In the year 2025, the total number of social media users across the globe is estimated to be 5.42 billion people. Each person uses an average of 6.83 social media platforms every month. The huge audience is the perfect opportunity for your startup to reach potential customers.
Many business owners are completely stumped about how to start social media marketing. This is why they prefer to hire social media marketing services rather than handling it by themselves.
This guide will show you all you need to know to build a successful social media presence for your business from scratch.
What Is Social Media Marketing (SMM)?
Social media marketing is when you use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to share information about your business. You publish, engage with customers, publish ads, and check your progress. Doing it yourself or hiring a social media marketing agency will help you reach millions of people who wish to buy from you.
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Are Social Media Marketing and Digital Marketing the Same?
Social media marketing is a part of digital marketing and not the whole of it. It is important to understand this difference when learning how to start social media marketing.
| Point of Difference | Social Media Marketing | Digital Marketing |
|---|---|---|
| What It Covers | Only social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook | Everything online: websites, Google ads, emails, social media |
| What You Create | Posts, stories, videos for social platforms | Blog posts, website pages, emails, social posts |
| How You Talk | Back-and-forth conversations | Sometimes one-way, sometimes back and forth |
| Results Timeline | Can see likes and comments right away | Might take weeks or months to see website traffic and sales |
| Example | Posting a video on Instagram about your new product | Running Google ads + sending emails + posting on social media for your new product |
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Social Media Marketing vs Social Media Management
| What’s Different | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Management |
|---|---|---|
| Main Work | Plan campaigns to get more sales and customers | Post content daily and reply to comments |
| What You Want | More people to know your brand and buy from you | Keep your community happy and engaged |
| Daily Tasks | Create ad campaigns and track what works | Make posts, schedule them, answer customer queries |
| Skills You Need | Know how to plan marketing and read data | Know how to create content and talk to people online |
| Example | Running ads to get people to visit your website | Posting every day and replying to all comments and messages |
A lot of people keen on starting a social media management business focus on the management part, whereas those learning social media marketing for beginners focus on marketing.
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Five Pillars of Social Media Marketing
The following five simple rules can help you build a solid social media plan that works for your business.
Strategy: You must first set clear objectives for your social media actions. Select the people you want to reach, and choose the best platforms while planning for execution. That’s important when determining how to start social media marketing.
Planning and Publishing: Decide what you’re going to share and at what time. Make various post types for each platform, and post when your customers are most likely to be online. These tips for managing social media will keep you organized.
Listening and Engagement: Always listen and engage in conversations that people are having about your brand. Respond to comments quickly, participate in discussions, and nurture genuine relationships with your followers. This is a key part of what is social media handling.
Analytics and Reporting: Track key metrics such as how many people like your post and how many new followers you have acquired. Use this information to make smarter choices.
Paid Social Media: Use paid ads to reach a larger audience than just your followers. Utilize a combination of free posts and paid ads for optimal results to get new customers.
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Benefits of Social Media Marketing for Business
Social media has provided a great opportunity for new companies to be noticed and to grow without a lot of spending on traditional advertising.
Better Brand Awareness: Social media platforms have billions of users who spend hours scrolling every day. You’ll have numerous chances to promote your business to the buyers.
Stronger Customer Relationships: You can communicate directly with customers via their comments and messaging, which strengthens their relationship with you. This allows you to build trust and a community of people who care about you and your business.
Higher Conversion Rates: Social media posts can drive amazing traffic back to your website, where the prospective buyer ends up buying from you. Smart ads help you find people who’re most likely to buy.
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How to Start With Social Media Marketing?
Starting your journey on social media requires perseverance and a plan for your startup to yield any result. These social media marketing tips for beginners will help you start it on the right note.
Set Clear Goals: Identify what you want social media to do for your business. Would you like to have more website visitors, more sales, or more people knowing you? This is the first step in how to start social media marketing successfully.
Know Your Customers: Find out who your ideal customers are, how old they are, what they like, and which social platforms they’re most active on. This helps you post right.
Choose the Right Platforms: Don’t get on every other social platform. Start with 2-3 platforms where your customers spend their time. Focus on doing those really well first.
Plan Your Content: Determine the types of posts you’ll share, how often you’ll post, and how your business will sound. Make a calendar to stay organized.
Make Great Content: Create engaging posts, videos, and stories that people want to see. Focus on 60-second or shorter videos as they garner maximum audience attention. This is essential when learning how to start social media marketing.
Social Media Platforms for Marketing
Different social media platforms function differently and appeal to various users. Choose the right mix that suits your business. For social media management for beginners, it’s good to understand these platforms.
Facebook: It’s the largest social media platform, which has the best tools for ads. Good for reaching a lot of different people in a variety of ways. When it comes to learning how to start social media marketing, Facebook is often the go-to option.
Instagram: It’s good for businesses that can show their products with pictures and videos. It has built-in shopping features and an audience of the younger generation.
TikTok: It’s the fastest-growing platform. Any short video can get millions of views. Ideal for content geared towards individuals under 30, focusing on creativity and fun.
LinkedIn: It’s the best platform for businesses that sell to other businesses over normal customers. Excellent for collaborating on work content and meeting entrepreneurs. If you’re learning how to start a social media marketing business, LinkedIn is important.
YouTube: It’s the best platform for longer videos. You can teach people more about your product or business. Helps make you an expert.
Best Practices in Social Media Marketing
By following these simple rules, you can ensure that your social media benefits your business growth and success.
Use Pictures and Videos: Posts that include images and videos receive far more attention than just plain text. People are far more likely to stop scrolling and look at your things.
Test Different Posts: Experiment with different types of content. Post at different times and see which content performs best. Focus more on what works and less on what doesn’t.
Get Customers to Share: Encourage your happy customers to share pictures of them using your product/services or talking about your business. People are more trusting of other consumers than they are of ads.
Good Social Media Marketing Examples
These brands are perfect examples of how smart social media marketing can bring great results and lots of new customers.
Nike’s User-Generated Content: Nike’s “Nike+ Run Club” app encourages users to share running experiences with #JustDoIt, resulting in a 55% increase in customer engagement across social platforms. This shows the benefits of social media management and marketing when done right.
Wendy’s Social Media Personality: Wendy’s witty and humorous social media approach led to a 35% increase in Twitter followers and 22% higher engagement rates through entertaining interactions.
Starbucks Personalized Engagement: Starbucks builds loyalty through personalized customer interactions and seasonal campaigns like the “Red Cup Contest,” achieving one of the highest engagement rates among global brands.
Ready to Go Social?
Social media marketing gives startups an affordable way to reach millions of people, get noticed, and grow fast. By using the tips in this guide, from setting goals to making great content, you’ll have everything you need to build a strong social media presence.
Whether you’re just learning how to start social media marketing or planning to launch your own social media marketing business, the key is staying consistent and being genuine with your audience.
If you want professional help to grow your startup through social media, contact us today or call us at (+1) 703-705-9190 to learn how our social media marketing services can help you reach your business goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the 50/30/20 rule for social media?
The 50/30/20 rule means you should post 50% original content, 30% shared content from others, and 20% promotional content about your specific business offerings daily.
What should a social media marketing plan include?
Your social media plan should include clear goals, target audience research, platform selection, content calendar, posting schedule, engagement strategy, and specific ways to measure success. This plan is essential when learning how to start social media marketing.
How much does social media marketing cost per month?
Social media marketing costs vary widely. You can start free with organic posts, but most businesses spend between $300 to $2000 monthly on paid ads.
