Why Should Small Businesses Bother With Social Media?
You're busy. You start work early to prepare before you open for customers. You spend your day chatting with customers, fulfilling orders, running errands, counting stock, managing staff, and generally going non-stop. And you're still hard at work after the closed sign goes up.
Why would you want to add another task to your to-do list?
You're not alone in this thinking. It's easy to believe that social media is something you can cut out without significant consequences.
But before you delete your accounts or give up on starting a new profile, check out these three reasons why your small business needs a social media presence.
Benefits of Social Media for Small Businesses
Social media is a great no-cost marketing option for many small businesses. It can help you:
Connect with customers.
Stand out from the small business crowd.
Establish trust.
Many of your current and potential customers are already on social media. And those not on social media probably have friends or family on different platforms. A single post can reach a broad audience very quickly, making it a great way to share updates, promotions, new products or offerings, and more!
With online stores, large corporations, and other small businesses, customers often need help sorting through the available options. If you can stick in their heads by staying in front of their faces, they'll think of you first the next time they're ready to buy.
Social media also gives you a platform to show off your customer service skills, values, and humanity. Highlighting these can help you build trust and credibility with many potential customers at once.
Let's dive into these benefits a little more…
Connect with Your Customers With Social Media
Meet Your Customers Where They Are
Statistics prove that consumers spend a ton of time on social media. While scrolling, they consciously and subconsciously absorb everything they see. Putting yourself in front of their faces gives you an advantage. Whether they are on social media while lounging on the couch at home, sitting in a doctor's office, or killing time at work, they can see you in their news feed.
You don't have to worry about what billboards they pass on their commute. Or what newspapers they read. Or what TV stations they watch. Social media helps you reach a vast number of people through a single platform. This increases the chance that the right person will see it at the right time.
Being on Social Media Allows You to Understand Your Customers Better
Marketing is most effective when you know who you are talking to. Social media platforms are great tools to help you bundle important data that defines your target market.
With social media, you can:
Learn what they care about.
See what content you post that they love and what they scroll past.
Figure out what marketing is worth continuing and what you can leave behind.
You have an opportunity to see their pain points when they comment on your posts so that you know how to prove your products' value. You can see their concerns about your products so that you can address them in your next post. You can see what they love about your products so that you can hype that feature in future posts.
All this will help you craft, sell, and market your products more efficiently, saving you time and money in the future!
Stand Out From the Crowd
Boost Your Brand Awareness
Consumers report that they're more likely to buy from a company or business whose values align with theirs. If you're always in their news feeds showing values they admire, you'll be top of mind when they're looking to buy.
78% of consumers report that seeing a brand on Instagram makes them believe it is popular. And a whopping 87% of people said they'd taken action after seeing a product on Instagram. These actions could be following the brand, visiting its website, or buying something.
Another huge benefit is that your followers and fans can easily boost your message. They can share your content, tag you in shoutouts, and more! This level of passive marketing means that each post you make has the power to reach endless audiences.
Outshine Your Competition
If your competition is already on social media, they're a step ahead. If they're not, now's your chance to get the upper leg. And by taking time to genuinely show up on social media, even when your competition is there, you can outshine their presence.
As stated before, being on social media gives you a chance to be in front of your customers wherever they are. This means you can stay top of mind, even when your customer isn't looking to buy. They may notice your wit or sense of humor. Or they could appreciate the sweet story you shared about one of your employees. Whatever it is, you've got a chance to be more than just a business to them.
Establish Trust with Current and Future Customers
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Consumers love quality customer service - including on social media. When one customer asks a question or even complains on social media, you have many eyes on your response. Use it as an opportunity to show off your skills to that customer and an entire audience at the same time!
This does involve a level of work since you'll need to respond to questions. But unlike talking with a customer over the phone or in person, everyone who comes across your post can see your response. Now you can be seen as one of those who care about the buyer more than the sale.
Let Your Fans and Followers Boost Your Credibility
Once you start making an impact on social media, you'll begin to notice some passive marketing rolling in. Past and current customers can share your posts, tag you in reviews, and help amplify your message.
In fact, 80% of people try something new based on a friend's suggestion on social media. Having current followers share your content adds to your warm leads and boosts the chance for a new customer.
Next Steps for Your Social Media Presence
Now that you can see the many benefits of having a social media presence, it's time to start planning. Whether you already have accounts or are starting from scratch, building a social media strategy can help you harness all these benefits to ensure you're rocking your social media presence.
