created by Emma Pawling /
Marketing Delivery Manager
Some companies look at social media as just another thing to add to their already too long to-do list and that’s understandable. However, according to Statista, as of January 2017, there were forty-two million active social media users in the UK, which accounts for 64% of the total population.
It’s therefore highly likely that your target audience is using social media, so you should be too! Still need some convincing, take a look at our six reasons why your business should be on social media…
1. Enhance Brand Awareness & Customer Loyalty
When you add an update to your social media network, anyone who likes or follows your business profile will see it, so you’re putting your business in front of your viewers and if they find it interesting and relevant they’ll engage and like it, so their followers will see it as well. Their followers may well then be interested and interact with your update or even start to follow your business page. It’s all about getting your business name out there – in front of your existing audience and in front of new people that could become fans.
2. Connect with Your Audience
Social media acts as a method of open, two-way channel for communication with your prospects and customers. Prospects will look to connect with you on social media – they’ll search for your Facebook page or your Twitter account, so it’s important that you’re there, online, on social media. They’ll use social media too to give you feedback on your products and services, which in turn gives you an opportunity to improve or make any necessary changes to the way you do business.
3. Improve Client Retention
Being able to communicate openly and conveniently on social media means you can cultivate even stronger relationships with your clients. When people have an opportunity to connect with you or provide feedback, they’ll feel like they have a voice, and when you respond in a prompt and professional manner, you boost customer loyalty, which means better client retention.
4. Increase Traffic & Conversions on Your Website
Every time you include a link to your website in a social media post, you’re creating another avenue for clients or prospects to get to your website. For example, it’s always a good idea when you post a new article on your website’s blog to link to it from your Facebook page. Your post gets liked and shared among your Facebook followers, and so more people are clicking to read it, and the more people click, the more visits you have to your website. The more people that visit your website, the higher your site ranks on Google and the higher your site ranks when people search for your service, the more organic traffic you get to your site. What’s more, the higher the amount of traffic you get to your website, the more opportunities for conversions you’ll have and the more opportunities you have, the more sales you’ll make.
5. Increased Opportunities for Sharing
Sharing information has never been quicker using social media. Anything that you need to convey to your clients or prospects – new product launch, new member of staff, change to opening hours, sales promotions – you name it, you can post it in minutes to social media and it’s doing the rounds immediately. And if you’re sharing hints and advice – a bit like this article – it can help deepen your connection with clients and followers.
6. Keep an Eye on Your Competitors
We’ve all heard of online stalking so whether that’s via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, keeping a watchful eye on your competitors keeps you up to speed on what they’re doing but could also provide extra insight into your sector or industry. With that kind of knowledge quite literally at your fingertips, you can compare your competitors’ business actions to yours and use that knowledge to improve your business strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
What now?
Have we convinced you that you need to get your business on social media? If so, you’ll need to devise a social media plan so you can start posting. Ask us for help as social media management is something we specialise in, and we manage the social accounts for a number of our clients.
Not convinced? Maybe social media just isn’t right for your business. If that’s the case, there are a number of other marketing activities you can implement such as email marketing, lead generation, search engine optimisation or pay-per-click marketing. Why not give us a call as we can help define your online marketing strategy? Contact us on 01202 684400 today.
