Social media allows us to connect and build relationships with both current and potential customers. Unlike traditional media, social media is a two-way street. It allows for everyone to contribute to the conversation.
Social media also levels the playing field. The cost for small businesses to participate is much lower than other traditional marketing initiatives such as print, broadcast and online advertising. With Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn boasting a combined membership of about 500 million active members, your potential market is unlike any other traditional marketing method.
Social media also allows you to easily track engagement, membership interests, as well as demographics. While integrating with analytics data it is also easy to track your return-on-investment at any time, be it daily, weekly or monthly.
One common complain I often hear from business owners is “I’ve tried social media. It doesn’t work.”
For small businesses, social media needs to be about the conversation between their business and its customers, or potential customers and building a level of trust and loyalty. In their rush to do social, there are some fundamental errors that many small businesses make when they initiate a social media strategy to further their business. Social media is a long-term strategy, not something that will yield results overnight.
When you combine social media with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and blogging, you will see amazing results. In combination with a solid SEO and blogging strategy, social media is a rock-solid foundation to increase visibility, attract leads and build brand.
