Social media plays a big role in marketing today. The amount of people using social media gives it the power to reach any market and demographic around the globe at no cost, however, this power isn’t easily mastered. Take the time to learn the best practices of running effective social media marketing campaigns. First, always start your campaigns by defining your goals. This makes it easier for you to create the right content for the right market. Once you have your goals set and have defined your target audience, you want to monitor your competition to get a look at their campaigns. What is working for them? What isn’t working for them? How can I make myself uniquely stand out from them? Answering these types of questions will give you an idea of where to start with your own content. It shows you what people are responding to without wasting time experimenting on your own and allows you to develop your own tone and authority. The next factor to focus on is your posting strategy. You want to show your expertise without being pushy about your products and services. Give your audience some “free” information to show your knowledge in your market. For example, you could share an article that has “do it yourself” information on a particular service you offer, the latest or trendiest news in your industry, or a quick tips cheat sheet. These posts show your expertise in your own industry without constantly pushing your own products or services and builds trust with your audience. A simple rule to follow is the 4-1-1 rule, which means 4 informational posts to 1 soft promotion and 1 hard promotion. Lastly, you want to take the time to listen to your customers. Use your social media platforms to highlight your business’s customer service. Show people that you listen to their issues and concerns and are willing to address them in public. This will build trust and loyalty in your brand. Social media can be an endless sea of noise and confusion, but if you apply these 5 key factors in to your social media campaigns, you will be sitting on a higher level able to stand out past the giant crowds.