Introduction to Social Media Marketing, Abbreviations, and Important Terms

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What is Social Media Marketing?

Social Media has become synonymous with Millenials and Gen Zers entertainment, communication, and socialization. We use social media in our daily lives and it feels like as the younger generations are born, they come equipped with full knowledge on how to use the internet and, consequently, use social media. But what is Social Media Marketing? According to an article by Buffer, 

Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms to connect with your audience to build your brand, increase sales, and drive website traffic.

As Millenials and Gen Zers invade the economic market, it only makes sense to shift from traditional marketing to something more suited to these newer generations. The business world clearly feels the same way as skills related to social media marketing are listed as the top skills that get people hired on LinkedIn since 2013. (Kelsey, 3). Learning any digital marketing skills, especially social media marketing, regardless of the industry you want to go in to can only benefit you.

Social Media Networks

As a consumer, you are probably aware of the social media platform you frequent, such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. However, each platform has a different reach, audience, and purpose. When it comes to social media marketing, it is important to know who you are targetting and what is the best way to get your message across each platform. Below is a list of the Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites and Apps [2020] by Dreamgrow.

Abbreviations and Important Terms

Before embarking on this journey of social media marketing, it is important to know a few key terms to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the concepts that will be discussed in the coming weeks.

Return On Investment (ROI) - Social media ROI is the sum of all social media actions that create value.

Business-to-business industry or B2B - A firm selling to other businesses; products do not go directly to consumers. Think of a paper company selling printing paper to another company. 

Business-to-consumer industry or B2C - A firm selling directly to consumers. Think of a paper company selling printing paper directly to you.

Engagement -Measures the public shares, likes, and comments for an online business's social media efforts.

Word of Mouth (WOM) - WOM happens when a consumer's interest in a company's product or service is reflected in their daily dialogs. Essentially, is it is free advertising triggered by customer experiences. (Investopedia)

Channels - In social media, channels are the networks or platforms used. Think of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, etc.