Facebook. Instagram. Pinterest. Twitter. LinkedIn. Individual people use these social media platforms to share experiences, get in touch with friends and loved ones, and find new acquaintances. It’s a wonderful digital invention that revolutionized the way we communicate and share information.

 

But the benefits of social media doesn’t stop at individuals. If you have a company/business, you can take advantage of the massive capabilities social media has to offer. With its ease of use and wide reach, social media has become integral in how businesses market themselves, engage with their client base, and even sell to their customers.

 

A business without a social media marketing plan is certainly at a severe disadvantage in today’s digital age. If you fail to utilize the reach and power of social media, you could very well miss out on a huge opportunity to get in touch with your audience, discover new markets, acquire new leads, and generate more business.

 

So why should you incorporate social media marketing into your strategy? Just check out what these platforms can do for your business.

 

1. Improve brand awareness

 

At its core, social media marketing is all about increasing your brand’s visibility. It is all about letting people know you exist and you have the solution to their problem/need. But it goes much further than that. Through social media, you’ll be able to keep clients updated and give leads the ability to become clients. And if you provide a great product/service, these clients will eventually become advocates of your brand.

 

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many others can give you the platform to promote your brand to millions of users around the world.

 

If you’re not interested in reaching a massive national/international audience, is the use of social media still necessary? Of course!

 

By applying a well-thought out social media strategy, you’ll increase your exposure to your to new people and increase your brand recognition with your current audience. Not only that, but your users can also enjoy heightened user experience with your brand. The good thing is that it’s not as difficult as it sounds. By just spending a few hours on social media per week, you can increase user experience and brand visibility by up to 91%!

 

2. Increase customer engagement and brand loyalty

 

 

One of the most important goals of any company is to develop a loyal customer base with strong retention and high customer satisfaction. This can be done most effectively if you communicate with prospects and customers---answering their inquiries, helping them solve issues, thanking them for their comments, and working on their suggestions.

 

Social media allows you to engage with your customers quickly, directly, and easily. In fact, customers in today’s day and age see social media platforms not just as a promotional tool but also as a service channel where they can directly communicate with the business for a more timely and personalized response.

 

3. Humanize your brand

 

In a study conducted by Trinity Mirror Solutions, most customers do not trust a brand unless they see “real-world” proof that the company keeps its promises. The first step to gaining their trust is to show them that there are real people behind the brand.

 

Social media enables you to create real-time human connections with your audience. Through these platforms, you can easily reach out to your entire audience or, if necessary. That simple yet personal touch gives clients/leads the confidence and trust to work with your business.

 

4. You can save money

 

 

When it comes to squeezing the most out of your marketing budget, nothing beats social media. One of the best parts about using social media is, it’s free (or can be)! You only need to shell out money if you decide to engage in paid advertising or if you want to use the platforms’ “premium” features.

 

Even then, you can start out small to experiment with your paid strategy, gradually increasing the amount as you see begin to see results

 

As far as cost-effective advertising goes, social media will likely give you the most bang for your buck. In general, social media helps you attain a greater return on investment and increase conversion rates at a lower cost than traditional print advertising or search engine advertising like Google AdWords.

 

5. Increase traffic and improve SEO

 

 

Nearly half the world’s population uses some sort of social media. Naturally, these platforms are ideal places to reach out and capture potential customers. But this goes the other way as well. People usually scour social media to find what they need. Odds are your business has the product/service that people are looking for!

 

And that’s not all. You can share useful content such as blogs, photos, and videos from your website in your social media. By directing leads to your website, you are actively boosting your site’s traffic and increasing your SEO ranking and SERP ranking.

 

6. Increase your brand authority

 

By posting frequently on social media and communicating with visitors, you begin to build a positive image in people's’ minds. Regularly interacting with viewers, posting and sharing industry-related information, and promoting your business helps prove to viewers that you’re a thought leader and you are looking out for their best interests. They begin to see you as an authority in the field; you know what you’re talking about, and they are willing to listen.

 

7. Customers themselves help market your brand

 

Through social media, happy customers can do the advertising for you. You can/should encourage your clients to share reviews and experiences on your page. Not only that but they may share their experience on their own social media accounts, marketing your businesses to their network and contacts. This, my friends, is the Holy Grail.

 

Your brand authority becomes stronger if you get satisfied customers who share their positive experience with your network. Positive testimonials help reinforce the idea that when people choose to work with you, they are making the right decision.

 

8. Expand your network

 

 

As its name implies, social media involves interactions with people who share common interests. But that doesn’t mean that it’s just you and your customers who will be interacting.

 

With an active social media page, customers can share experiences and advice with other customers. You may even get the attention of influencers in the field, allowing you to work with them to help increase your brand awareness.

 

At the end of the day, the networking potential of social media is endless! If you take the time to understand where your audience is located and how best to interact with them via social media, you too can harness the true marketing powers that social media has to offer.