We all know that social media marketing is a very valuable tool for businesses in this era. It allows you to interact and engage with audiences across multiple platforms and based on their personal preferences.
But there is plenty of bad information out there. So, how do you know what to believe?
In this article, we’ll look at three social media myths to help you make the most out of your social strategy and provide you with details on five social media marketing companies located in the Pittsburgh area.
Looking to skip ahead? Here’s a quick look at the Pittsburgh social media marketing companies we’ll discuss:
Social media is a world of opportunity for businesses who are looking to connect with their customers on a more personalized level -- but it’s also so much more.
We often have this specific view of what social media is and how it should perform in our minds and miss the chance to think outside of the box and make it something more. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at a few common social marketing myths we often believe and how they just aren’t true.
We’ll address the mindset that social media isn’t a place for conversions to the idea that social and email don’t work together (spoiler alert: they do!).
When you think about social media, your mind probably jumps to likes, follows, and engagement. Most people think about this marketing tactic as a way to directly engage with their audiences and build brand awareness -- and you’re not alone.
In fact, maybe businesses rate measuring ROI as the topmost challenging part of their social programs.
We often focus on the efforts that provide a direct impact on our bottle-line over those that simply build awareness. And this happens often for businesses that don’t understand the true power of social media.
It’s not all about trying to get the most likes or shares. When done right, social media can be a great channel to bring in new leads and promote new products. Both of these actions will result in conversions and impact your bottom line.
Here are a few stats to help support this notion:
So, in the long run, by having the right strategy in place, you can reach new customers and convert leads from social media. While it might not be as direct as other channels, it can have a significant impact on your bottom line, even if it’s hard to track.
Many companies feel that social media is simply a place to start conversations with their customers. While it is true that you can easily have one-to-one conversations over social media, it’s not the only way to reach your customers.
In fact, by taking the time to create and share engaging content, you’re likely to better connect with your audiences. This goes back to the old saying, quality over quantity. While you could be posting to your Facebook account ten times a day, if the quality of that content isn’t there, no one will engage with it.
Having a social media channel with lots of posts, and low engagement isn’t going to get you anywhere. But on the other hand, if you take the time to create engaging content and maybe post three times a week, you could be making a bigger impact.
You’ve heard it before, “email marketing is dead”. Or maybe you’ve heard that utilizing email marketing and social media together is redundant and a waste of time.
Well, either way, both of those statements are wrong. Email and social media marketing actually go together perfectly.
Here’s why. First of all, most of your audience will not be following you on every single channel you have available. In addition to that, your social media content may never make it onto someone’s newsfeed. That debunks the idea that you’re sending redundant content.
Also, your customers want to receive content differently. While one person may check social media to see what sale you’re running this week, another wants to see it in their email. By using both channels, you’re reaching all of your customers and hitting them where they want to hear from you.
By looking at these two marketing channels holistically, you can easily create a comprehensive experience that ensures you’re reaching all of your customers. This means that those who prefer to engage with your brand via social media will see your content there, while the others will receive it in their inbox.
When it comes to managing your social media presence, it can be a bit overwhelming. You have to develop a strategy, write the copy, create the imagery, post the message, track the performance, and respond to your audiences.
It can be a lot for one marketing team to handle, especially without a dedicated social media specialist. Managing your brand’s social media presence is a full-time job and needs someone who has the time to dedicate to it.
So what do you do when you don’t have the ability to facilitate this in-house? Hire an outside firm to help manage your social needs. There are plenty of marketing and communication agencies out there that can help you make the most out of your social media channels.
In this section, we’ll take a look at a few companies with offices in the Pittsburgh area. They can help you expand your social efforts and provide you with the local attention you need.
UXAX is a user experience and analytics company that puts your data to work for you. With the right insights, you can take your social media marketing to the next level and reach the right audiences at the right time.
Services:
What their customers are saying:
“Love working with this bunch. Their experience is critical to our success.” - UXAX Customer Testimonial
Matter Communications is a marketing and communications company that can help you elevate your social media marketing. From managing paid and organic posting to developing a full digital marketing strategy -- you can do it all.
Services:
What their customers are saying:
“Matter has been a partner for over five years and great to work with. Their team is professional, willing to go above and beyond, and skilled at thinking outside the box to ensure we have fresh content for the media. The amount of exposure and thought leadership opportunities they have secured far exceeds my expectations. They have a knack for making you feel like their most important client.” - Matter Communications Customer Testimonial
Atlas Marketing is an agency that provides clients with all of their marketing and communication needs. From managing all of your social media needs to public relations and crisis communications.
Services:
What their customers are saying:
“They promote intentional progress towards the goals that we want to hit.” - Atlas Marketing Customer Testimonial
Beyond Spots and Dots is a full-service advertising marketing agency that can help businesses manage all of their advertising needs. With social management across all platforms, they’ll be your one-stop-shop.
Services:
What their customers are saying:
"We were satisfied with every aspect of our business relationship with this company." - Beyond Spots & Dots Customer Review
C-Leveled is a marketing agency that helps businesses reach their marketing goals from social to graphic design and everything in between. Whether you’re in need of a full marketing strategy or simply assistance with social advertising -- C-Leveled can help you reach your goals.
Services:
Social media often becomes a nuisance for companies that just don’t have the effort to put the work into the platforms. By challenging the status quo and pushing the limits of what you think your social channels can do, you’ll quickly find that your social media marketing efforts can have a big impact on your business.
Whether you plan to push forward on your own, or tap into the expertise of a marketing company to manage your social media -- don’t underestimate the power of this platform.