Grow Your Social Media Presence, Grow Your Business.
Increasingly, smart marketers are using social media to engage customers in their immediate market areas and beyond. In fact, 90 percent of marketers feel social media is important to their businesses, according to a 2016 Social Media Examiner (SME) study. The top benefits as indicated by study respondents include:
- increased exposure 89%
- increased traffic 75%
- developed loyal fans 68%
- providing marketplace insight 66%
- generating leads 66%
So, why haven’t some businesses embraced social media? Maybe they’re not sure where to start or how much time it will take. About one-third, 34% of marketers spend one to five hours per week—and most are small businesses. A significant 24% spend six to 10 hours per week. Generally, the longer marketers used social media, the more time they spent. Of those using social media for two years or more, 64% invest six plus hours a week (SME, 2016).
Six Platforms You Should Be Using Right Now
Not sure which platforms to use? Here’s a rundown of six social media platforms that should be on your radar.
Facebook continues to be the most popular social network among adults, especially females age 25 to 34—prime targets for home buying and home improvements.
In addition to creating a Facebook page (for business) where you can show off products and projects, consider boosting Facebook posts, running Facebook ads, and hosting Facebook contests and giveaways.
Although Twitter has decreased in favor among marketers in the past year, it still ranks among the top four social media platforms used by social media marketers. Use Twitter to offer updates, insights and perspectives that showcase your company’s expertise and stimulate conversation.
Engage customers by tweeting new product and project photos, industry articles, awards and recognitions, testimonials, and career openings. You can also use Twitter to promote blogs, tutorials or helpful videos that you house on YouTube or your website.
