Are you taking full advantage of the benefits social media has to offer? Whether you are in the startup stage or ten years into your entrepreneurial journey, it’s critical that your business is active on social media. It’s not about throwing up a Facebook page and calling it a day. The strategy and value of social media can change the very landscape of your business. So, why exactly do you need to be on social media and how can you take advantage of it? Here are five ways to take advantage of social media for your business.

1. Get The World Needs To Know You Exist

It’s fantastic that you’ve created an amazing product, service, or business, but if you want to keep that momentum going, you’ll need to go where your customers are: on social media. Don’t make the mistake of putting social media on the back burner and getting left behind. Social media helps you increase your brand awareness and your messaging. It’s the chance for you to showcase what you stand for in the public eye so people understand not only what your company does but also what it stands for.

Action Step: Research the top social channels your audience is on (find out what channels you should be on) and create social media accounts on those networks.

2. Get Quick Feedback On Your Products & Services

If you really want to move fast with your company, what better way than to ask the customers trying it? Do you need to test a new product? Find your beta testers on social media and get feedback at rapid pace. Not only will they give you feedback, but you’ll also cultivate a loyal following from the beginning by involving them and providing great customer service along the way.

Action Step: Post a comment on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram asking your online community for feedback on something you’re working on.

3. Monitor Leads & Potential Prospects

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find key influencers in your industry and create relationships with them? Well, you can through social media. You can find influencers and monitor tons of online conversations by searching for keywords and by observing negative or positive sentiments. For example, if someone is having bad experience with a competitor’s product, you can swoop in and offer a solution. Check out these social media tools that can help you monitor and manage your social media.

Action Step: Login to Twitter and type in a competitor’s name with the keyword complaints and see what people are saying. Then see if you can join the conversation. Do the same for your company and see how you can help your customers.

4. Create Connections To Make A Huge Business Impact

Need referrals or business partners? Well, by building your social media network, you’ll have more access to these potential collaborators. Social media gives you the opportunity to expand your influence and to reach even just one potential investor, brand advocate, or future employee that could completely change the game for your business.

Action Step: Find and follow the top potential business partners, investors, and customers in your industry and start conversations with them on social media.

5. Find A Supportive Entrepreneurial Community

Let’s face it: Being an entrepreneur is no cakewalk. At some point, you’ll want to get advice and support from other entrepreneurs going down the same path. Social media is the perfect place to create these connections. What’s better than finding mentors or startup support groups online and turning these into real life relationships? You can join Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, and even join Meetups. It’s easy to use social media to search for other entrepreneurs by city location, especially on Twitter.

Action Step: Login to Twitter, go to the search bar, click “Advance Search,” and type in your location and keywords to find startups in your area.

No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, having a presence on social media is crucial. Social media holds a vast treasure chest of benefits for entrepreneurs, and taking advantage of these benefits can completely revitalize your business.

Want more social media tips? Check out The 10 Ultimate Productivity Hacks for Social Media Management.