Lots of folks confuse social media with social marketing. In fact, some use these two terms interchangeably. If you’re not quite sure about the difference between social media and social marketing, ruckus is here to help. Yeah, we’re nice like that. In simple terms, social media is a communication platform, a network for making connections, whereas social marketing is a specialized form of promoting positive behavior change and addressing societal issues for the greater good. Social marketing utilizes marketing principles and techniques to encourage people to adopt behaviors that will benefit them individually and society as a whole. This noble objective is what differentiates social marketing from other marketing tactics aimed at selling products or services. Do social marketing efforts typically involve social media? You bet! But social media is just one of many tactical layers that make up a comprehensive approach to social marketing.

A few of the most notable social marketing initiatives over the past decade include:

·       Black Lives Matter

·       Me Too

·       The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

·       Dove Real Beauty campaign

The common denominators of these efforts? They captured public attention, fostered engagement, and sparked conversations about important social issues. Their impact extended beyond social media, leading to real-world changes, increased support for causes and raised awareness about various societal challenges. Much like our work with the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, social marketing plays a crucial role in addressing issues related to social determinants of the social and economic factors that influence people's health and well-being. These determinants include factors such as income, education, employment, housing, access to health care, and social support networks. The importance of social marketing in this context lies in its ability to bring about positive behavioral changes, raise awareness, and advocate for equitable policies to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged populations. So, now that you know how many cool things can be accomplished through social marketing, why don’t you join us in being a force for good?