From the President of the United States to the girl who does my nails…everyone seems to use some kind of social media to connect with others. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or some other outlet, there is no doubt that Social Networking is a popular pastime - but should businesses view it as something more?
Yes - and the key word here is ‘networking’. Networking, whether online or offline, is a great use of time when done properly and if you use social networking strategically and measurably then you will reap the benefits. Still not convinced? Here are our reasons why you need to incorporate Social Media Marketing (SMM) into your business.
1. It is cheap
Let’s not beat around the bush. Social networking sites are free to join and even with a little help from the experts, ROI is easy when your investment is so small!
2. You can connect with peers
Use social networks aimed at your industry or business level and find joint ventures, potential partnership opportunites, or even just other like-minded people to bounce ideas off.
3. You can show off your brand
It’s a great way to tell people all those little things that make you special that never find their way onto the brochures and websites, and reiterate those USPs that do!
4. You can attract new customers
Social marketing is a trust worthy source if used correctly. People don’t feel like they’re being sold to and can easily read other people’s opinions on your company and product. Not only that - you can reach huge audiences that are otherwise unavailable to you.
5. Your competitors already use it
It doesn’t matter what industry, country, company or charity you are part of - your competitors are using social networks. In fact, if you search for your own business or product, you might find people are already talking about you - and you should be able to answer them.
So, is social media worth the time? That depends. If you can cannot and will not commit the time to learning how to use these tools, then there is no point even starting. You need to provide an almost constant stream of fresh content - a half-hearted approach will look unprofessional and be a waste of time. If in doubt, pick one outlet and try it first - don’t tackle the top ten at the same time! A successful SMM campaign is worth the effort though, and we have four years worth of customers who will testify with us!
For more information visit our page on Social Media Marketing or Contact us.