1-2 Blog: Marketing Implications
Given that social media has the attention of the masses today, it’s a big missed opportunity if a business is not utilizing the platforms to market their products or services. The power of digital communication has allowed us reach a seemingly endless number of people in one click. Social media offers a world of connection like never before.
One of the most popular social media apps today is Instagram. I use Instagram for personal reasons as I do with any other of my social media profiles. I like staying in touch with friends and family, and I also enjoy following my favorite celebrities or people I admire in the beauty and fitness industries. Because I follow these types of people, I often see ads for products whether it is on their stories or in a post. I know I have bought a few items that I saw advertised on social media, but it’s been a while, so I can’t recall anything specific. That being said, I’m not the type to immediately buy something simply because of an ad; I do a good amount of research before I trust anything I see. Especially on social media, it’s a good idea to check out the businesses you are buying from and make sure they’re producing quality products.
Many people with a following partner with a brand/have some sort of agreement for compensation if the person will advertise for the company. Recently, the ASA (Advertising Standards Association) enforced a rule regarding these posts saying that if someone is posting an ad that they will be compensated for, they are required to include “#ad” in their post. This makes it clear to user that there is a business arrangement behind the post and is not solely based on someone’s opinion on the product (Blair, 2018).
For two years, I worked as a brand representative for a fitness supplement company. All of the advertising I did was through social media. I fell into the job simply because of my passion for the subject. I was already posting about health and fitness on my account, and I was able to turn that passion into marketing products.
From this experience, I learned what worked about my posts versus what did not. I based the effectiveness off of the amount interaction I received such as likes, comments, or replies to my stories. It got clearer over time what I was doing right and what was completely a waste of time. I even started to notice the different types of people my posts appealed to, and I catered my posts to fit these types. I’ve seen what it’s like on both sides of social media advertising: the consumer and the business. Both experiences have shown me how the business world is changing and how we can use the platforms to make business happen.
Blair, O. (2018, October 3). Influencers now have to follow these new rules when posting on Instagram. Retrieved January 9, 2020, from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a23577731/influencer-rules-instagram-asa/.
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