As a small business, you are constantly looking for new ways to get the brand of your company onto the radar of potential customers’ and create an edge. If you’re not already in business, using social media is a great way to engage with current customers whilst also attracting new ones. Social networking communication campaigns for small businesses currently provide an edge over major corporations. The success of social media usage comes down to commitment. If a company doesn’t connect with its clients, chances are their social media campaigns will not be effective. An important marketing strategy for small businesses is interacting with consumers on social media. Using social media helps you build brand awareness, increase your customer base and connect with current customers. In fact, one study revealed a whopping 90% of marketers say social media is a vital component of their business.
Below we have listed 5 reasons why your small business needs social media and how social media marketing will give your small business an advantage!
1. Your small business is community and individual focused
Small companies strive to be more socially based and more consumer centric. Many small businesses choose to be heavily engaged in their communities, which leads to customer connections. Small enterprises can connect with their customers online when using social media. Small businesses are more likely than large corporations to respond to their customers. As a small company, the flood of consumer feedback can be addressed easily. Furthermore, as a small business, you can easily foster social media contacts with individuals. A company that offers prompt feedback would have greater value and gratitude towards existing and future customers.
2. Social media marketing is less expensive advertising
While you can pay for certain features and advertisements, social media networking is free – including Facebook. You may target those advertisements to reach people within a specific radius of your market, or you can post general and wide advertisements, that reach a greater audience. That means you don’t end up paying for advertising at all.
Social networking is a perfect platform for ads, without paying for additional features. You can update your followers about promotions, sales, new products or even information relating to the industry, or your own business. Posting photos and supporting images can help clients to see what you’re offering and engage with you. While you advertise to your current customers via social media, by getting your brand out there, you can advertise to potential customers also. Both your existing and new customers are wonderful ambassadors for your company.
3. Personalised attention
Small companies require personalisation. Shopping in small businesses, for some, is part of having a great buying experience. One survey found that 53 per cent of consumers want to shop with small businesses because they like their personal service. Personalised treatment doesn’t just refer to customers who are at the physical location of the store. Small companies can send consumers more than just scripted responses on social media and allow them to experience that personal touch. Furthermore, by having a social media platform, you are able to interact and talk to both current and potential customers.
4. The process allows you to learn about your audience
Not all of your audience will be on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. However, most users invest time on at least one of the social networking sites. If you are able to target even a part of your target audience through at least one platform you are already past one of the key obstacles in outreach.
The good news is that you don’t have to try to cover every single platform, although growing social networking business attempts to copy concepts and functionality from others, they also seem to cater for certain audiences. You’ll probably find that most of your client base tend to gravitate towards one site more than others. This allows you to focus your efforts on that platform, at least in the early stages.
5. Social media builds business loyalty
Small businesses often struggle to get their name known, without feeling like wave after wave of advertising is drowning it out. This is particularly important for service industries where distinguishing between one company and the next isn’t always easy. One approach to this problem is brand loyalty. Brand loyalty helps to ward off the competition and keeps your audience enthusiastic and engaged. Luckily, effective social media strategy is helping to build and strengthen brand loyalty. That means less effort is required to retain the new clients that you tried so hard to engage with.
Social media is not a fad or a faze – it is here to stay! Take of advantage of it, get on board and grow your followers, brand awareness and an audience that values and trusts you and your company. If you need help or want to discuss how to start, please get in contact with us by phoning 04 2329199 or fill in your details below and we will be in touch.
