I Don't Understand Social Media. Why Do I Need It for My Business?

Have you been on any of the social media platforms lately? There are so many choices ... Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Foursquare ... the list goes on. You may not understand why they are so fascinating, or how to navigate them so you think it's just best to stay away from them, but that can be a big mistake. You should embrace these popular marketing tools and the opportunities they provide whether you have an online business or brick and mortar establishment, let's explore the basic reason.

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When it comes to businesses, social media has become a top choice for business large and small to grow their visibility online. You may ask yourself "Why are businesses getting involved in these social sharing sites?" But if you think of it as a form of old school networking opportunities when you may have shared about your work and exchange information with fellow guests at dinner parties or gathering. Now you can do it with a much larger group, people who are looking specifically for your services.

While social media sites started off as a forum for personal use, allowing people to catch up with old friends, keep in touch with family far away , and meet new people, its growth over the past 20 years had given us so many more options. It has become more than just a reason to skip your high school reunion because you already know what people have been doing since graduation!

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The social media immersion in every day society has given businesses a chance to interact around the clock with clients, customers and potential customers- even beyond regular business hours. People have come to expect instant satisfaction with nearly every point in their life and when it comes to businesses and the services they offer, customers are no longer willing to call or drive to your business to learn more about you, explore your wares and services or interact with customer care representatives. We no longer live in a time when people walk down Main Street and window shop. People want to be able to do it all from the comfort of their home - any time they want - and social media forums allow you to reach these people with a few clicks on a keyboard (or device). That demand for instant information has led businesses beyond websites and customer service hotlines to social media forums, and those forums have proven over time to be an invaluable asset.

Your customers and potential customers are using social media on a daily basis. From social interaction to business information, social media is the first stop for many consumers. It's important to make sure that whether they are looking for business information or asking their contacts for a reference that your information is easy to access. It's vital that you keep consumers engaged and and connected to your brand or business or they will search elsewhere to fill their needs. 

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Using social media can keep your business in your audience's mind, even when they are not actively searching for you. This will help you start to build a relationship with them and when your services are needed, they know where to find you, because you have built visibility and developed a connection. While websites can provide the information that your customer's need, social media forums can provide them with the interaction they crave.

Your customers are asking themselves "Why wait on hold on the phone for answers to my questions when I can just reach out to them via social media and get an answer back quickly without having to pause my day?"

Using social media forums to stay connected in this fast-paced world is crucial to meeting your business' growth goals and help you achieve success.