Why Social Media is an Important Part of Inbound Marketing

Now that social media has been around for over 25 years, we can assume it’s less of a fad and more of a foundational communication tool used by people of all ages, genders, and lifestyles. If your business has clients, chances are they regularly spend time on one of the many popular social media platforms. 

This also means that if your business has clients, you must be on social media. It’s an integral part of any successful business's inbound marketing strategy. 

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What is Inbound Marketing?

First, let’s talk about inbound marketing. Inbound marketing is a more personal way to connect with your audience and draw them in. In contrast with outbound marketing (ex., advertisements), inbound marketing uses curated and valuable content to attract and engage clients by offering to solve their problems or make their lives easier. 

As you develop your inbound marketing strategy, here’s why you should consider social media as one of the primary elements. 

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Benefits of Using Social Media in Your Inbound Marketing Strategy

Consumers are less interested in how cool you think your product is or how unique you think your services are and more interested in connecting with your Brand. It’s not a one-sided transaction anymore. The people most likely to convert are those who find your content engaging or helpful and are happy to be associated with your Brand. How does social media accomplish this?

• Improves your Brand position
• Engenders trust among followers and consumers
• Provides opportunities to build a long-term relationship
• Reaches your audience where they already are 

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As we said, this is a two-way street. Your company also benefits from engaging on these platforms. Social media is also:

• A sustainable and cost-effective marketing tool
• More effective in generating relevant leads than traditional advertising
• Improves your online visibility 

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Now that we’ve talked about the value of social media as an inbound marketing tool, here comes the most important part: how.

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Inbound Social Media Marketing Strategies 

There’s a lot we could say about social media marketing strategies and how to use them to generate Brand awareness and leads. Here are a few of our favorites to help you get started.

1. Know your audience and your platforms. Most businesses don’t need an account on every social media platform. Find out where your target audience hangs out, and focus your efforts on those platforms. 
2. Use videos. Social media users spend a lot of time watching videos online and are more likely to engage with video content than photos or text. 
3. Utilize boosting! These days, social media algorithms favor the posts already getting attention. Even putting $50 towards promoting a few of your best social posts can make a huge difference. 
4. Track and measure your content. Each month, review which posts had the most impressions and engagements. This will tell you what your audience likes to see! Adapt your content as you learn more. 

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Remember: if you post consistently and provide content valuable to your audience, you’re halfway there. If you want to know more about how to develop a dedicated social media strategy, we’d love to talk!

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