Why Social Media Marketing Isn’t Optional Anymore — It’s a Core Business Strategy

 Social media marketing can be overwhelming when you’re just starting, learning it, and trying to grow on the complex algorithm. It might seem you are juggling content creation, growing with other creators, and wondering why one reel went exceptionally well and the other flopped! It can be like you're yelling into the void, stuck at the 200 views mark, or even less, seeing no growth. However, social media management starts by understanding the strategy behind it—it's not just trends or a trendy photo. Social media can make a real business impact for a brand and grow the brand if you use it right!

At its foundation, social media marketing is all about digital communication. It’s how brands, from startups to major corporations, connect with real people digitally to answer concerns, comments, and positive moments. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Threads are nice to have. They are foundational tools shaping perception, driving conversion, and boosting businesses' goals. It's not solely about conversions, reach, and impressions (even though that helps a ton); it's about creating a community and staying relevant to generate the revenue you are looking for.

For instance, look at Poppi, the brand behind all the catchy social media teasers promoting their prebiotic soda, which is shaking up giants like Coke and Pepsi. But how are they doing it? (Hint: it concerns their social media marketing strategy). They leverage short-form content and community-focused messaging like influencer marketing to stand out in a heavily dominated digital market. Poppi turns their product into a national sensation with their bright aesthetic, amazing flavor, and a fantastic social media presence. The company has shown massive growth in 2024, showing that marketing, if done right, can make a huge difference in strategy and sales when aligned with the platform algorithm correctly (Ad Age, 2024).

Social media marketing is setting the new standard for business models. It is no longer limited to interns or what is trendy online. It is a central component of brand building, marketing validation, and consumer trust. Executives to investors are noting how you create and perform your social media strategy. According to Forbes, having a social media strategy can be essential to driving traffic to a website or creating lead generation for a product or service. It can lead to a higher return on investment and conversions for business owners and investors. It also gives insights into consumer behavior and what content the consumer finds interesting in reach, impressions, and conversions to the website (Joshi,Forbes, 2024).

Within the last decade, social media has become the prominent modern way to advertise products, services, and discounts/giveaways. It has become the frontline where new prospective audiences verify your business and decide if they want to go with you for your service. Social media has become a part of your pitch deck, and it is used more than ever before. It assesses the scalability, how customers see your brand, and whether the brand can pivot or not in a rapid digital space.

Social media shouldn’t be an afterthought; it should be something you check off your marketing priority list. This is no longer about posting consistently to stay ahead and visible. It's all about strategy and showing up with clarity, creativity that converts to sales.

The question of the day isn’t Should I be on social media? The real question is How can I leverage social media to generate more leads and business goals? Are you using it correctly as a true business asset?

So if you’re still treating social media as an afterthought—something to check off a marketing to-do list—it’s time to rethink that. This is no longer about posting consistently just to stay visible. It’s about showing up with clarity, creativity, and a strategy that aligns with your larger business goals.

Hopefully, you found this blog helpful in understanding how social media marketing works on a bigger scale.

Until next time,

Stay Social! -

Laurelyn