What is social media marketing?

Social media marketing (SMM) is the use of social media platforms to promote a business, build relationships with an audience, generate leads, drive sales, and retain customers.

In simple terms:

> Social media marketing is using social platforms to achieve marketing objectives.



What does social media marketing actually involve?

1. Strategy

Identifying the target audience

Setting marketing objectives

Choosing the right platforms

Developing a content strategy


2. Content

Videos/Reels

Posts

Stories

Carousels

Educational content

Entertainment

Promotional content

User-generated content


3. Community management

Responding to comments

Answering DMs

Engaging with followers

Building relationships with customers


4. Paid social advertising

Facebook/Instagram ads

TikTok ads

LinkedIn ads

Retargeting campaigns

Lead-generation campaigns


5. Lead generation Turning social-media attention into actual business opportunities, for example:

TikTok → WhatsApp → Enquiry → Quote → Sale

6. Analytics Measuring:

Reach

Engagement

Followers

Clicks

Leads

Conversion rate

Cost per lead

Revenue generated


Social media marketing vs digital marketing

Think of it this way:

Digital Marketing = the bigger umbrella

Under it you have:

Digital Marketing → Social Media Marketing

→ SEO
→ Email Marketing
→ Search Advertising
→ Content Marketing
→ Website Marketing
→ Online Advertising
→ Analytics/Marketing Intelligence
→ etc.

So social media marketing is a component of digital marketing, not the whole thing.

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