By Jessica Micmohen

Did you know that social media ad spending in 2020 added up to $132 billion? And it’s growing. According to Statista, for instance, the tally is expected to soar north of $200 billion by 2024.

The U.S. is, by far, the largest social media ad market worldwide. However, that doesn’t mean that marketers in other nations aren’t taking advantage of social media platforms as well.

But here’s the thing. Even the most tech-savvy companies with marketing departments staffed with whip-smart people typically make some common mistakes. The problem? You don’t want to waste your marketing budget by making easily avoidable blunders.

Keep reading to learn about three social media marketing mistakes you might be making. You’ll also learn what to change to make the most of your social media marketing efforts.

Mistake #1: Failing to Plan

One of the worst things you can do is launch a social media marketing campaign without adequate planning and preparation. The old saying that failing to plan is like planning to fail rings true even in the digital age. It might seem obvious to devise a strategy, but many companies fail on this crucial point. If you don’t have a plan, you might be throwing good money after bad.

When planning, write down specific objectives you want to accomplish, how you plan to get there, how long the campaign will last, and how much money is needed for the campaign. It’s also important that you figure out how to measure the results of your marketing campaign. How else will you know whether or not it was successful or if you need to pivot mid-campaign?

Mistake #2: Failing to Define Target Market

Another common social media marketing mistake that many businesses make is failing to define their target markets properly. Different strategies will work better with different target demographics. So, before you earmark a single dollar for your campaign, figure out your target audience. That’s the only way you can put together a strategy that makes a significant impact.

When you take the time to define your target demographic, you’ll also be able to choose the social media platforms that will best align with your objectives. There are tons of social media sites, and more are popping up every day. But some social media platforms appeal to some demographics more than others. Knowing your audience will help you select the right platforms.

Mistake #3: Failing to Track Analytics

If you’re going to launch a social media marketing campaign, you need to track analytics. As mentioned above, tracking this information is how you can assess performance. If you’re going to dedicate funds to digital marketing, you’ll want to know the following:

• Who is responding?
• Which ads are people clicking on or engaging with?
• How long are people staying …read more

  Source:: Social Media Explorer

        

  

  Author: Aaron