5 REASONS WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Social media has forever changed how businesses operate. Facebook and Instagram have revolutionised online marketing for businesses, with up to 90% of small business making use of the social platforms.

Some businesses have found amazing success with social media, while others are still struggling to find their feet in this new world of online marketing. And then there are the businesses who are yet to test the waters and take advantage of social media for one reason or another — not enough time in their day, lack of understanding, or disbelief that social media can actually work.

If your business isn't utilising social media, or if you’ve set up Facebook and Instagram but aren’t convinced it’s truly worth your time, here are five reasons they are important to your business.

1. IT HELPS YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR CUSTOMERS

Your existing and potential customers are already on social media, why not meet them where they are? Having a social media presence is key to finding potential leads and reaching your target audience. It serves as an outlet for you to offer customer service, and engage with your customers. Simple market research can help you determine which social networks your target audience uses most.

2. IT BUILDS BRAND AWARENESS

There is no denying that social media channels are the best way to establish your brand’s presence. With the proper social media marketing strategies, you can express the heart of your brand and establish its presence and recognition in your target marketplace.

We are living in a tech-savvy generation, and research shows that consumers are more inclined to buy from a business that offers a positive social media experience.

3. IT BOOSTS SEO AND ENGAGEMENT

Google and other search engines review the type of content you post on your Facebook Business Page, as well as how people interact with your content ( by clicking, liking, and sharing it). By sharing content from your website, you can drive more traffic to your pages — which search engines take as a sign that your website has helpful, relevant content that people want to read and interact with. This, in turn, can lead to better SEO rankings (or being higher up on Google’s results page). You can read more about social signals here.

4.SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK PROVIDE A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR E-COMMERCE

Social media for e-commerce has become a critical element in sales growth for many businesses. Interactive videos on YouTube allow your customers to make a purchase decision directly through the video itself. Using Facebook apps, you can even build a sales portal directly into your business’ Facebook page. Alternatively, businesses can use social media to provide links to products and services customers can purchase online. A great photo and a link to purchase is a great way to offer you products.

Social media can be as powerful as a word-of-mouth referral, especially on Facebook where followers can share directly with their friends. If an existing customer has something to say about your products and services, chances are high they will share their opinion with their friends and followers on social media.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA IS A LOW COST ADVERTISING OPTION

Advertising on social media is a much more affordable option than traditional marketing. You can target advertisements to reach people within a certain radius of your business. That means you don’t end up paying for advertising outside of your local customer base.

You can update your followers on promotions, sales, new products, or even just industry-related information. Posting photos also help customers see what you offer. With social media, you advertise to your current customers, but you also can advertise to potential customers by getting your brand out there. You’ll get more reach and more “bang for your buck” if you work with an experienced social media marketing agency to manage your online marketing strategy and content.

Now that you know WHY you need Facebook for your small business, you’re ready to start engaging with customers online!

All of this may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you’re still learning the ins and outs of Facebook, or if you’re worried about posting on your Business Page and monitoring comments regularly. You also may not have the time (or the desire) to create, manage, and analyse posts and ads on your own — and that’s okay! If you need help taking the leap into social media, contact ZOCC, an experienced social media marketing agency.

Then you can sit back, relax, and do what you do best: lead your business and watch it grow.

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