Social Media for Small Businesses in Today’s World
Even though the extensive usage of various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. is there for all to see, a large number of small businesses still haven’t explored this sphere. Many small business owners are of the opinion that this realm works well for big businesses, and many others feel that their customers stay away from the social media platforms. However, the truth is that any small business which channels its social media efforts in the right manner can benefit significantly through improved customer loyalty as well as the good old ‘word-of-mouth’ publicity.
Almost every type of business; be it a restaurant, a club, or even a business that offers professional services, can truly see benefits through this platform. Social media websites can help make a business more accessible, can help building an online reputation, can help establish longstanding relationships, and can also help build trust.
More Small Businesses Jumping In:
The good thing is that an increasing number of small businesses are now looking in this direction. A recent study carried out by the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business showed that the number of small businesses using social media across the United States have increased twofold in the last year (from 12 percent to 24 percent). It went on to say that one out of five small businesses have incorporated social media in their marketing efforts, with Facebook and LinkedIn accounting for the two most commonly used websites. Additionally, 45 percent of the respondents were of the opinion that their efforts in the social media realm would pay financial dividends within a 12 month period.
Starting Out:
Diving into the social media world can be intimidating, with there being a plethora of options to choose from. The most important thing that small business owners/managers need to remember in such a scenario is that their efforts should not make them seem desperate. Efforts should ideally focus on maintaining a balance between creating awareness about the brand and marketing, without seeming over the top.
Also bear in mind that marketing efforts through this realm should focus on customer experience. Consequently, you should not expect to have control about what is being said about your business in the online world. Your efforts would include monitoring what is being said about your business, and then taking relevant action. This could be through simple online replies, or through effective offline action. When what you hear is negative, you need to take corrective measures, and when you like what you hear, you can use that further your social media marketing endeavor.
If you do wish to enter the social media world to popularize your business, take the following into account.
- As opposed to using social media sites indiscriminately, establish which ones are most relevant to your business.
- Do not jump on the social media bandwagon without any groundwork; ensure that you conceptualize and define your social media marketing goals.
- Ensure that you do not spend too much time on your social media efforts; after all, you do need to focus more on your core competencies.
- Stay abreast with the technological developments.
- Overnight results are unheard of and near impossible to achieve.
Finally, do realize that an increasing number of consumers are turning to social media websites in order to look for information and recommendations, and if your business is out of this loop, it would surely be missing a considerable piece of the pie
