SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a very low cost way to attract new customers. It may seem a bit mysterious how it could be useful to a business, but according to Hubspot, in 2014, 92% of marketers said that social media marketing was important to their business, with 80% saying it increased traffic to their websites. According to socialmediamarketing.com, 97% of marketers are using social media, but 85% of them aren’t sure which are the best tools to use.

So, many businesses are aware of the various social media platforms, but may not be so clear on how to use them to advantage. Most would agree though, that any opportunity to spread the word about your business should be taken with both hands, so to clarify the “why should I?” question, consider the benefits listed below:

Brand Management

Social media networks are a platform for your brand and content. They help make you more accessible to new customers, more familiar to existing customers, and more recognizable to both. Your interaction can result in customers promoting you to new network prospects; whenever your brand is mentioned positively you extend your reach and brand authority.

Conversion Rates

Social media marketing is also known as content marketing. The idea is to post content that not only engages your audience, but that serves some longer term commercial goals. Whether it’s content you create or that you share from other sources, it shows a human side to the somewhat faceless digital entity a website presents. It demonstrates the things that are important to your business, whether that be a global social conscience, or a commitment to charities or local community groups.

These are things that your audience identifies with, that build an element of trust. People are much more comfortable to buy from businesses they trust.

Increased Site Traffic

Without social media you’re limited to people who know how to find you, and the success of your SEO campaigns to generate visitors to your website. Every post you make is a pathway back to your site, and potentially new leads and customers. The more quality content you post, the more traffic you’ll create, and hopefully, more customers! Each of the networks also offer lead generating products which can help you post information that responds directly to people interested in products like yours.

Low Marketing Costs

According to Hubspot, 84% of marketers found that as little as 6 hrs a week was enough to generate increased traffic. One hour a day to get some quality content out there and start seeing some results! You can also get low cost paid advertising from Facebook and Twitter.

Improve your customer relations

The opportunity to respond to customers’ questions, complaints and compliments directly shows great respect for their feelings. You can take immediate action to restore their faith in your brand and maintain their loyalty. You can thank them for their support and recommend other products, or that they recommend you to their friends and family. 

SEO

When writing copy for social media or blogs there is the opportunity to use the keywords and phrases that search engines recognize from your site. This is a free way to increase your search engine rankings, and as your audience grows and learns about your products, your site traffic will also benefit.

 

Be aware, your competitors are almost sure to already be active on social networks, potentially taking your traffic and your prospects with them. There is very little to lose by getting involved, and you can adjust your level of involvement as you get a feel for it all. You can do it yourself, or if you can’t find the time for it, have us manage it for you. The potential for new customers makes it a pretty good investment in your own success, and the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll establish a following and start seeing results. To get started straight away, hit us here.