“Facebook Fundamentals: Guide to Social Media Marketing”

Santos, Churt Noel S.
BSCS 4A
CS Seminars and Educational Trip

BLOG REPORT:
Facebook Fundamentals: Guide to Social Media Marketing

    On August 29, 2024, I attended a webinar titled “Facebook Fundamentals: Guide to Social Media Marketing”, organized by the ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau of DICT Mountain Province. The session was held via Zoom, and the speaker, Ms. Sandice Estima Laus, a Project Development Officer I, shared valuable insights on leveraging Facebook for social media marketing.

Have we ever wondered, what is social media marketing (SMM)?

Well, basically, social media marketing involves using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote products or services, engage with audiences, and build brand awareness through targeted content and advertisements.

Here's a few key takeaways from me of the webinar we've joined last August, 29. :) 

• Benefits of SMM
• Organic and Paid SMM
• Pros and Cons and Organic and Paid SMM
• Understanding your Target Market, and
• Maximizing your Personal FB Page/Account

BENEFITS OF SMM

One major takeaway was the effectiveness of social media marketing, especially Facebook’s massive reach. It allows businesses, regardless of size, to connect with audiences beyond geographical boundaries, making it highly cost-effective. Unlike traditional marketing, even small budgets can yield significant returns on Facebook. The platform also promotes direct engagement through posts, comments, and messages, while its tools enable real-time performance tracking of campaigns, allowing for quick adjustments to improve results.

PAID AND ORGANIC SMM

Paid Social Media Marketing involves using advertising budgets to promote posts or create ads that appear in users' feeds. It provides immediate visibility and allows for precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. However, it requires ongoing investment and careful management to avoid overspending.

Organic Social Media Marketing, on the other hand, relies on creating and sharing content without any financial investment. It depends on the natural engagement of followers and their networks to spread the message. While it builds trust and authenticity, it generally takes longer to see significant results and may have a more limited reach due to algorithm changes and reduced visibility over time.

Pros and Cons?

Paid Social Media Marketing

Pros:

Immediate Visibility: Ads can reach a large number of customers quickly.

Precise Targeting: Can target based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Scalable: Campaigns can be tailored to budgets and performance.

Measurable Results: One will have detailed analytics in terms of ad performance and return on investment.

Cons:

Cost: Requires an ongoing investment, which is bound to build up over time.

Ad Fatigue: Users can get used to ads; thus, their potential for engaging users will go down.

Continuous Management: Needs regular monitoring and optimization for efficiency.

Overspending: Without control, costs may blow out of proportion.

Organic Social Media Marketing

Pros:

Cost-Effective: There are absolutely no financial investments needed to publish and share content.

Builds Authenticity: Interacting with followers is much more organic and natural.

Long-Term Benefits: Content can continue driving interactions without requiring any additional efforts.

Community Building: Encourages a closer level with your audience.

Cons:

Slower Results: It requires time to develop reach and engagement.

Limited Reach: Algorithm changes and piling up of posts bring down visibility to a lesser audience.

Dependence on Followers: The success of it all depends on the engagement and size of your following. No Guaranteed Exposure: Content might not be seen by many at times.

LASTLY WE SHOULD!

            Yes, for SMM—it is important that we should understand our target market. Why is that? Here's a brief discussion of that. Another key application of the webinar is the importance of understanding the target market. Knowing who I want to reach and what they care about allows me to craft messages and products that resonate with my audience. For example, if I were to sell fashion accessories, understanding trends and customer preferences would enable me to create engaging, relevant content that aligns with my potential buyers’ interests. This could be further amplified by using my personal Facebook page to announce sales or new product launches, tapping into my existing network for organic growth.

    Overall, the knowledge gained from this webinar has given me a clear roadmap to effectively market and sell products online. I now feel more empowered to utilize Facebook as a key marketing platform, knowing that its tools can help build a brand, engage customers, and drive business success.

    By leveraging both organic and paid SMM, I can start by building a trusted network through organic content and then expand my reach with targeted paid ads. This balance ensures that I maximize my marketing impact without overspending. 

    Understanding the target market is key. Tailoring content to customer interests, like promoting fashion accessories based on trends, ensures I create relevant, engaging campaigns.

THANKS FOR READING THIS BLOG :)