If you’re a business operating in 2018 it’s entirely likely that you have a social media presence on at least one platform, whether this be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest (RIP Google+).

Creating social media profiles has become a standard part of establishing any business but how many people do this because its the norm rather than for what it can do for your business? Instead, you might be part of the minority that doesn’t have a presence and are wondering exactly what the point is of social media for business.

If either of these situations applies to you, we’ve come up with 7 ways that social media can help promote and grow your business. Hopefully by the end of this post you’ll be convinced by the potential of social.

 

Social media is a great way to promote your business

First and foremost, social media does help get the word out about your business. On top of this, it also presents a great opportunity to build links with others in your niche and those that are interested in your products, services and knowledge.

Generally your following will be primarily be made up of your current customers, past clients, people that are interested in your business and above all, people that will be recommending you to their friends.

 

Social media is the best way to engage with your audience

Social media has become the go to place for potential customers to research businesses since these platforms let organisations post up to date information at any time. You’re also able to showcase reviews, upcoming events and contact information – everything a potential client might need to see to convince them to get in touch.

Social media for business really resonates with customers that appreciate a quick, personal response from an individual. Equally social media gives you the power to learn more about your audience, their interests, and collect feedback. Ask your customers to share their thoughts, questions, and ideas to get to know them better.

 

Social media is really popular (if you hadn’t noticed!)

You don’t need to be a marketing expert to see that social media is popular. It’s likely that you’ll brush digital shoulders with all type of people. This is important when you consider these are people that you would normally never get to interact with.

It isn’t just a young people’s game either – the fastest growing demographic of social media users are the over 55’s. So no matter what your target audience is, they are probably waiting for you to get started.

 

Social media is a cost effective advertising option

Traditional advertising, like print media, is expensive. In most cases social media paid advertising allows you to reach a far bigger audience than you would be able to do for the same cost using traditional routes.

You’re also able to track how many people see the ad, how many click on it and how many people become a customer as a result. This type of analytics is far greater than print advertising and therefore much easier to work out your return on investment.

 

Social media is perfect for customer service

Providing a fantastic customer service is likely already a top priority of yours. Along with the two way communication that social media allows, it also provides great opportunities for providing brilliant customer service.

Since social media is mostly public, it’s really simple to showcase the great job you do when it comes to customer experience. Similarly, by monitoring your customer feedback cross your social media channels allows you to improve on any common issues.

 

Social media is great for circulating your content

Social media really changed the game when it comes to how businesses can share their content, including their blog posts and email newsletters. Sharing these across your networks can really open up your content to a whole new audience. Your content allows you to build up trust and credibility with your target audience as well as share useful knowledge and experiences. Having a list of interested individuals ready to click on, read and spread your content can do wonders for building your mailing lists and drawing in new customers.

 

Social media helps your search engine positions

Although the effect is modest, your social media activity does impact where you appear in search engine results. The more people click on your links and visit your website from your social media profiles the better. For a relatively small amount of time and effort you can also improve your search rankings – it’s a win win.