How Social Media Can Ignite Small Business

Social media has changed the way that we as people, interact with other people. It has opened plenty of opportunities for new and existing businesses to develop and grow organically as business owners can target their customer base more effectively; but can the same be done for a small business? While yes, the costs associated with social media management and consulting tend to be outside of the budget range of small businesses, a carefully planned social media strategy can make a small business explode and reach new heights.

A social media campaign that reaches the intended customer base for a business can result in a surprising response to that business’ social media efforts by driving new customer to a business or getting additional business from existing customers. The fact that social media sites are becoming the go-to place for consumers who wish to learn more about a company is also a huge factor when it comes to investing money in social media campaigns or web advertising campaigns.

Social media can also be used to keep in touch with your existing customer base and have an easy way of getting in touch with them to inform them about new products, services or locations without spending the massive amounts of money associated with some traditional marketing campaigns.

Keep in mind though, that successful social media marketing is an art; and without the right marketing solution, an innocent, mismanaged campaign can quickly spell disaster for your business and scare customers away. While it is easy to assume that the more accounts you have spread over different platforms is a good idea, in reality it is better to have just a few accounts so that it is easier for you to manage them .

If you are a business owner, chances are you’ve already thought about using social media as a marketing tool, and you are not alone. In fact, over 73% of all small business owners are now using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to help grow their business. The most immediate benefit of using these platforms is getting the word out about your business while providing an immensely popular platform that can be used to increase your online presence.

The fact that social media websites are (mostly) free also means a lot for business that are just starting out. The fact that you don’t need to pay anything upfront to get started means that you can familiarize yourself with the website before you spend money on premium feature or advertising campaigns.

Finally, perhaps the most important benefit that small business can get from social media is the fact that social media is everywhere. Over 50% of all Americans are smartphone users and more and more businesses are finding new ways to connect with their customers everywhere. From improving customer relationships to viral marketing campaigns and dedicated apps that allow users to access their accounts, the reach that social media has is simply impossible to match.