Image credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com With more than half of the world’s population now using social media platforms to communicate, marketing via these platforms is no longer optional for brands looking to expand their reach. Ninety-five percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 years of age are most likely to follow brands via one or more social media outlets. Global penetration rates for mobile devices are exceeding 42 percent as nearly one-million new people each day use their mobile social media devices. With high return on investment (ROI), marketers are rapidly ramping up social media marketing spend. However, achieving long-term success with social media marketing requires building partnerships and relationships with prospective consumers. The process of identifying which platform performs the best for each product and service can be complex and expensive if not managed effectively. Roberto Blake, owner of digital agency Create Awesome Media believes brands need to understand how to translate the relationships they’ve built and the lessons they’ve learned using a platform into the larger platform ecosystem. As many of these social media networks mature, they focus more on a one-to-one “small group” connection with users. “People are realizing you don’t have to be super big; you can just have influence on a smaller group and have a wonderful business,” says Andrea Vahl. With a platform now available for nearly every demographic, social media marketing can no longer be ignored regardless of business size, but risk must be managed carefully in order to make the best use of content marketing spend. Planning is at the forefront of any digital marketing strategy. Efficient and effective content must be timely and targeted to specific segments with messaging that builds brand recognition and drives sales. Having a calendar of content for each platform will greatly improve performance by having the right messages ready to go at the right time. Social media management tools from HubSpot, Buffer and HootSuite can be particularly useful. In general, Images still trump prose when communicating lengthy or complicated messages. Bite-sized chunks of information that are concise and to the point work better than lengthy script considering the audience’s usually short attention span and the fact that most conversations are taking place across mobile devices. Measure the effectiveness of the marketing plan and strategy on an ongoing basis and make necessary adjustments as necessary across all platforms. Comprehensive management will take time but the rewards of a successful process can be considerable and very cost effective. If you don’t have the time or experienced staff to dedicate to the process, it can be beneficial in time and quality to form a working relationship with an outside social media specialist. To learn more about how Junction Creative Solutions’ team of professionals and partners can help you create an impactful social media campaign to advance your brand reputation, call 678.686.1125 today.