The Importance Of Social Media In Business

Feb 24, 2012 by Tiffany Litherland

There is plenty of information on the web these days pertaining to the importance of social media in business and we do not have to look far to see the benefits of such a diverse campaign. Social Media integrated into your brand marketing is essential. Some say it is a necessary evil yet one we cannot do without and the opposition to keep it at bay is something we encounter daily. However, with over 80% of the world’s business population now proactively using online social media channels it makes sense to be exactly where your audience is and capture their attention with your brand’s personalized approach.

Truth be told social media, otherwise known as social networking, has been around for centuries; only it was conducted person to person at offline events. Though these were limited in the fact that your network was confined to those able to attend. Online social networking is the all new version of ‘word-of-mouth’ advertising and your reach is unlimited and can be conducted globally rather than just in your local areas. The introduction of content marketing, which has many baffled, is also not a new concept only relabeled many times over as can be seen in this amusing Infographic on the History of Content Marketing. This illustration by InfographicWorld gives the perfect visual description of what Social Media’s viral effect can achieve if implemented correctly with the use of quality content marketing.

It is evidently clear over the past year that a website is no longer enough to generate leads. Social media increases lead potential, which in turn effectively boosts revenue and active client numbers. Not only do you gain the benefit of better ROI for your dollar. Quality and effective social media marketing is not free yet it is much more cost effective than other marketing campaigns and you reap the reward of a broader audience reach and that creates more potential leads.

It was only a few years ago that social media truly launched onto our screens and embedded itself in our lives. Although back then it was for personal socializing and not much more. Today it is the world’s largest marketing platform with everyone from big companies to independent business owners using some form of social media marketing strategy in their daily lives. Therefore the importance of social media should never be ignored when designing your social media marketing strategies.

Here is a quick list of why social media is the life-force of your brand marketing in today’s economy.

Branding your business online is like creating a unique identifier, a fingerprint if you will.
Branding across varied social networking channels will define your business and set you apart from your competition.
Social networking channels allow you to market you brand in various formats each one aimed to capture different demographics in your niche audience.
Social networking is global… need I say more.
Social networking relationships last longer and breed new levels of trust which encourages people to promote your business on your behalf. (a.k.a word-of-mouth)
Versatility in communication types is perfectly acceptable on social media channels… get personal with your audience using quality content and posts.
Social media channels allow for the creation of landing pages, database capture points and the ever growing expansion of your connected network.

Companies and organizations are developing marketing solutions to suit the ever changing digital climate. The discussions have shifted from why social media is necessary to how do I make the most of these channels so that it improves business performance indicators. Social media has become a motivator for businesses to share their initiatives and corporate movement and it is now recognized as being imperative for the distribution of content. Now that presence on the social web has been established the next move question is how to make the most of it.

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