We can all remember a time when MSN Messenger was our only means in which to communicate online. So soon was it, which we began to embrace new forms of social media into our life, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Looking back can be useful for nostalgia purposes.

However, looking forward to capitalizing upon social media marketing for your brand, business or service can truly transform your online presence. Here at Shape the Market, a Social Media Marketing Agency in London, we recognize the power and gravity behind an effective social media marketing campaign. It is why we are here, informing you of the importance and impact of one.

So what is social media marketing all about, and do you actually need one? Well, let’s lay out some statistics. According to Facebook, 50 million small businesses use Facebook Pages to connect with their customers, of which 4 million pay for social media advertising, according to Forbes. This has led to, according to The Drum, Facebook influencing 52% of consumers online and offline purchases. Facebook therefore appears to be a platform in which to propagate a product.

According to Hootsuite, the top brands on Instagram see a follower engagement rate of 4.21%, 58 times higher than Facebook and 120 times higher than twitter. Instagram appears to be a platform to best engage with your consumers. Twitter however, has seen a recent evolution to becoming the platform with which to vent frustration or questions.

According to Lithium, 78% of people who complain to a brand on Twitter, expect a response within an hour. After all, building a client relationship is just as important and maintaining it through positive customer service. According to Ambassador, 71% of consumers who have had a good social media service experience with a brand are likely to recommend it to others.

Effectively, this means that Twitter, amongst other things, can primarily be used as a means to regulate and respond to negative review and criticism.

Lastly, YouTube, according to ReelSeo, has received 40-billion views for branded content. So what does all of this information actually mean? Well, it means that Instagram is used to engage with your consumers, Facebook is used to influence their purchasing habits, Twitter is to understand what can be improved about your product or service and YouTube increases brand awareness. There is a lot to track, maintain and regulate. This is why at Shape the Market, as a Social Media Marketing Agency London, we create custom images to help you stand out; generate your Instagram stories and engagement consistently with your followers.

Now that all the statistics are out of the way, what does social media marketing offer that other marketing tools don’t? According to MarketingSherpa, 95% of online adults aged 18-34 are following a brand via social media. Given that this age group also drives the majority of market based spending decisions, not being on social media is detrimental to your marketing campaign.

Popular social media sites allow you to connect with your audience to build your branding and as said, improve customer service. Through a layered marketing approach, Shape the Market pledges that all your bases are covered through data visualizations, free ad spend and monthly reporting.

What is the general goal of marketing and how does social media fit into this? Well, the aim is to transform potential consumers into loyal customers by showing them why they need your service or product. Social media is key to this because it improves your search engine rankings.

According to CognitiveSEO’s study, the higher the site rank displayed on a result page, the greater the average number of shares, comments and likes they had on social networking sites. Effectively, the more you interact on social media, the higher you appear on results pages, driving traffic and purchases. However, ecommerce can also be carried out through social media as well as through traditional means like your website. 74% of consumers rely on social networks to make purchasing decisions whilst online stores with a social media presence have an average of 32% more sales than those that don’t.

So, whilst social media might be intimidating, it is a key way in which to transform your business, brand or service commercially. At Shape the Market, we offer a tailored plan through monthly competitions, follower vetting and retargeting to ensure you get the results that you deserve.

Ultimately, to have an effective marketing campaign, you must engage with social media. It provides insight into the success of your campaign. Equally, it enables exposure. Contact a Social Media Marketing Agency London like Shape the Market today, to start your campaign.