However, there are still some broader rules regarding social media marketing that will help to shape what strategies work in the near future and what doesn’t. You might find that some small adjustments in your social media strategy can lead to real growth. After all, social media marketing is much more than just coming up with witty memes; it’s a real way to connect and engage with consumers and increase market share.

Ignore The Bad

There are customers that might not feel that they had a pleasurable experience at your business. For example, let’s claim that you own a bar in Las Vegas. You may have dealt with an intoxicated and unruly customer who then leaves a negative Yelp review at your bar - and you might feel compelled to tell your side of the story. At the very least, you are allowed to respond to the issue. A recent study suggests that Google reviews, in particular, have a serious effect on your online reputation.

You might think that you can ignore your customers and focus on new customers on social media, but that would be a grave mistake. If you are going to reap the benefits of a social media strategy, it will require that you engage with customers that aren’t satisfied.

You Should Do It All

There are so many different apps and social networks that you might feel the pressure of joining everything that you can. However, just because TikTok boasts a billion active users ; it doesn’t mean that they fit your company’s demographic. Your social media strategy should focus on where your ideal customer is, not simply try to start an account on every platform available.

There is nothing wrong with keeping track of platforms that are growing, but there are certain ads that make sense for specific platforms. If you spend money and time on one effective social media strategy, it can prove more effective than spreading your influence among a dozen different social networks.

Avoid Humor

Some social media experts and analysts will tell you that despite all of the success of “troll” or comedy accounts on Twitter - businesses should focus on explaining their business. However, the truth is that some of the most well-known companies in the world have benefited from hilarious, out-of-the-box social media strategies.

Hamburger Helper is a popular packaged food product in the United States. The company famously went viral because the company decided to parody Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “Watch The Throne album with a mixtape of their own entitled “Watch The Stove.” The marketing campaign was wildly successful because the songs were humorous and referenced the product consistently. There’s nothing wrong with a serious brand voice, but you might want to consider making a joke or two for engagement purposes.

Figuring It Out

There are all sorts of companies and situations where social media marketing simply isn’t going to work for you. If you’re a financial advisor, there’s a good chance that you won’t start a Tiktok account because around 40% of the app’s users are under 20. Similarly, if you are a lawyer - you might focus on creating insightful Linkedin posts than figuring out how Snapchat plays a role in your professional career.

At the end of the day, there are exceptions to every rule. However, these tips definitely seem to reflect where consumers are today - they want to be heard out, engaged with, and they enjoy a joke or two.