Social media can seem intimidating and scary for businesses that aren’t in the tech industry, but using social media is essential to ensuring success in today’s world.
In fact, 88% of consumers are more likely to buy from a business they follow on social media, making it critical to pay attention to what your customers want, where they want it, and how they want it delivered.
So how do you get started? Below are seven benefits of social media for your business, as well as tips on how to harness the power of social media marketing so you can start growing your business today.
1) Reach a Wider Audience
In this day and age, social media schedulers have become an essential part of the marketing strategy for any business. With the use of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, businesses can reach a much wider audience and engage with customers in new ways.
For example, people are more likely to visit your website when they see that you have many positive reviews or read what others are saying about you on Facebook.
“Social media offers a way to connect with potential customers who might not be searching for your products or services.”- Sarah Kienlen
Nowadays, people are constantly checking their phones. According to Google’s research from December 2022, people spend over four hours per day on their smartphones. That is more time than they spend sleeping.
So it makes sense that there is such a high demand for social media. As marketers, we need to find out how to use social media strategically so we can capture our audiences’ attention.
2) Cost-Effective Marketing
Social media is a cost-effective marketing tool that can help you expand your reach and grow your business. If you’re not taking advantage of the benefits it provides, now’s the time to get started.
Social media makes it easy to connect with consumers on a personal level and helps you stay in touch with them even when they’re not interacting with your posts.
It’s also an effective tool for research-posting hashtags or asking followers questions can help you discover what people are interested in so that you can provide more relevant content.
And social media is an excellent way to interact with influencers who might be able to take your business to new heights.
For example, if you want to become the go-to brand for fitness enthusiasts, connecting with bloggers who write about this topic will give you instant credibility and make it easier to acquire customers in that niche.
The ability to post videos means your followers will never miss out on a live event, which is something other forms of communication just can’t offer.
You’ll also have complete control over how much information (or how little) appears about each event-whether it’s 15 minutes long or three hours long.
Whether you’re running a small business or a large corporation, there’s no denying the importance of staying active on social media.
With millions of potential customers all around the world at your fingertips, it only makes sense to capitalize on every opportunity available to engage with them.
Keep these proven tips in mind as you plan your social media strategy, and watch as your company grows.
3) Increase Brand Awareness and Equity
Business owners who invest time and money into social media marketing will be able to increase their brand awareness and equity. This is especially true for small businesses that may not have the budget or time to advertise in other ways.
It’s important to keep in mind that a lot of people are using social media platforms, so this is an easy way to reach a larger audience with less effort.
A large percentage of people prefer to buy products from companies with lots of positive reviews from previous customers. For example, if you’re running a restaurant, ask your current customers about how their food tasted and if they enjoyed the service.
If you’re running an online clothing store, ask your clients about which size was most accurate for them and which styles they liked best.
You can also use social media to communicate directly with customers more effectively than through email or phone calls. Keep in the loop by following comments made by your followers and responding when appropriate.
Use hashtags to connect with users of similar interests. Share photos from events to show what your company does outside the office and invite visitors to participate in contests or giveaways.
In addition, share your thoughts on trending topics in your industry. It’s free advertising while providing value to your audience.
4) Generate Leads and Drive Sales
Social media can be a daunting task. There are so many platforms to choose from, and it’s difficult to know where to start. But, the benefits of social media for your business are profound. The key is understanding how to use it best in order to drive sales and generate leads.
It is a great way to Generate Leads and Drive Sales. With so much happening on social media, you want to make sure that you’re only posting content that will convert into leads or sales.
If you’re not converting, it may mean that what you’re posting isn’t relevant enough or isn’t engaging enough. When using Instagram, for example, try uploading videos with links to products within them.
Posting videos like this will likely increase conversions as people are able to see the product and read about it all at once without having to click away from Instagram first.
Take advantage of free tools available to help you keep track of your efforts too. Check out Hootsuite and Sprout Social, which both offer features that allow you to monitor the effectiveness of posts on various social channels.
You’ll also be able to respond immediately and maximize engagement if needed. And don’t forget to take full advantage of hashtags to get the most eyes on your content. Experiment with different types until you find one that suits your needs.
Hashtags can be used across different social media platforms, but they do work differently across each one, so research before jumping right in.
5) Improve Customer Service
One of the benefits of social media is improved customer service. You can connect with your customers and resolve issues right away without waiting on hold or having to send an email.
Plus, you can get feedback from your customers and make improvements to your products or services based on what they say.
For example, if a customer has a complaint about their order not arriving on time and mentions this in a Facebook post or tweet, it will show up in your notifications.
In response to that notification, you could reach out to that person personally and apologize for the delay or offer them something in compensation for their inconvenience.
Social media also lets you have real-time conversations with your followers, which helps keep them engaged so that they come back to check up on what’s happening at your company again.
It also allows you to share ideas with people across various networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google+.
6) Foster Better relationships with Customers and Stakeholders
Social media can be a great way to foster better relationships with customers and stakeholders. With the advent of social media, you can now have a more open dialogue with your customers and stakeholders.
They are no longer abstract entities but real people just like you who want to get the most out of their hard-earned money. There’s no need to guess what they’re thinking or what they want – they’ll tell you themselves.
Use these conversations to learn about the challenges that your customers and stakeholders face in order to improve your services.
For instance, if there is something that you don’t know about how your products affect certain demographics, it would be wise to ask them on social media channels.
It is never too late to listen more closely, even if you’ve been listening all along. The feedback you receive will help you identify areas where you may not have thought much before.
You may find that your company already offers some of the services they requested and are happy with them, giving you even more opportunities to build social media presence by helping those that already believe in your company.
7) Get Real-Time Feedback
Social media is a great tool to get feedback on your business without any pressure. When people feel like they’re being watched, they can easily be less than honest in their feedback.
By providing a space where people can share their opinions, you’re not putting them on the spot, and they can be more open with what they think.
Once you get this information, you can use it to improve your company or make changes if things aren’t going as well as planned.
For example, let’s say that reviews from social media have been overwhelmingly positive, but sales have been low.
The point is that because customers trust social media over other platforms, such as surveys, feedback from social media can be an important part of assessing customer sentiment, which will help in future decisions.
Just keep in mind that there may be negative reviews too.
Final Words
For many people, the word social media has become synonymous with the word online marketing.
There are now hundreds of social networks out there, each with its own niche and audience, so it can feel like an uphill battle to find one that fits your business’s needs and brand voice.
But when properly leveraged, social media can be one of the most valuable tools you have at your disposal as an entrepreneur or small business owner.
You’ll need to do some research and trial-and-error before finding a system that works for you, but in the end, plenty of benefits are waiting for you.
I hope these tips will help get you started on the right path.
