In March, I attended the 10th annual Social Media Marketing World (SMMW) in San Diego. SMMW is a two day marketing conference covering four areas of social marketing: organic social marketing, paid social, social strategy and content marketing. I was excited to take part in this event because not only was it my first time attending this kind of event but it was also my first-ever work conference! During the two and half days, I joined a couple of thousand attendees from all around the world learning, absorbing, and engaging in all things digital marketing. Here are my four key takeaways from the conference:

Know your audience and know them well.

One of the most important things to remember when creating strategies for your social media content is to tailor it to your target audience. You need to understand who they are, what they are looking for, and what motivates them to engage with your brand. One way you can do so is by asking current followers questions and engaging with them to deliver quality content and content that matters to them. 

Create content that matters!

Creating content specific to your audience, is essential for building a solid online social media presence. This includes staying current with the latest industry trends that apply to your audience’s interests and needs while remaining true to your product or service’s values and offerings. Avoid creating content solely for the “viral” factor. Instead, create meaningful and impactful content that resonates with your current followers and potential new ones. Keep it personal and authentic to you and/or your brand.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the game.

AI is revolutionizing the digital media landscape by offering powerful tools and technologies to help businesses automate processes, analyze data, and improve customer service. While the capabilities of AI seem limitless, it’s essential to remember that AI is not here to take our jobs but to help us be more efficient. Speaker Paul Roetzer said it best: “Think of AI as a really good intern.” AI allows us to improve our writing, think more strategically, streamline certain business areas, and have more free time, to name a few. 

Video is king.

Video content has quickly become the preferred format for digital media consumption. With the rise of Tik Tok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube, video content is more important than ever for engaging with audiences and building brand awareness. Video is taking content over by storm! It’s an easy way to create engaging and relatable content, allowing us to introduce products or services, educate your audience, and showcase your brand’s personality. Whether short-form videos for social media, long-form for YouTube, or live streaming for events, investing in building video content will help attract and grow your audience.