Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow your company’s reach. However, there are some myths about social media that could be costing you business opportunities and causing you to miss out on revenue.

91% of marketers claimed that digital marketing (including social media) was an important part of their overall marketing strategy. (I’m very curious what the other 9 percent were thinking – but they are probably not on LinkedIn, so…)

With Social Media Marketing:

You can reach a wide audience.
It’s cost-effective.
It’s considered easier than traditional advertising because all you have to do is post something on social media and it has potential to reach more of your target audience.

Social media is the brand storytelling platform.

When you’re building a brand story, think of your audience, and what they want to know about you, your brand, and its image.  Is it the history, the people, the innovation or influence on trends your brand may have? Be consistent in the story you present. 
It’s important for companies (and businesses in general) not just to sell their product or service but also “themselves”, as trust is a huge factor in purchase decisions. We buy, as a people, from brands we trust. Which brings me to my next point:

Take advantage of user-generated content.

Your audience is a reflection of your brand, and should be showcased. 
Sharing user posts with your audience to encourages them to interact with your content, and brand overall. 
This can also help you build trust and authority in your industry.

Your company’s social media presence should be about building connections, not about hard selling.

Social media is about connecting with people. The best way to do this is by sharing stories and experiences, not product pitches. You want to build trust and create a relationship with your audience that goes beyond hard selling their services or products.
When you’re too focused on selling and ROI, you might end up using language that is too corporate and doesn’t resonate with audiences.

An effective social media marketing strategy should have a strong and consistent voice that connects users to your brand’s core values.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to trust, and building that trust.