Social Media for Business Marketing : 6 reasons to invest in

December 5, 2018

The Importance of Social Media for Business Marketing

Let’s start with one simple fact: your business needs a social media presence.

It doesn’t matter if you run a small local B2C or large B2B Business. Social media is an essential piece of your business marketing strategy.

Social Media is essential for every business and some serious thought and planning needs to go into your social media strategy.

Here are six reasons why investing in social media is a wise business move.

1. Build Awareness for your Business

If people don’t know about your business or your products, this is a great way to reach people in your area or around the country that you would not be able to reach otherwise through traditional media depending on your product, for a fraction of the cost.

Like traditional media, some thought and planning have to go into this. Define what you want to get out of social media and develop a social media strategy . Do you want new customers to discover your services? Do you hope to bring more local shoppers into your stores? By keeping your strategy specific, you can determine which social media channels are the best fit for your business.

Choosing the platforms is also essential to your demographic; there is no silver bullet for everyone.As you decide which social channels to use, you will also need to define your strategy for each network

2. Convey Authority in your subject matter

Customers are getting smarter and smarter in and want more info on a product or service before purchasing or supporting a business. This is where social media gives them this platform.

More and more people now search social media before search engines when investigating a product or service. Here is an opportunity for you to shine in this area and take advantage.

Look for ways to demonstrate your expertise as a thought leader in your industry—like writing SM posts or blog post related to your expertise or expanding on your company’s goals. By showing what your business offers and values, you will establish confidence in potential customers.

3. Be Genuine

Customers aren’t interested in businesses that publish dry, corporate-style social media posts. Instead, let your brand or company shine and show you care about them and not just their money through the tone and position you stand on. Through this, you will build loyalty and repeat business.

Practice getting your tone just right, whether it’s casual and funny or formal and friendly. Be true to who you are, not who you think you should be. Followers want to see real people behind your social profiles. Be Real.

4. Welcome engagement and communication

Media channels have evolved and changed. This can be intimidating and scary for some business owners. The one thing I have learned is that the only thing that is constant in the world today is change.

Social media now allows your customers to engage with businesses and feel included in the process. In this world of being part of the masses, people want to feel special and attention is given to them directly. They feel special then you build trust with them.

You have to use these tools to your advantage. But remember: you don’t have to do everything. Play with new ways to connect with your audience, and give yourself permission to learn as you go.

• One day, you could post a series of Instagram Stories to give customers a behind-the-scenes tour of your office.
• The next, you could host a quick Q&A session via Facebook Live video streaming. Over time, you’ll get a better idea of your followers’ preferences.
• You can create engaging video content for social media with a simple setup—good lighting, a smartphone, and a tripod. Also, do a test run before you go live to make sure your internet connection or hotspot has enough speed to avoid delays and interruptions.

5. Use Social Media to be Supportive

Social platforms have successfully broken down barriers between companies and their customers. Now, instead of calling a customer service line, many people turn to Facebook or Twitter to solve problems or find information. Develop your reputation as a responsive, caring brand by offering support through social channels:

Create a system for tracking customer comments, questions, and complaints on social media. Then respond as quickly as possible to questions and concerns. Remember to go out of your way to be positive and helpful. Make sure you listen to criticism and make customers feel heard and know when to resolve public conversations in private messages.

6. Grow Affordably

Marketing costs add up, and not every business can afford huge campaigns. But you can get a lot of bang for your buck with social media advertising.

Your business, regardless of size or budget, has an opportunity to grow your audience and reach your objectives through ads on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

When building an ad campaign, know who you’re trying to reach and what goal you want to achieve so you don’t waste any of your budget on unhelpful advertising. Avoid overly salesy ads, and opt for content that educates or entertains (or does both at the same time).

Social media is a crucial part of your business marketing, but it doesn’t have to be stressful to manage. Take the first step, choose your platform and start engaging with your customers.

David Venter of IdeasVoice SA