There are various ways in which brands can approach social media when looking to market and advertise their business. As modern social platforms have developed and improved, new opportunities for paid advertising options have emerged, which offer brands the chance to increase the reach, scope, and impact of their campaigns.

However, at its core, social media is all about organic marketing, and brands should always remember this when planning and implementing campaigns. While some modern platforms have made organic marketing more difficult in an attempt to push businesses into paid advertising means, there are still techniques and methods available for brands looking to take an organic approach. Let’s find out more.

Building a Community

Social media platforms are all about communities. Whether it’s the broader social community as a whole, or smaller groups dedicated to particular subjects, social platforms promote interaction and communication among users.

As a business, building a community around your brand can be an incredibly effective marketing technique. While paid advertising is still a viable option, a two-pronged strategy involving both paid advertising and organic community building is usually the best approach.

How to Build a Community

When fostering a community around your brand, first you need to identify who is talking about your business and where these conversations are taking place. The most effective way to do so is to use social media listening tools, such as those offered by Oktopost (oktopost.com).

These tools use artificial intelligence technology to scan social platforms and identify content that is relevant to your business. From there, you can take steps to target these users and these social locations to get involved with the conversation at a grassroots level.

You should encourage users to communicate through comments and user-generated content, as long as it is relevant to your brand. Be responsive and strive to engage with your community at all times; field questions and queries and always be on hand to respond to requests.

What are the Benefits of Fostering a Community?

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits you can see from fostering a community is the boost it will give to your brand’s image and reputation. By communicating with your customers you will make your brand seem more relatable and more authentic, which is an increasingly important attribute for the modern consumer.

Building a community around your business will also see customers exhibit more brand loyalty. Communicating with customers will make them feel valued and appreciated, which will ensure they remain loyal to your business and will be less likely to turn to a competitor.

Building a community will see your brand’s reputation improve, which will in turn allow for word-of-mouth marketing to take place. Customers will actively recommend your business to friends and family, which should see you attract more traffic and more sales without having to do much additional work yourself.

Conclusion

Authenticity is a big deal for businesses these days. Consumers are looking to connect with brands and forge deeper, more meaningful relationships. One of the best ways to convey a sense of authenticity is to build a social media community around your brand.