Social Media Business Benefits

Is social media marketing right for your business?

That was a rhetorical question and the answer is yes! Hopefully you have a strategic plan in place and an ever expanding social media presence, however, if you’re still wavering on the idea of ‘tweeting’ on behalf of your business, perhaps the following 10 points might persuade you…

1)   It’s free! The majority of social media sites are free to sign up to and you can create a profile for your business in minutes. Advanced options are often available where a fee then becomes applicable, however, general usage incurs no cost.

2)   You are in control. The amount of time and energy you wish to spend on the sites is entirely up to you. The levels of communication you wish to enter into do obviously affect your return on investment (which can be hard to measure), but online tools are available to help you and accessibility is very straightforward.

3)   Increased exposure. Communication via these platforms enables you to share your company values and make vast audiences aware of your brand.  It increases general awareness of your business and can strengthen your brand/market positioning.

4)   Making connections. Through social media sites you can connect and engage with audiences to a degree that suits you. From mass broadcasts to one on one conversations, the sites promote various forms of communication.

5)   Consistency in an unpredictable marketplace. Getting your messages out there and having a constant presence on social media sites will reinforce/inspire confidence in your business. Communicating in this way will help you build and maintain a solid reputation.

6)   Building on trust. People talk, and having been wowed with your business knowledge via social media sites, the chances of referrals increase, along with the potential growth of your client base.

7)   Real life opportunities. Networking online can lead to many related socialising opportunities offline too. Events and invites are often publicised via social media sites (sometimes exclusively) and they give the perfect opportunity to follow up leads or connections.

8)   At the cutting edge. Being part of an online community means you can be the first to hear and share the latest news! Whether this is specific to your business, or just an exciting story that has caught the headlines, online communities are notorious for getting news out there first.

9)   Be part of something. Social media has an amazing voice through the sheer volume and force of those involved. Not only will you be joining a community, you will have the opportunity to take part in powerful campaigns that can really make a difference.

10) Score that goal. Creating a strategy for your social media marketing is simple. It doesn’t have to be an epic publication, just a few points on what you want out of the experience. Do you want to raise brand awareness? Keep in touch with current clients? Reach out to a particular audience segment? Whatever your aim, just bear this in mind when utilising social media sites and you will be on the way to carving out a successful path suitable for your business!