Why Is Social Media Important For Businesses?

Some businesses choose to not invest in the utilization of social media marketing. Whether they are lacking time, or just don’t have the budget to hire a social media manager, they are making a huge mistake. The biggest thing to remember about the majority of the social media markets out there is that they are free. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all play a huge role in engaging potential customers, all while allowing you to gain a personal connection.

Some of the biggest benefits of using social media

These are the definitive benefits of social media marketing that are listed:

  • Increased exposure
  • Increased traffic
  • Developed loyal fans
  • Generated leads
  • Improved search ranking
  • Grew business partnerships
  • Reduced marketing expenses
  • Improved sales
  • Provided marketplace insight

The Success Gap

The success gap is widening between businesses that are using social media in an informal, ad hoc manner and those taking a more planned, strategic approach.

This has significant implications:

  • Businesses that use social media strategically are more satisfied with the results than ad hoc users, who are more skeptical about the value of social media.
  • Businesses that use social media as part of a planned corporate approach are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to anticipate revenue growth than ad hoc users.

Integrate

Social media is not an end unto itself. It MUST be integrated and work hand-in-hand with all your other marketing and PR initiatives which should be continued to reach all your marketing touch points and your ultimate success. These can include:

  • Email Marketing and growing your email list
  • Search engine optimization
  • Event marketing (speaking and networking)
  • Direct Mail
  • Online ads (Google Adwords)
  • Print display ads
  • Sponsorships
  • Mobile Marketing
  • Radio/TV Ads