Since the early 2000s, social media channels have transformed the way individuals connect with each other. Today, there are 2.3 billion active users of social media around the world. Company owners that take advantage of the ocean-sized lead pool created by social media networks will definitely reel in a boatload of benefits.

Currently, the number of brands present on two or more social media channels has exceeded 90%, and in 2016, Facebook reported reaching 50 million small business users. Despite this level of online presence, business owners constantly state that social media is the second most difficult marketing strategy to perform successfully (immediately behind Search Engine Optimization, AKA SEO). Business owners believe that knowing how to properly utilize social media platforms is time consuming, and that their time would be better spent on other marketing tactics.

Don't take the bait-- social media IS important!

Remember the boatload of perks discussed earlier? We didn't mean this:

Making the effort to rock your customers' worlds with the effective use of social media will pay off for your business, here's how!

Social media expands your brand's visibility

Just as there are plenty of fish in the social media sea, there are also a TON of boats wanting to land a large catch. Making sure your business and brand are present and active on various social platforms will create the chance for consumers from different demographics to find and follow you. Also, fifty percent of consumers follow brands to show their loyalty, so a company's current customer base will also expand brand recognition and exposure. The more followers a business has, the more likely it is to be noticed. Also, if a business owner treats these followers as a sentient community as opposed to a stagnant lead pool, it will help improve customer service and brand image.

Social media improves your customer service

A business's presence on social media develops the possibility for conversation with consumers, and 60% of followers expect a brand to interact with their followers directly through social media. With more than half of marketers utilizing social media as a two-way street for communication, it is important for business owners to give their audience what it wants. By providing engaging content, exclusive social offers and authentic responses to feedback like reviews or questions, you will be able to create brand loyalty and lasting customer relationships with your social community. Did we point out that all of this includes a minimal price tag?

Social media is easy on your budget

Old school marketing tactics like snail mail ads or flyers can be pricey, and it will definitely take time to gauge their ROI. Joining and posting to social media is totally free-- there's no restriction to how many posts you can publish, and your efforts are seen by followers immediately. Paid advertising on social media is also an option, and this strategy will allow you to target certain audiences you want to reach. The best part is that your budget for paid social advertising can be as large or as small as you choose, it's all designed to satisfy your company's special marketing needs. Investing in social media with time or money can help with more than just a company's social accounts, also.

Social media can boost search engine ranking

Effective social media use will allow your company to harness the power of another internet beast.

You may recall from earlier that business owners find SEO to be the most daunting digital marketing tactic to handle. By fostering a social media following, providing content that will likely be shared, and interacting with its consumers online, companies are able to climb the ranks in search engines. The better your ranking, the more likely you are to be discovered, and so the social media cycle begins all over again!

Keep the fish biting

With so many benefits connected to using social media, you're perhaps wondering how to move your company forward using such a powerful tool. Posting in social channels can be daunting, and sometimes you might be left wondering if you have anything worth posting at all.

Teach a marketer to fish ...

It's important to generate social media content that provides value to your customers without hocking spam all the time. To be successful on social media you need to understand your consumers and keep them entertained. Don't have time to test the waters?

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