This post was updated on September 14, 2015.
In case you’ve been living on Mars for the last few years (or just trying really hard for that one-way ticket), we feel it’s our duty to remind you of one important little marketing “secret:”
Social media is a big thing for your small business.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest — they’re all just waiting to help your small business keep in touch with its audience, gain new followers and make you money.
But why is small business social media such a big deal?
It Builds Your Following (Often for Free!)
Your small business probably has a marketing budget to match, and while advertising dollars don’t exactly grow on shrubbery, you don’t need the proverbial money tree to make social media work for you.
Here’s a story of a business that spent a mere $4 in Facebook advertising fees and reached 40,000 people. Yes, that’s more exception the rule, but it is true that it costs exactly zero dollars to take your business social and start reaping the “likes” and “shares” that come along with building a fan base.
While you’re probably going to have to shell out a bit of dough down the line, you can do a lot for free. The first step is to get yourself up and running.
Everybody’s Doing It (Including Your Competitors)
Let’s do a quick stat attack. According to a 2014 Pew report:
* 57% of all American adults use Facebook.
* 64% of Facebook users visit the site every single day.
* More than half of the people who don’t use Facebook live with someone who does.
We’re marketing geniuses, not mathematicians, but those are some pretty significant numbers in our book.
Not only are your small business’ antisocial tendencies keeping you from reaching a potential goldmine of customers, you’re also (indirectly) helping your competition win. If people can’t find what they want – namely your small business – they won’t wait around for you to join the ranks.
They’ll just sign on with a competitor instead.
It’s Easier Than You Think
Most small business owners spend between one and five hours each week on their social media platforms, with 34% posting to Facebook several times a week, and 21% doing the same on Twitter. Around 30% post at least once a day on both platforms.
Still, compared to all of your other duties, that’s not a huge time commitment at all.
If, however, your plate is full, there is an even easier option: calling Mischa Communications! Whether your small business is just starting out or it’s already a full-fledged social butterfly looking to step it up, drop us a line. We’ll show you how beneficial social media can be for your small business.