As social media marketers, something we hear a lot from potential clients is, “I just don’t see the value in social media marketing for my business.”
We get it – not everyone lives and breathes social like we do. For some companies, social media is just a fad and not one that they want to add onto their already full plate. However, with over 70% of the United States population on social media, it’s time your business joins too! Social media is a great way to market your product or service and connect with your consumers!
Still not convinced? Below we’ve compiled a list of 5 reasons why your business, big or small, needs to add social media to its marketing strategy.
1. Improved SEO
There are countless ways social media can help improve your company’s SEO, or search engine optimization. First and foremost, social media can indirectly help your SEO through engagement. Content that gets a lot of engagement on social will rank higher. According to Moz, “to determine success, an algorithm looks at whether users engaged. If more people engage that’s a clear sign that their algorithm is showing this right content; if not, their systems will audition other content instead to find something that generates that interest.
Coupled with engagement, both social sharing and increased brand awareness by virtue of social media will improve your company’s SEO. Increasing your presence online will lead to more Google searches in the long run. Eventually your brand rank higher for non-branded keywords as well.
2. Customer Satisfaction
One of the greatest assets of social media marketing is how it allows you to connect with your consumers on a day-t0-day basis. A recent study done by Sprout Social found that 48% of consumers want to buy from brands that are active on social media. Customers want to feel connected to a brand; they want to feel heard. Social media allows you to listen to your customers, as well as converse with them on a daily basis. Even if a customer has a complaint about your product or service, you can use social to make things right. This will also help your brand’s rep to those who see you rectifying online complaints, as well as interacting with followers.
3. Cost
One of the greatest advantages to social media marketing is that it costs nothing. While some of the platforms, like Facebook, are pay-to-play, there is no cost to starting up an account. Additionally, the cost of running ads on social versus more traditional methods is much lower and often yields better results.
4. Market Analysis
Market research is often a time consuming and costly process. The solution? Social media!
There are many ways you can conduct market research via social. First, you can track current trends by simply searching recent posts relevant to your industry. This allows you to gain insight on new trends, see what customers are talking about and more with just a quick search on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram! Engaging with customers on a daily basis will also allow you to pick up on trends that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Second, market research conducted via social media occurs in real time. In a matter of minutes, you can get a glimpse into who your audience is, their interests, wants, and more. This allows you to dive deeper into your marketing strategy as well as ensure you aren’t using outdated trends.
5. Targeted Ads
As previously mentioned, social media ads are a great way to further connect with your audience. Ads, especially on Facebook, are highly customizable. You can target your audience based on education, location, gender, purchase history and more. Additionally, ad options such as a Facebook Pixel allow you to retarget users who often visit your page. These are the people who are the most likely to turn into sales!
And finally, because the ad appears on a social media site or website, users are far less likely to view it as an ad and more likely to respond. More responses = more sales for you!
Ready to get your business on social but not sure where or how to start? Contact us for help!
