The Secret Small Businesses In Canada Are Using For Successful Social Media Marketing

By Author: Magnolias Consulting
Total Articles: 1
Comment this article

86% of Canadians Interact with Businesses on Social Media

Social media marketing may have started as a “trend” in marketing, but it’s here to stay. Canadians use social media to make decisions about purchases, brands, and businesses. Brands that have a social media marketing strategy in place are best positioned to benefit from this interaction.

However, not all social media marketing strategies are equal. There is one approach to SMM that has been gaining in popularity in Canada.

Personalized Marketing – The Human Element of Your Business

Some people assume that social media marketing for businesses is impersonal. However, most Canadian consumers think differently. Instead of one-way communication, social media offers Canadians the chance to engage directly with the businesses and brands they’re interested in.

These days, customers are not shopping on social media solely for the products or services; there’s also a human element to the business that people want to experience. Customers appreciate businesses on social ...
... media because of the options like instant support through direct messaging, the ability to leave feedback, and the overall sense of corporate responsibility.

Businesses that show up consistently on social media with a strong brand voice, personality, and ‘behind-the-scenes’ looks at their businesses tend to attract more attention, sales, and growth. Social media is an excellent way to build that “know-like-trust factor” all businesses crave online.

Social media marketing strategies that operate on a “bespoke” level allow customers to get to know your business inside out, making them less likely to leave for a larger, less personalized business competitor.

Current Issues and Trends in SMM

Awareness of trends and current issues is one way brands can interact with their audiences on social media.

COVID-19 has caused many of our daily activities to shift from the physical world into the online world. This trend has resulted in more time spent online overall, as well as more time spent on shopping and engaging with brands. Brands that are aware of this have shifted their messaging to cater to people who are searching for online shopping resources or brand engagements.

Another trend that brands should be aware of is the concept of supporting local. Although more people are shopping online due to COVID-19, there is also a tendency for people to want to support local. As the pandemic devastated many economies, shopping local is one way consumers can feel good about their choices; supporting local businesses means supporting local economies.

In other words, one of the strongest selling points for Canadian brands is that they’re Canadian! One way to reinforce this is by using local hashtags like #edmontonbusiness and #canadamade in your captions. You can also update your address across all your online platforms so your business is easy to find in search engines.

Interaction & Value

Canadian businesses that are succeeding in social media marketing are not selling their products on their business pages. Instead, they’re focused almost entirely on interaction and adding value.

Upbeat interactive elements are what most consumers are craving on social media amidst the pandemic. Keep it light and make sure to respond to anyone who engages with you. Each simple comment, like, follow, or message is one more step toward developing your social media audience and creating more buzz around your business. Get personal and get creative, and make sure that your brand sounds like a person, not a robot!

Free & Paid Publicity Opportunities

Social media platforms like Instagram are perfectly designed to showcase products. Others, like LinkedIn, offer chances to showcase your skills and abilities. No matter what platform you use, there are two opportunities to connect with your audiences, and each serves a different purpose.

Social media advertising is usually viewed separately from social media marketing. The marketing side of SM is geared toward organic posts (not paid), which are focused on adding value, engaging with people, and showcasing the brand. Meanwhile, social media advertising involves paid ads to sell products. Some even have direct selling opportunities embedded so that the advertising and sales process is seamless.

Understanding the difference between the two functions on social media is essential for businesses. By keeping the sales pitches embedded in the advertising and the organic posts focused on brand value, you’ll be able to maintain that human element that people are looking for in your brand.

Free Insight Analysis

If your current social media marketing strategy is not personalized to your audience’s needs and expectations, it’s worth getting some insight into other strategies. Get in touch with the Magnolias Consulting team to learn more about personalized SMM strategies that fit perfectly with your marketing campaigns.