The process of starting up a small business is definitely a meticulous one. Developing a marketing strategy, alone, is a feat. Is there a “right time” to begin using social media to build a web presence?
The answer is: NOW.
The quicker you can establish yourself, virtually, the wider your market will be. Putting your business into Yelp’s database alone will drastically affect not only your company’s reputation (via user reviews – check out our report here), but by involving your company in social media, you are increasing the number of search results any time someone searches for you, your business, or your industry.
- I hear a lot about social media, but don’t now where to begin. Plus, I’m pretty busy. I’ll think about using social media to grow my business when I have more time.
Considering the investment is just a little bit of your time, I would strongly advise against this! Taking the time to set up your social media accounts, and getting your company’s name out onto the internet will not only increase the rate at which your business grows, but also the reach, giving you more customers and keeping more people informed about your brand.
A recent study shows that 79% of Twitter users are more likely to purchase from brands that they follow. If that’s not incentive enough, another 60% showed that they were more likely to purchase from a brand they were a fan of on Facebook. These are sales that you might otherwise be missing without the aid of social media. B2C companies (business to consumer) who use Twitter are 88% more likely to receive leads than companies who don’t. And small business growth strategies in 2010 place a greater online presence as their top priority. Social Media is not a limited or niche strategy anymore!
Occasionally, there is a misconception that social media’s learning curve is so steep for beginners that it might not be worth looking into. Another misconception is regarding the amount of time it takes to set up, manipulate, and engage your social media strategy. While setting up a new business definitely takes time, and can be tedious in moments, social media can be one of the more productive ways to market your company with proven return on investment for your business.
Another important note about engaging your social media strategy as soon as possible – it’s free. Blogging, Twitter, Stumbleupon, Facebook… They’re all free. What could cost thousands in consultant fees, materials, and placement won’t cost you a dime with social media. As the industry grows, it will only become more prevalent as a marketing tool – jumping in now will not only improve your business, but allow you to stay on top of new ideas and forward steps in social media marketing.
To learn more about how to get involved in social media marketing for your business, visit http://practicalsocialmedia.com for your business.
