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Social media has become an integral part of our lives in recent years. It’s a great way to stay connected with family and friends, share news and experiences, and express ourselves. We can also use social media to discover new things, learn about different cultures and connect with like-minded people.

The most popular social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Snapchat. These platforms have revolutionized the way people stay connected with each other and it has also opened up new avenues for businesses to reach out to their target audience. It goes without saying that social media has transformed the way we communicate and interact with each other.

Benefits of social media

Social media has long been an effective way for individuals to communicate with their friends and acquaintances and for companies to meet their customers. However, it is necessary for companies to get involved in social media in order to meet their target audience where they actually are.

Today, most people raise their eyebrows if companies only have an email address and phone number on the company’s contact page. The company must also be available on social media where they can be contacted, and it is also increasingly popular to introduce a chat on their website or Facebook page to be able to answer inquiries directly.

In addition, social media can create a sense of loyalty among customers by providing valuable content and engaging with them on a personal level. When done right, social media can be a powerful marketing tool that helps companies reach new heights.

1. Social networks

In social networks, you have your own profile and the idea is to use your real name and a personal image as a private person. Companies similarly create a profile that is representative of the company.

Here it is about networking with old friends, new acquaintances, or in the case of companies with customers and potential customers.

2. Corporate network

In the same way as social networks, these are used by both private individuals and companies. Individuals use the network to communicate with their professional contacts and to meet new ones. For companies, it’s about showing how they are as an employer and attracting new employees.

3. Social networks for businesses

Business social networks offer similar features to personal social networks but are only open to employees within a particular company. It can be a fun and effective way for the employees to get to know each other better.

4. Blogs

A blog can be its own website, or part of a website, which consists of posts in the form of articles. The articles can be personal, fact-based, or interview-based — just like on a news website. Posts on a blog are published chronologically, with the newest posts at the top. Personal blogs often approach the diary format, unlike business blogs which are a good way to spread knowledge to their customers and potential customers.

5. Microblogging

On a microblog, you have a limited number of characters to express yourself with. At the time of writing, the largest microblog is Twitter, where you have a maximum of 280 characters to use every time you want to post a post — on Twitter it’s called a tweet.

6. Video Sharing

Online video sharing platforms (user-generated content sites) allow users to watch, upload and share videos. Here, too, it is usually possible to comment.

7. Photo sharing

Works similarly to video sharing sites but for photos, where users can upload, manage and save photos. The images can usually be organized into albums, edited, and commented on.

8. Internet forums

An online forum is a place where users can discuss different topics together. It does not work like a chat where the conversation takes place in real-time, but you usually ask a question and later get an answer from one or more different people. It could be a forum like Family Life where the focus is on tips and advice on various everyday problems or a forum for people interested in Star Wars.

9. Wiki

A wiki is an online page with user-generated content, where you create and maintain the page together.

10. Product Review Pages

Websites that sell and inform about different products usually have a function where customers can evaluate the products and read other users’ product reviews.

11. Social Bookmarks

A platform where you save, manage and organize different bookmarks online using metadata. “Social tagging” is usually called when a user saves keywords to different websites on social bookmarking pages. The user chooses to either save it privately or share it with friends and other users.

12. Social gaming

Social gaming, i.e. social online games, means playing and interacting with other players in real-time. It can be card games and board games as well as various interactive games where you can play several pieces together.

13. Virtual worlds

In virtual worlds, the user creates a personal avatar through which one can explore the virtual world and communicate with other avatars. In some virtual worlds, the avatars are completely fictitious and you create an alter ego. In other online games, users can use their real name and create an avatar that looks like the user in real life.

In a virtual world, the game does not end if the user is not logged in as in regular games, but here the game continues anyway. Virtual currencies (which you also pay for) are often used here, enabling companies to sell actual products inside the game.

This is how social media is used in Europe today

The majority of Europeans (83%) use social media — 65% also use it daily. The use of the most common social media has stagnated somewhat, but their importance is still more than evident.

But it is important to bear in mind that it is an industry in constant motion where new services and pages are constantly being added. Be aware that one platform may be superior for a few years, but then quickly be replaced by another. Therefore, it is important to be up-to-date at all times.

This is how social media marketing works

Social media can either be used as a supplement to other marketing channels or as the main marketing channel. Regardless of which you choose, it is worth investing in, as social media is a given place to meet your customers — regardless of industry. A little further on, we will tell you how advertising works for the most common social media platforms.

Although it looks slightly different on different platforms, it initially involves creating a company profile, which generally works in much the same way as private profiles where you can publish material and posts. Here you spread the word about your company and can, for example, link to blog posts from the website or share upcoming events.

You advertise on social media to strengthen your efforts and reach more people. You select a specific target group, set a time period for the ad, and how much money you want to spend on it. In addition to the budget, the choice of a target group is very important to think about and it is often a good idea to narrow it down and be specific — to hit as accurately as possible.

Relevance is Essential for Social Media Success

Any business or organization that is in search of success on social media must first understand the importance of relevance. In order to reach and engage your target audience, you need to provide them with content that is relevant to their interests and needs. This can be a challenge, as the interests of your target audience may change over time.

However, by carefully monitoring the latest trends and developments in your industry, you can ensure that your social media content remains relevant. Additionally, it is also important to consider the different ways that your target audience consumes information. Some people prefer to read articles, while others prefer videos or podcasts. By creating a mix of content types, you can ensure that there is something for everyone.

Ultimately, relevance is essential for social media success. If you can provide your target audience with content that is interesting and useful, you will be well on your way to building a successful online presence.