracked and measured. Social media campaigns are specific to social media. There are numerous social media campaigns run each year but many companies. However, there are a few that stand out the most. For example, Little Cesar’s ran a “Burn the Burns” campaign that took a person from a famous meme, “disaster girl”, and recreated it with Disaster Girl burning signs that displayed negative comments about the company and its pizza, essentially burning the “burns.” (Kiely, 2024) 

Another successful social media campaign is McDonald’s “As Featured In” campaign and collaborations. This is a social media campaign where McDonald’s offered meals that sparked nostalgia in consumers by collaborating with pop-culture icons such as Richie Rich, Space Jam, and the Fifth Element. (Kiely, 2024)

Another notable social media campaign is Heinz ketchup’s “Ketchup Insurance” campaign. Heinz is aware that their condiment can be messy and lead to stains and spills. They launched their ketchup insurance campaign where consumers in the United Arab Emirates can file claims when a stain or spill happens. These claims can result in home cleanings, home repairs, and sometimes spa treatments. This campaign is considered successful as it takes unfortunate moments and creates them into a good memory with even better outcomes. (Kiely, 2024)

As you can see, social media can be a key marketing strategy. It is low cost and can have endless benefits for a business. It is an easy way to get your business or brand’s name into the hands of your target audience in the matter of minutes, and spark conversation and community between your business and its direct consumers. If you had a business, would you use social media in your marketing strategy? If so, what parts of social media marketing would you implement in your marketing strategy?

References: 

Joshi, V. (2024, October 9). The Power of Social Media in Modern Marketing. Forbes.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/10/09/the-power-of-social-media-in-modern-marketing/ Article: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/10/09/the-power-of-social-media-in-modern-marketing/

Kiely, T. (2024, December 17). 10 of the Top Social Media Campaigns of 2024. Meltwater.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.meltwater.com/en/blog/top-social-media-campaigns

[Simplilearn]. (2020, October 21). Social Media Marketing in 5 Minutes | What is Social Media Marketing? [For Beginners] | Simplilearn [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2pwcAVonKI