Social Marketing – What Is It, Concept, Types, Examples
The term social marketing refers to the adoption of commercial, promotional technologies into programs that are intended to influence the response of target audiences to improve both the individuals well-being and the well-being of the community in which they belong.
You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc., Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be HyperlinkedFor eg:Source: Social Marketing (wallstreetmojo.com)
It includes concept development, pricing, information exchange, delivery, and market analysis. Social marketing is developing, putting into action, and managing programs intended to influence the degree to increase acceptance of social ideas. It is a type of marketing that is expanding quickly and has a significant potential to lead to decreased consumption.
Social marketing, sometimes known as marketing for good, is a strategy that promotes positive societal transformation by focusing on influencing individuals actions or ways of life rather than just selling an item or service. Its emphasis on community engagement is distinct from commercial marketing, marketing via green or sustainable practices, and marketing via social media.
The goal of such marketing is to modify peoples behaviors for the greater good of society to the individuals profit and benefit of society as a whole by using the concepts of commercial marketing and the social sciences.
It is used by a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and charities, as well as by government organizations, emergency services, and agencies. Likewise, some examples are highway safety alliances, policemen, firefighters, and paramedic groups. Social marketers also handle campaigns for charitable causes of a commercial brands product or business.
In addition, nonprofit organizations use such marketing to boost their fundraising efforts. It helps in furthering their organizations mission or effecting societal shifts. Following are the strategies that can be used for doing social marketing.
Generally,with low finances, implementing a full social marketing program and not just a communication effort requires outside resources and experience. Hence, Cooperation and reciprocity are powerful. See if there is a similar group that regularly addresses the target audience. If so, building a strategic relationship for assisting their existing projects helps. Beyond regular partners, other groups may appeal to a similar target market.
Online marketing helps firms stretch costs. Hence, digital media and new websites have created numerous new possibilities. However, online is a cheap, ever-changing landscape. So, ensuring web marketing reaches the target demographic is vital. Also, it should not be used as a solo method.
Posting a story for free on any PR Web and sending bulk emails works well. Developing a list of prospects to send press releases and creating narrative articles about persons touched by the campaign and the advantages of behavior change helps spread the word.
Dont overlook word-of-mouth in healthy communication and marketing. Many individuals find the company through word-of-mouth. Keeping the target audience talking is vital for habit change since we all listen to our relatives, friends, and coworkers. The more avenues one can contact the target audience using social outreach, the more impact a firm has.
Widgets are code snippets that users may copy and paste into webpages or blogs. Creating widgets that partners may publish to backlink the firm helps. Action messages, not simply data, should be included.
Following are the types of social marketing.
It refers to companies that do not seek financial gain but use it as a marketing strategy to promote a cause. However, a typical example of nonprofit marketing is a campaign to generate donations and recruit volunteers using direct mail and mass media. Since this is the case, serving the greater good is the overarching aim, but the organizations primary objective is to earn money to be competitive with other charitable organizations.
This partnership between a for-profit and nonprofit company supports a charitable cause or other similar endeavors. In addition, the sales of the items produced by the commercial organization contribute to the pro-social motive. However, an equivalent would be something like sponsorship, when a charitable organization allows a for-profit firm to publicize its relationship with the charitable organization to improve peoples impressions of the for-profit corporation and the products it sells.
On the other hand, cause-related marketing generates revenue for the charitable organization as a direct consequence of the products or services sold. Therefore, advancing a social cause is not the primary purpose of a firm; rather, it is the secondary goal of a company to increase sales or any other marketing objective.
A comparison may be made between sponsorship and pro-social outreach. Nevertheless, the for-profit company aims to improve the publics opinion of its goods and services by establishing a cooperative partnership with an organization or cause that works to improve society. so social marketing allows firms to convey how they have a wake conscience for helping society back.
It is possible to confuse societal with social outreach or marketing, but the two are not the same. Kotler and his colleagues refer to businesses like this as socially responsible profit-making companies. However, societal marketing is considered a natural extension of the fundamental idea behind marketing. For making a profit from the determination and satisfaction of customer requirements in a manner that protects or enhances the consumer and society.
It is widely used in sectors of health and safety, environmentalism, and social action.
Let us look at the social marketing examples to understand the concept better.
Many organizations and health institutes utilize such marketing to reduce smoking and encourage quitting. These activities assist new smokers and help individuals with the habit quit. Some compelling TV ads portray real-life smokers with lung cancer or tracheostomies.
Many NGOs indulge in wildfire prevention social campaigns. Other tactics include billboards and signs near campers and fire extinguishing recommendations.
Conventional recycling marketing, such as curbside collection or electronics drop-off facilities, focuses on teaching. Showcasing reusable things, such as cloth or heavy-duty plastic bags for shopping, and how to reuse furniture are additional ways social outreach efforts on recycling operate, along with state-level bottle redemption programs.
The effort of such marketing by the American Disability Association promotes disability inclusion. It helped modify laws and rules to make transportation, housing, and playgrounds handicap accessible. To build an emotional connection with consumers, firms employ handicap awareness month, metro and elevator posters, and billboards.
Let us look at the advantages and disadvantages of the social marketing concept:
In public health, social marketing definition implies behavioral, persuasive, and exposure theories to target health risk behaviors. The social cognitive theory uses response repercussions, learning theory, and behavior modeling. The application of these marketing ideas and techniques to solve problems affecting a populations health is whats meant by social marketing in public health.
Instead of traditional advertising, such campaigns aim to effect positive social change. It employs marketing strategies to serve social change by educating people about an issue or cause and encouraging them to take action.
Social marketers focus on issues relating to society, the environment, and the economy. They contribute to malnutrition, poverty, lack of resources, inadequate schooling, poor health, and climate change. Communities use social marketing to influence peoples attitudes and actions, raise awareness, and spread positive messages.
This article has been a guide to What is Social Marketing and its definition. We explain its types, examples, and advantages & disadvantages. You may also find some useful articles here:
View post:
Social Marketing - What Is It, Concept, Types, Examples
- Unilever's Social-First Marketing Is Fueled by AI, Real-Time Data - Consumer Goods Technology - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Strome College of Business to Host Social Media Hackathon Oct. 17-18 - Old Dominion University - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Influencers are expanding far beyond their social media channelsand brands are both a tool and a benefactor - Marketing Brew - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- How Aldi revamped its social media strategy and why its working - Grocery Dive - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Reddit Is Becoming a Key Consideration for Marketers - Social Media Today - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Viral violent videos on social media are skewing young peoples sense of the world - UNSW Sydney - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Social Business Intelligence Market Anticipated to Hit USD 65.2 Billion by 2032 - openPR.com - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Robinhood Is Getting Into the Social Media Game. Should You Buy HOOD Stock Here? - Yahoo Finance - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Hold Tight expands marketing team with new social media management division - MusicWeek.com - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- LinkedIn Expands Access to Company Page Verification - Social Media Today - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- The government has outsourced the social media age problem to the platforms - unmade.media - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Meta Expands WhatsApp Status Ad Options - Social Media Today - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Videos of Charlie Kirks Shooting Spread Rapidly on Social Media - The New York Times - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- TSE leads FEAS working group on social media oversight - Tehran Times - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Meta Introduces New Brand Tools for Its Social Media Platforms - ADWEEK - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Charlie Kirks social media accounts have gained millions of followers since his murder - CNN - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Iowa school board to vote whether to fire teacher who posted after Charlie Kirk's death - The Des Moines Register - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Meta Announces New Reels and Threads Ad Options - Social Media Today - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- How Charlie Kirk changed conservative media and American politics - CNN - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Mary Kay combats brand myths with social media series targeting Gen Z - Marketing Dive - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Why dental practices need to rethink social media in the age of AI - Dental Economics - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- AI Operating Systems: The Next Level of AI for Business - Social Media Examiner - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- TikTok Data Shows the Opportunity of Its Search Ads - Social Media Today - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Google Highlights Key Travel Trends of the Season - Social Media Today - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- M&S on why its vast social media structure drives virality - Marketing Week - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- What Northern agencies can learn from the influencer marketing M&A boom - Prolific North - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Reddit Highlights the Value of Reddit Ads for Tech Marketers - Social Media Today - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- YouTube Sets Live-Stream Viewing Record with NFL Opening Night - Social Media Today - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Fashion Influencer Marketing Market Size to Surpass USD 74.29 Billion by 2032, Owing to Rising Reliance on Social Media and Authentic Consumer... - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Up to 1 in 4 vapes confiscated in schools contains spice - and these are pushed on social media - University of Bath - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Paid Media Is the Key! Why Content Marketing Outlasts Ads and Social Media in the AI Era - stupidDOPE - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Social Media Marketing For Small Businesses In 2025: Adoption, ROI, Platforms, And Risks - Brand Vision Marketing - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Social enterprise: music, metrics and the modern songwriter - PRS for Music - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- We Are Social Bolsters Creator Strategy With Maya Abdulazim As New Influencer Marketing Lead - Net Influencer - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Why is somETHing Token Surging, and What are the Market Implications? - OneSafe - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- X Shares Tips for Holiday Campaigns in the App - Social Media Today - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Social media firms need to be taken seriously as both tech platforms and as influential political organizations - The London School of Economics and... - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Long-Term Growth in the AI Era: Why Content Marketing Outlasts Ads and Social Media - stupidDOPE - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- NYC Influencers Eat Free Thanks to This Secret App - International Business Times UK - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Minneapolis Shooting Suspect Knew Her Target, but Motive Is a Mystery - The New York Times - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Trkiye Leads the Charge in Global Tourism Marketing with 20.8 Million Followers, Revolutionizing Tourism Promotion Across Social Media Platforms -... - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Social Media Marketing with Zero Ad Spend - easttexasnews.com - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- From ads, to AI, to podcasts: why social media is the centre of every marketing strategy in 2025 - Marketing Tech News - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Apply to Be Part of the University's Social Media Team! - University of Scranton - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- AnyMind Group acquires Japan-based creator studio for the beauty industry, NADESIKO - AnyMind Group - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Social Media Strategies That Drive Real Business Growth in 2025 - CDP Institute - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Google Veo3: Creating Pro-Quality AI Video Without a Film Crew - Social Media Examiner - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Social Media Marketing - Five Social Media Advertising Trends Shaping the Future [Infographic] - MarketingProfs - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Snapchat Shares Insights Into the Effectiveness of Gen AI for Marketing - Social Media Today - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Reddit Adds Trend Insights on Mobile, Guidebook for Brands - Social Media Today - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Duolingos Departing Social Media Manager Talks Virality, Anxiety and Mental Health - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Gen Zs growing interest in financial advice and investing fuelled by social media - CityNews Halifax - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- TikTok Sees Big Revenue Increase in the UK Market - Social Media Today - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Meta Stands to Benefit From White House Opposition to the EU DSA - Social Media Today - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Meta Rolls Out Changes to Its Ad Billing Settings - Social Media Today - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- She Doesnt Like It When Her Husbands Marketing Team Posts Pictures Of Her On Their Social Media, But Her Husband Doesnt Think Its A Problem -... - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- WINVEST GROUP SUBSIDIARY IQI MEDIA PARTNERS WITH BIOCALTH TO DRIVE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SALES - The Manila Times - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Meta Is Consolidating More of Its Detailed Ad Targeting Options - Social Media Today - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Accenture acquires social and influencer agency Superdigital - Performance Marketing World - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Accenture Strengthens Social and Influencer Marketing Capabilities with Acquisition of Superdigital - Business Wire - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- How Two Bitcoiners 'Tripped' Into Opaque BTC Treasuries Market and Built Massive Information Hub - CoinDesk - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- India's social media stars are turning to businessand the industry is booming - CNBC - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Social Media Manager Platforms Market: Unveiling Growth Trajectories and Business Opportunities from 2025 to 2032 - openPR.com - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Why Affiliate Marketing Firms LTK and ShopMy Want to Be the Next Social Media Platforms - Adweek - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Google Expands Its Use of AI To Detect Invalid Ad Traffic - Social Media Today - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- YouTube usage outpaces social media rivals over past year, YouGov finds - Marketing Week - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Edits Gets Updated Reels Insights, Safe Zone Mapping and More - Social Media Today - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Threads Reaches 400M Users, Closing in on Xs Usage - Social Media Today - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldnt be allowed to vote - KPLC 7 News - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- President Trump announces on social media that gold wont be tariffed - KITCO - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- (PDF) Social Marketing and Tourism What Is the Evidence? - researchgate.net - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Snapchat Shares Insights Into the Key Drivers of Audience Attention - Social Media Today - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- (PDF) Social Marketing and Its Moral Dimensions - researchgate.net - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Angela Wells uses charm and personality to win new business at Fin Studios - Ad Age - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- (PDF) The Impact of Social Media on Business Marketing and Consumer Shopping - researchgate.net - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- New chatbot on Trumps Truth Social platform keeps contradicting him - The Washington Post - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- How Carls Jr. built on big game success with social star Alix Earle - Marketing Dive - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Sierra Social Marketing celebrates two years - Northern Nevada Business Weekly - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Meta Shares Insights Into the Value of Personalization and Responsible Data Usage - Social Media Today - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Pinterest Shares Tips on How To Build Your Pin Community - Social Media Today - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]