When I find out someone has something they’re trying to sell, whether it’s a product or a service, and they haven’t engaged in social media marketing yet, I always wonder why . . . Is it the time it will take for them to set up various profiles, the effort it will take to maintain them, or do they simply not understand it?It’s often hard to tell what the exact issue is, but an article I read today had an interesting perspective. The author notes that some business owners might think that there’s no value in social media marketing because it doesn’t provide immediate sales or results. They have a “what’s in it for me” mentality and cannot see any value of establishing a strong presence on Twitter, Facebook, or Foursquare unless it’s going to increase their profit quickly.
I think what they’re missing entirely is the fact that social media can help you connect with your consumers in a way you’ve never been able to before. You can answer their questions, engage them with interesting facts or company history, post polls, promote specials and sales, and so much more.
The moral of the story is that social media is a great way for you to share information with your consumers and connect with them on a deeper, more personal level than you were previously able to. It’s a way for you to learn what your target audience really wants from your products or services, which can lead to enhanced profitability all on its own.