5 Incredible Benefits of Social Media Marketing for Small Business

Social media marketing is a powerful way for businesses of all sizes to reach prospects and customers. Potential and existing customers are already interacting with their favorite brands through social media, and if you’re not speaking directly to your audience through social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to help your business grow!

Great marketing on social media can bring remarkable success to your business by creating devoted advocates and driving potential leads and sales.

Social media is a catch-all term for sites that may provide completely different social experiences. For example, Twitter is a social site designed to let people share brief updates with their followers. On the other hand, Facebook is a total social network in which one can share updates, photos, and join events or groups.

So, why should a business owner even care about social media marketing?  It’s quite simple actually…because nearly every American is looking at their social media accounts on a daily basis.  According to a 2017 Hootsuite survey, have a social media account and of those users have interacted with their favorite businesses on at least one social media network.

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83 percent of Americans have a social media account

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, 92% of marketers claimed that social media marketing was imperative for their business, with 80% resulting in increased traffic to their websites.  These statistics demonstrate significant potential for social media marketing to increase your business’ sales.

What Are The Benefits?

These impressive statistics, SCREAM, “Start social media marketing RIGHT now!”.  With the continual growth of social media interaction there are numerous benefits in which social media marketing will help your business grow.  Here’s a look at just some of the ways social media marketing can improve your business:

1. Increased Exposure/Brand Awareness

Social media is one of the most cost-efficient marketing methods used to increase your business’ visibility. By implementing a social media strategy, you will greatly increase your brand recognition since you will be engaging with a broader audience.  It will also promote content from your website that you wish to feature.

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Social media is one of the most cost-efficient marketing methods used to increase your business’ visibility.

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To optimize your results even further, ensure that you are actively engaging . By investing only a few hours per week, over 91% of marketers claimed that their social marketing efforts greatly increased their exposure. Having  others interact with your page will begin building your reputation as a business. Each post that your clients share will be introduced to a wider audience, which can lead those in that network of people to become potential customers.  Obviously, the more people who know about your business, the better! And social media marketing does just that–tells more people about your business.

2. Increase in Sales & Leads

Sales are extremely vital in the growth of any business. The sales process begins with getting to know your customers and establishing strong relationships with them–building trust with them. And as we all know, social media connects people.  With approximately 2.17 billion Facebook users, 330 million Twitter users, and 800 million Instagram users–social media is an ideal platform to build those new, trusting relationships with your potential customers.

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There are approximately 2.17 billion Facebook users, 330 million Twitter users, and 800 million Instagram users

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Approximately today use Facebook advertising for promoting their products and services.  If executed well, your social media page can help you increase sales. Having a social media presence can allow your audience to familiarize yourself with your business and brand, giving you a better shot at gaining their business.

In addition to sales, social media can help you collect leads and build your email list. Publishing and posting content that is relevant to both your brand and your audience is a way to attract more new leads, illustrating your brand and what your business has to offer.

For example, by having an active blog for your business, it makes it easy to connect with your audience with the help of fresh content. But, by having that audience share this content on your social media platforms, it increases your reach 10X!  You’re suddenly reaching out to a bigger audience that may like and share your content, follow your brand and ultimately become a loyal customer.

3. Increase in Customer Satisfaction

Social media is all about communication and networking.  By engaging on social media, you are connecting with your customers and humanizing your business.  Customers appreciate knowing that their posts will be acknowledged and that the business they love and trust has communicated in some way–whether it be through liking the post, commenting or direct messaging.   By commenting on your customers’ posts, you are acknowledging that you value them, you’re attentive, and that you prioritize customer service.

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By engaging on social media, you are connecting with your customers and humanizing your business.

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According to , “When you interact with customers on a one-to-one basis on social media, it makes them more loyal.  Loyal customers spend more with you, stay with you longer, and tell their friends about you.”

4. Improved Search Engine Rankings

While social media doesn’t directly increase search engine rankings, states that more than 58% of marketers who have been using social media for one year or longer still see improved search engine rankings.

Let’s be real, basically everyone uses Google to search for the information they need.  It’s also extremely rare that they go past page 1 on their search results. If your business isn’t ranking on page 1, then you need to re-evaluate your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.  

To give your business a fair chance, create meaningful content that optimizes target keywords.  Quality content such as articles, blog posts, case studies, business information, and employee bios are ideal.  By using social media platforms to share that quality content, it will help increase the visibility of not only the content but your business website, resulting in improved search engine rankings.

5. Improved Brand Loyalty

According to a , brands who engage on social media channels enjoy higher loyalty from their customers. The report concludes “Companies should take advantage of the tools social media gives them when it comes to connecting with their audience. A strategic and open social media plan could prove influential in morphing consumers into being brand loyal.”

Another found that 53% of Americans who follow brands on social media are more loyal to those brands.

One of the main goals for business owners is to develop a loyal customer base.  As mentioned earlier, social media is not solely a promotional platform for your business, it’s an opportunity to engage and interact with your customers.  Studies show that millennials are taking social media by storm as well as becoming the most brand loyal of customers yet.   Approximately 62% are more loyal to brands that simply engage with them on social media.

By implementing social media marketing, you are likely to get the attention–and potentially loyalty–of the rising technology natives that are craving communication that accompanies their favorite brands and businesses.

In Conclusion

What are you waiting for?  The longer you wait the more you have to lose!  It’s extremely overt that social media marketing has an abundance of advantages for you and your business.  If you currently don’t have the proper social media accounts, create them! Fill out as much business information as possible.  Create quality content. Ask customers, peers, and friends to like and share your business page and content.

There are absolutely no reasons in which a social media marketing strategy should not be implemented for your company.  With the cost effectiveness, you have nothing to lose! The sooner you start, the sooner you will reap the abundance of benefits that a smart social media marketing strategy can bring to your business.

Need help with your social media? Find out how we can help!