Social media is booming, but many businesses are asking if it is the right strategy for them. The truth is, social media can help your business tremendously. While it can be hard to measure exactly how much social media marketing can increase your overall revenue, it is certainly a worthwhile investment. What’s more is that there is much more to gain from social media that a sales figure.
Sales figures aside, here are five benefits of social media for your business:
1. Connections.
With social media, you have an excellent opportunity to make personal, individual connections with potential or existing customers. This is an aspect often overlooked, but essential to understand. By creating connections with your audience, you add value and weight to your brand and your company. This additional connection instills trust in your customers and enhances the value of your long-term relationship with them.
2. Exposure.
Social media networks are some of the best exposure you can get. They get your name out there and, if you’re doing things right, remembered. Each platform you represent your company on is another opportunity to deliver your message and drive sales. With the prevalence of social media and mobile, you may be able to reach a demographic you previously couldn’t. These are figures simple sales stats can’t reflect, but still carry weight and value.
3. Partnerships.
Social media can not only help you reach potential customers, but can also foster partnerships for mutual benefit. Through social media, you can connect with other businesses and organizations, which can lead to new connections and possibly partnerships. These kinds of relationships are great for driving sales both ways.
4. SEO/Visibility.
Each social media network acts like another site for search engines to index, creating more visibility when your audience is trying to find your products or services. The more social media networks you are promoting your business on, the more top hits you can get on search engines.
5. Leads.
Each of these – creating connections, increasing exposure, developing partnerships, and optimizing visibility – are ultimately ways to raise awareness about your brand and your company. Once a relationship is formed, it lays the foundation for a future sale. The more influence you garner through social media, the farther your “reach” extends. Once people begin to find you and follow you through social media to your website/storefront, a path is established for others to follow.
If you’re curious to learn more about social media for businesses, we have a great new Facebook class coming up on Monday, August 13. Check out the event listing for more information. In the future, we will also have classes on other social media networks such as Twitter and LinkedIn, so check our calendar regularly for new classes and events.
