You’re probably aware that brands are using social media to grow their businesses, but do you know how to get started?
Instagram used to be an app for ‘want-to-be’ tumblr users; it was a place where you would post the food you ate or where you went for your morning coffee, but now it is just a marketing tool, similar to billboards.
Local Rwandan entrepreneur Johnson Runuya, also known as Johnson the Baker, began his small business with little money to invest in marketing such as billboards and advertising, and let’s be honest, no young person has that kind of money to invest in marketing.
Investing in billboards and advertising, while once the most popular form of marketing, is no longer the case today.
Brands have been able to reach the exact customers they are looking for by using social media. With over 1 billion Instagram users, you can easily use its algorithms to reach your target audience.
Runuya believes that social media is the most cost-effective way for SMEs and startups to advertise. “It is the best way to advertise without spending a lot of money,” he said.
Conversations, community, connecting with the audience, and building relationships are all part of social media. When sharing information, honesty, authenticity, and open communication are essential.
Want to know how to run a successful social media marketing campaign?
How to market your products on social media
To reach your target audience and engage them with your content, you must use social media tools such as boosting.
“You have to understand your target audience and demographics; this has helped us grow; our Instagram page has gained over 6000 followers in the last two years,” he said.
You must first engage with your customers; they want to feel as if they have a relationship with a brand. Assist prospective customers in feeling connected to your brand.
Customers feel like they’re getting to know your company when you share how you make a product or post an accelerated version of creating a new window display. This type of post can also assist you in filling content gaps and posting consistently on your channels.
Customers feel engaged and a sense of community and trust is built as a result of Johnson the Baker’s tutorials on how the company makes different cakes.
“You must even share your customers’ feedback, and you can hold games, competitions, challenges, and giveaways.”
He mentioned one of the campaigns that helped them gain followers, in which people would participate in a challenge to win a cake.
Post consistently
It is all about consistency in social media, as well as providing your customers and potential customers with a sense of uniqueness and entertainment.
You must feed their minds with your products, but you must ensure that it is authentic and entertaining for them. People get bored easily, so they will always need to see a reason to return to your page.
Remember to create posts that help customers understand why they need your product and how they can get more out of it.
You’ll make it easier for everyone who visits your social media platform to learn more about your company. You’ll also indicate your willingness to communicate with customers one-on-one. Maintain a two-way conversation.
Partner with other brands
Partnerships are something that many brands overlook. Working with other brands can also help you gain exposure.
When you collaborate with other brands, you are also interacting with their community and customer base. For example, a clothing company may collaborate with a photographer, or a rug company may collaborate with a painter.
It is all about collaboration, but also remembering to associate yourself with brands that share your values.
A perk: You can track the return on your investment
An important aspect of social media marketing is the ability to track your progress and determine whether the investment is worthwhile.
Instagram, for example, provides insights that you can use to determine whether you are getting a good return on investment (ROI).
In this digital age, social media marketing is a powerful tool for young entrepreneurs who do not have a lot of money to invest in traditional marketing.
“Success depends on good products, good marketing and good service.”- Johnson Runuya, young entrepreneur.
