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Social Media marketing is the fastest growing platform for online marketing. Next to video, it is making waves and almost everybody is rushing to get involved. Whether you have already embraced it or not, you will do well to understand the opportunities and potential involved with a solid social media campaign.

Exposure

For the start-up business, whether online or offline, social media is an incredible chance to get valuable exposure for your business. Given how competitive and expensive other campaigns, such as paid advertising can be, a chance to get free exposure to potentially thousands of people is not one to easily dismiss. 

A successful social media campaign during the early stages a a new business's life can make the difference between success and failure.

One thing to be careful of is not going too far and "over exposing". In other words, don't spam so much that your product, service, or business is disregarded and not taken seriously. Getting it right is a delicate balance. 

There is already a lot of *noise* on the social media scene, don't add to it.

Interaction

Another unique aspect of social media is the ability to interact on a person level with your customers. Everybody has a mobile and your app or social media accounts let you get right in their pocket. This should not be underestimated. 

Too many businesses turn their mobile app or social media campaigns into miniature versions of their .com or offline campaigns. A mobile app (or social account) is a separate entity and should be treated as such.

There are many unique features, and different ways to organize your app that will encourage more interaction and personal engagement. This is key to social media. 

Engagement

There is a massive amount of engagement within the social media world. Some of it is just token gestures though. Many apps, websites, and social accounts have cottoned on to the idea that getting more social "shares" results in better rankings, increased popularity, and definitely more attractiveness. 

Keeping up appearances is important and something that even the most established of brands cannot fail to embrace.

You've probably noticed now how almost everyone is asking for "likes", "shares" and comments, sometimes even in exchange for prizes. While this may appear cheap to some, it is starting to appear that the ones who successfully employ these strategies do end up reaping more benefits later on.

Engagement is not just about chasing "likes" though. There is much more to it than that.

By keeping engaged with your audience, you can achieve many things:

1. Keep them updated of latest news and events in your business.

2. Let them understand your business more.

3. Understand them more (vitally important)

4. Keep them interested.

5. Increase your opportunities to turn them into customers.

All of the above are the core principles of successful business, and are very much achievable within the social media world.

Final Thoughts

Social media marketing is growing rapidly and is not a fleeting fad. Over the next few years, while many new social platforms will rise and fall, the fact will remain that social media will dominate the online and offline worlds. If businesses do not embrace and engage with these worlds, they risk being left behind.