5 Reasons to use Social Media for your Business

You’ve created a Facebook fan page. Your company finally has a Twitter and now you’ve even set up a free HootSuite account to schedule out posts. Sometimes. When someone at your office thinks about it.

According to statistics, 73% of Americans have a social network profile. That is 233.6 million people with just one social profile. One. Personally, I use Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Instagram Instagram, a widely popular social media platform, allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. Founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the platform quickly gained traction due to its user-friendly interface and emphasis on visual content. Instagram provides various features such as filters for enhancing photos, Stories for sharing short-lived content, and IGTV for longer videos. With a robust set of tools for both personal and business accounts, Instagram enables users to connect, engage, and build communities around their interests and passions. The platform's integration with other social media networks allows for seamless content sharing across multiple channels, making it a versatile tool for digital communication and marketing. As a result, Instagram has not only become a hub for social interaction but also a critical component of many companies? digital marketing strategies. multiple times a day. I get on Pinterest Pinterest is a popular social media platform that allows users to discover, share, and save ideas through visually appealing images and videos, known as "Pins". Launched in 2010, Pinterest quickly became a go-to resource for inspiration on a wide range of topics such as home decor, fashion, recipes, travel, wellness, and crafts. Users create and curate themed collections called "Boards" where they can save Pins that capture their interests or project plans. Pinterest operates as a visual discovery engine, enabling users to search for ideas using keywords, and providing personalized recommendations based on their activity and preferences. The platform's unique algorithm tailors the content feed to align with each user's interests, making it an engaging and personalized experience. Businesses leverage Pinterest to boost their brand visibility and drive traffic to their websites by creating compelling visuals that resonate with their target audience. Pinterest offers shoppable Pins, which allow users to purchase products directly from the platform, enhancing the e-commerce potential for businesses. Through features like Pinterest Analytics, businesses can gain insights into user engagement and behavior, enabling them to refine their marketing strategies for better reach and impact. Pinterest's combination of creativity, inspiration, and practicality makes it a valuable tool for users seeking fresh ideas and for businesses aiming to connect with a visually-driven audience. and LinkedIn a few times a week. My generation, and those younger than myself, are glued to social media. Think of how easy it would be to send one tweet and reach hundreds of people.

Not right away, mind you. Gaining social media followers may take some hard work, but the payoff is worth it. It’s a free way to interact with your consumer. How can you beat that?

Still not sold? Here are five reasons why having social media is a benefit to your business:

1. Interaction – Other than speaking in person, there is no better way to interact with your consumers than through social media. While there is a certain negative stigma that comes with making yourself available 24/7 (not all of your employees may happy about it), you have the advantage of being able to reach consumers 24/7. A customer could tweet at you, asking a question about your product and, if someone is watching diligently, they could have an almost instantaneous response. Talk about helpful customer service! Speaking of customer service – someone leaves a nasty message on your Facebook page? Offer a response by giving them your office phone number. Put the ball back in their court and show everyone that you care. Start a weekly poll about something fun! Be entertaining and make people want to want to tweet at you, post on your timeline or send you a message on LinkedIn.
2. Transparency – Being direct and not having a hidden agenda is the best (in my personal opinion) part about social media. It’s about having fun and interacting with your audience. Not trying to sell something. If people like you and your brand via social media, that will translate to your sales. Made a mistake that needs to be addressed? Put out a press release and then address it on social media. Whether you believe it or not, this generation of young adults – your future consumers – are willing to let mistakes go a lot more easily if you’re honest and upfront about them. Let the newspapers and your Blog A blog is a regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. Blogs cover a wide array of topics?from personal diaries and entertainment news to professional insights and niche interests. The content on a blog usually consists of various posts or entries that appear in reverse chronological order, with the most recent post at the top. Blogs serve numerous purposes, depending on the nature and goals of the blogger. Personal blogs often function as online journals, allowing individuals to share their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Professional or business blogs, on the other hand, can be used to establish thought leadership, engage with customers, and drive traffic to a company's website. Many bloggers leverage social media to promote their content, fostering a sense of community and interaction among readers. The interactive nature of blogs is one of their distinguishing features. Many blogs allow readers to leave comments, enabling a two-way discussion between the author and the audience. This interactivity can create a loyal readership and a strong sense of community. In addition to written content, blogs often incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and links to other relevant websites or articles, enriching the reader's experience. Overall, blogs provide a versatile and dynamic platform for expressing ideas, sharing information, and connecting with a global audience. take care of the press release, but get your apology on social media as soon as possible. This generation, my generation, respects that. You messed up. Everyone does. Don’t hide it - that will only make the situation that more newsworthy when it comes out later. Show your audience that you are doing the best you can, no matter the circumstance.
3. Humanize your Brand – The great thing about social media is that you can give your service or product human qualities. Do you pride your brand as being eco-friendly? Are you geared towards the modern business person or the weekend warrior? What would your brand be like if it was a person – take that and run with it in your social media plan. Say your brand produces sporting gear and equipment. You may want to focus on the words courage or determination. Your messages should always be crafted to insinuate those ideals. Has it been really snowy in your area lately? Throw up a post about thermal workout gear and never giving up. A sports star has done something bold and really great? Wow, they must embody your brand. Use those words and add them to your marketing campaign.

4. 

   Creativity – There are so many directions you can take your social media presence. I’m a huge fan of Taco Bell on Twitter (they’re funny and I love tacos). And honestly, what is Denny’s even doing with their social media? Does anyone know? Not really – but it’s entertaining and hysterical. According to this post on the Social Times, Denny’s “embracing the weird” has put them in the #1 spot for “Brands Doing an Amazing Job on Social Media”. Having a unique social media strategy and being different just might garner you some attention. People like funny. People like different. Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and try something new. Who knows? It might turn into the Thing that your brand is known for.

5. Bragging Rights – Want to show how fun your office is? Take a picture at your staff meeting and put it on Instagram Instagram, a widely popular social media platform, allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. Founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the platform quickly gained traction due to its user-friendly interface and emphasis on visual content. Instagram provides various features such as filters for enhancing photos, Stories for sharing short-lived content, and IGTV for longer videos. With a robust set of tools for both personal and business accounts, Instagram enables users to connect, engage, and build communities around their interests and passions. The platform's integration with other social media networks allows for seamless content sharing across multiple channels, making it a versatile tool for digital communication and marketing. As a result, Instagram has not only become a hub for social interaction but also a critical component of many companies? digital marketing strategies. . Share that to Twitter and Facebook. Someone on your team won an award in their field? Copy the article URL A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a reference or address used to access resources on the internet. URLs are essential components of web navigation and are used to locate web pages, multimedia content, and other online resources. A typical URL consists of several parts, including the protocol (such as "http" or "https"), the domain name (such as "example.com"), and often a path to a specific file or resource within that domain. For instance, in the URL "https://www.example.com/path/to/resource", "https" is the protocol, "www.example.com" is the domain name, and "/path/to/resource" specifies the path to the particular resource. URLs can also include other elements such as port numbers, query parameters, and fragments. They are universally understood by web browsers and other internet-based software to direct users to the appropriate resources. URLs play a critical role in the functionality of the web, enabling users to retrieve and interact with the vast array of information available online. and make a post on your company’s LinkedIn. Taking a company team-building retreat? Write a post about all of the great skills you’ve learned! Don’t misconstrue this. I’m not implying you need to post a status every time someone uses the microwave without complication or you recycle a piece of paper. That would be out of hand. But social media outlets are notorious for people posting their accomplishments. Take advantage and do what your audience expects – show them how awesome your brand is.

Social media is happening now. Your consumers are online. Right now. They’re out there, waiting for you. Why wouldn’t you want to use free outlets to reach them?

Right! Mailing lists.

I’m not saying they don’t work. All I’m saying is that the only mail I open is what I’m expecting (I’m looking at you - books I’ve ordered online and my dreaded student loan statements). But take that as you will.

If this has sold you on create social media and dutifully updating on a regular basis, great! Now is the time to get started. Make sure that your pictures are high resolution and if you’re using more than one medium, that you keep a cohesive look. (Like using the same cover photo for Facebook and Twitter).

Happy posting!

Worried about the time it takes to set up all of your accounts and monitoring everything to make sure you’re posting on a regular basis? Here at Intrada Technologies, we offer education and services to help improve presence and develop a positive online reputation.