Why Your Small Business Should Embrace Social Media

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While most small business owners have heard about social media marketing and its usefulness, many are still hesitant to get started. Indeed, some business owners actively choose to ignore social media.

Unfortunately, not only are you depriving yourself of a valuable tool, but you’re basically shooting yourself in the foot and hindering the growth of your business.

According to data published by the Pew Internet Project, 74% of all adults online use social networking websites.

Whether you sell a product or provide B2B services, here are three good reasons why your small business should embrace social media.

It Helps Establish Your Credibility

Unlike big companies that are already well known, small businesses need to establish their credibility with customers first.

Likewise, in today’s online-savvy age, many consumers expect a legitimate business to at least be established on social media and will often check sites like Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn when scoping out a business.

If you have little to no social media presence, it immediately raises suspicions about whether your business is genuine and can be trusted.

After all, no one likes to fall for scams or be swindled out of their money by a fly-by-night operation. Even if your business is legitimate, just evoking that type of concern in customers only hurts your credibility.

It Can Show That Your Company Cares

Since most consumers view social media as a way to connect, not having a presence on social networks casts your business in a less-than-ideal light. In fact, many consumers might get the vibe that your business is out of the loop, disinterested, or unfriendly.

This is largely because social media is increasingly becoming the go-to place for customer service.

Modern consumers especially prefer asking questions, looking for help, or posting a complaint on a social media page rather than dialing a customer service number.

If your small business lacks this platform and fails to address consumer concerns, it could send the message, intentional or not, that you don’t care about your customers.

It Can Expose Your Business to Potential New Customers

In addition to basically shunning past customers, a lack of social media presence could be causing you to lose out on potential new customers.

Whether they are checking to see if your business is legitimate or are looking for your hours of operation, the majority of potential customers will typically search out a business online first.

In essence, they are looking to confirm that they really do want to make a purchase from or pay a visit to your business.

However, if they can’t easily find the information they want online, these potential customers are likely to be put off. Many simply lose interest and go somewhere else, like your competition, to have their needs met.

Likewise, not actively managing your social media accounts can discourage potential customers. Questions and complaints posted by past customers are publicly viewable by everyone after all.

If a potential customer sees that your business isn’t addressing or answering other people, they have little reason to believe they’ll be treated any better.

So, put your social media hat on and start learning how to engage with your clients and prospects on social media.

If you have questions about social media marketing or just need some help getting things set up let us know and we’ll be glad to help.

To you success!
Ken Partain