Social Media Benefits for Businesses

“Everybody’s on Facebook.” You’ve probably heard this statement before. While it may not be absolutely true in the literal sense, there’s a good reason why the expression exists: In the United States alone, there are 151.9 million Facebook users. Thus, Facebook offers a great opportunity for businesses to reach large numbers of people.

It’s not only Facebook. Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and many other social networking sites are other popular platforms that you can use to enhance your business exposure. It’s safe to say that you are missing out on a lot if you’re not utilizing social media for your business. Why? Consider these:

• Social media is an easy method to know your audience – the foundation of business success.

• Social media provides specific targeting. There are plenty of categories, such as location, interests, age, gender, and many others within social media that can help you direct your efforts in the right directions.

• Social media enables interaction with your audience. You can easily answer inquiries and get feedback, ultimately building relationships with potential customers.

• Social media is a more effective yet less costly means of lead generation.

Remember, though, that while social media is a strong online marketing tool, it’s not the be-all and end-all solution. It cannot replace a well-designed website with relevant content, and email continues to be a powerful business prospecting method. You have to use social media in tandem with these other methods to be truly successful.