Small Business Goes Social, Now What

You have finally determined your business needs social media. Social Media has cemented its place in the marketing world and your small business has succumbed to the pressure and entered the confusing world of social media. The Facebook page and Twitter account are all set up and ready to be followed. Now What? Since you’ve built it, surely they’ll come, right? Franchise-Social-Media-Marketing-Confusion

The short answer here is NO.

The followers don’t come. All that time and effort creating your pages, uploading your pictures, and writing your company bio was a complete waste. After a while with no results, many businesses who have attempted to go social decide that social media isn’t helpful for their business and they ditch the idea altogether.

This is a common scenario for many businesses who attempt to take the social media plunge and a very common objective to why businesses refuse social media help. No followers, No results, Too Confusing, Too much time to maintain, Not willing to pay for help. It’s a deadly combination for a new marketing strategy and it’s completely understandable.

Developing a social media presence takes strategy, time, and a lot of creative effort. Don’t be discouraged! Social Media works if it’s done correctly and can be a major contributor to growing your brand. Think about it. The more people that recognize your brand, the more comfortable they will be in doing business with you. A simple tip is to remember that it’s not about the likes and the followers, social media is about creating relationships and growing those relationships to benefit the business AND the customer.

Social networks and understanding social strategies can be overwhelming. This is a fast-paced industry that changes every day and no one can say they are an expert. There is always something new to learn or new to try. If you’re still unsure about creating a social presence for your business, remember this quote: “It’s not a fad. It’s not going away. Social Media is here to stay.“

The success of social strategies is crystal clear: 85% of businesses report experiencing more exposure to their business after going social with 40% having improved sales.  There is no bulletproof strategy that will guarantee results. In fact, social strategies should be different for every single business. Your strategy needs to be tailored to the needs of your company and your goals.

Managing social media and creating social strategies can be done in-house with a solid game plan and execution. It’s not necessary to outsource your efforts however if you had dismal results your first go-round and are apprehensive to try again, explore hiring an experienced social media marketing company or consultant. They will analyze your existing presence and develop proven strategies to grow your business and increase your sales.

Enjoy this Infographic offering a few tips that will help get you started with creating a successful social media strategy.