At the beginning of 2009, I was a huge cynic about the value of social media. I thought it was superficial chit-chat with little or no commercial use. Now, however, I’m completely ‘converted’. The reality is that social media is here to stay, and the sooner you and your business get involved, the sooner you will begin to reap the rewards.
Truth is that the vast majority of SMEs in the UK right now fall into two categories when it comes to social media: Those that are doing nothing – because they don’t know what to do; – Those that are dabbling – but don’t know what to do. Neither are smart strategies!
Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Engage with Social Media.
1. The fact is, Social Media is transforming the way the world does business.
In your town and your city, this week. Today. The implications are huge and the prizes are enormous for those businesses with the wisdom and foresight to get involved – properly – right now. But if you don’t know exactly what to do and how to do it – and are therefore invisible on the social media landscape – then you have no chance. Which means the biggest single opportunity to develop and grow your business since the arrival of the internet, will completely pass you by.
2. It’s where the people are
Facebook recently overtook Google as the site with most page views in a month. Thousands of your potential customers – people who live and work within a few miles of your business – are on Facebook and Twitter today. You’d have to be either incredibly arrogant or incredibly stupid to not even try to communicate and engage with them. Wouldn’t you?
3. A Community Following
By far the biggest benefit of using platforms such as Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn is the ability for you to build a community around your cause. If you sell car valeting products how valuable would it be to have tens of thousands of car enthusiasts accessible to your business right now? What if you could have them help you develop your new products, test it for you, and then spread the good word to ten friends each? If every one of them did that (and they can and will if you do this properly) then that’d make you some serious cash, and wouldn’t hurt your brand reputation either. Community is about engaging. It’s about listening, and responding appropriately. It is NOT just shouting about me, me, me. Do this right and you have people willing to help you accomplish your goals. It’s powerful stuff.
4. The New Internet Marketing
The goal of any business with a website is to get people to visit that site. So then, if several of the most visited websites in the world are allowing people to use their sites to freely guide people to specific websites, why wouldn’t you want a chunky piece of the action?
Why does Google make so much money from its ‘pay-per-click’ advertising? Because most people who use the internet use Google to find what they want. NEWSFLASH: most people who use the internet use Facebook and Twitter and the truth is, the opportunity to market your business on these sites is as big as anything that’s ever happened on the web – albeit somewhat different.
5. Your Reputation Matters…
What have people said about you, your industry, your company or your competitors on Twitter or Facebook today? This week? Social Media IS 21st Century word of mouth. How valuable is it when a disgruntled customer grouches about you online and you are able to spot it and respond constructively and positively – within hours? Your relationship with them isn’t just preserved, it’s enhanced.
How valuable is it to be able to collect the nice things that people say about you and magnify their exposure. This is big stuff. But you have to be properly engaged with social media to access the prize.
If you’d like some help with your social media then let us know and we can help you.
