How to Measure the ROI of Your Social Media?

Many studies show that when people answer surveys asking "How did you hear about us?" somewhere between 25 and 50 percent of the time they will just guess. "I saw your ad on a billboard," someone might say, even though the business doing the asking doesn't advertise that way. Or, "I heard about your product on the radio or in the newspaper," when the business has never placed a radio or newspaper ad. People who answer incorrectly don't want to be misleading. They give an answer because they want to be helpful.

The point is that social media isn't only about ROI. And it isn't only about sales. Social media is about branding, opening channels of communication with customers, building loyalty, being transparent and establishing good will. And if you cover all of those bases, then guess what? If your product or service is worthy, you will most definitely see a return on your investment.

Here are four things to know about investing in social media:

1. It's where your customers are

You have to be where your customers are. And guess what? They're on social media, using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and more. They're not thumbing through the yellow pages. They're watching fewer and fewer TV commercials, and listening to radio ads in ever-shrinking numbers. In fact, customers are hardly even picking up the phone these days. Instead, they are using social platforms to find information, to ask questions of brands about their products, to ask friends about their favorite brands, and even get basic customer service. Once they've done all that, they're telling everyone they know about their experiences.

2. Social media is part of an integrated communications and marketing strategy

Today's customers want a two-way conversation. In decades past, a company could blanket the airwaves, use direct mail to send out fliers and coupons, and fill the newspaper with cleverly crafted messages about their brand. These kinds of outbound efforts aren't as effective as they used to be. This doesn't mean that companies should ditch all other advertising and marketing efforts and invest only in social media. Instead, social media should be part of an overall strategy. The key is to make sure that there is a consistency across all the various investments.

3. Social media lets you blend in

Plenty of companies use social media as an advertising vehicle for their product or service, just as they would with traditional media. But it's not effective that way. People who are active on social media are there because it's a way that they can engage with their friends, family, and favorite brands. As a marketer, you have to think about how you use social media personally, and then adapt your marketing strategy so that it fits in. When you go from looking at pictures of your friend's kid to responding to another friend's event invitation, a post screaming "SALE! SALE!" will stick out like a Lamborghini on a VW lot. Instead, post things that are conversational, or things that are just fun or lighthearted. Remember, this is a platform to build your brand's identity and personality. People should want to do business with your company because they respect your values, admire your culture, or appreciate the hard work you do to create your products and services.

4. Social media offers opportunities to be creative

If you're not sure how to go about marketing on social media platforms, here are a few suggestions:

-Show images of creative uses/applications of your product. It's still featuring your product, you just aren't saying "Look at me!!!"

-Ask questions about things relevant to your product or service. If you sell real estate, start a dialogue about your worst moving experience, or simply ask: "What does your dream house look like?"