As a small business owner, you wear multiple hats. One of your most critical activities is marketing, as you need it to promote your services, attract new customers, and retain your existing ones.
Social media is one of the most efficient and cost-effective marketing strategies you can leverage. A strong social media presence is critical; today, we’ll find out why.
Why Your Business Needs a Social Media Presence
While your website is ground zero for people to find you online, your social media pages are a close second. People engage with brands online and often research their socials before buying just to get a sense of who you are, your values, and what your followers are saying.
That said, keeping your pages up to date is critical. There’s nothing worse than going to a company’s page and finding they haven’t posted in six months!
Let’s look at some benefits of a social media presence for small businesses.
1. Reach a Wider Audience
No matter your industry niche, your customers are likely on social media. Unlike traditional marketing channels, social media offers a broader reach, allowing you to interact with a much bigger audience and be discovered by potential customers who might not have known about your business otherwise.
2. Increase Brand Awareness
There are many methods to increase brand awareness on social media. Using targeted hashtags, creating shareable content, and engaging with your customers (and even the competition) are all ways to put your brand out there.
3. Communicate with Customers
Social media provides a platform to connect with customers, build relationships, and encourage loyalty. You can answer questions, solve problems, give advice, and thank customers for their patronage. Your page also allows customers to review your business and provide feedback, helping you understand their motivations.
4. Cost-effective Marketing
Social media offers an affordable platform to promote products and events or simply to give your free posts a better reach. Social media advertising can target specific demographics, locations, and interests, helping you get your brand in front of the right audience for much less than you’d pay for Google Ads.
5. Customer Service
Social media is also an excellent way to provide customer service. Each platform offers a way to send an instant message, which you can respond to immediately, solve problems, and show you care.
Which Social Platforms Are Right for Your Business?
The top social platforms today are Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. LinkedIn is essential for B2B businesses, but covering the other two is also a good idea. If you operate in a visual niche, Instagram is a great way to promote what you do.
Other platforms, like TikTok, Twitter (now rebranded as X), and Meta’s new mobile-only platform, Threads, may speak to you, but it all depends on where your audience is.
Keep your social profiles current, ensure they represent your brand in tone and visually, and post regularly for the best results. Check out this great guide from HubSpot for tips, and don’t hesitate to ask one of our friendly front office staff if you need some perspective.
