6 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Social

The social media world has changed a lot, hasn't it? Remember when we only used Facebook to share our birthday pictures and our time out with friends? Or when Twitter was our personal –but not so private –diary to the world? Or when Instagram was just a menu of everything breaking down in our stomach?

Well, as you are probable aware, that is a distant memory. Or at least it is for businesses and entrepreneurs.

Nowadays, regardless of what you're selling or who you are selling to, social media has become the best long-term marketing tool in business today and when used properly, produces the highest Return on your investment.

As a business, having an online presence, specifically one that includes social media is crucial in helping your brand grow OR the biggest factor in your failure! If you do not exist on social today you really don't exist online at all (at least creditably).

Here are 6 reasons why social media are so important in business today:

1. It is the BEST marketing tool on the PLANET

Social media is a fun place to implement different kinds of marketing strategies, sure. But what makes it such a useful business tool is the information you gain from simply playing the game! Its audience insight tools are really incomparable with anything other than Google Analytics. And the data itself is self-given vs. data driven meaning it is more reliable!

Before moving on I want to address a common question: How do I actually use Social in business?

I will keep this short and sweet so forgive me for my oversimplification but the goal is to slowly gain your audience and their attention without overwhelming them with marketing campaigns. As one of my favorite online marketers, Gary V. says, "Jab. Jab. Left hook" which means give your audience something twice as much as you are asking them for something. They are very smart and will know the difference between the two so navigate carefully!

When done successfully, your audience will think of you during those crucial buying times AND you will benefit from the branding equity from all the "jabs". Having patients, empathy and having a successful Internet advertising plan are the key to winning this long-term play/game.

2. Your website traffic and search ranking DEPENDS on it

Are you desperately looking for ways to increase your website traffic? Using social media is the easiest and the CHEAPEST! It will help you drive people straight to your website. Besides, your search ranking will get better and better depending on time which will improve local SEO and have a positive impact on your business for years to come. The inverse is also true.

3. Social media is the easiest way to find NEW customers

Hashtags weren't created just to make funny and smart comments on your posts. Just as keywords, hashtags will help your find possible customers who may be interested in what you're selling. If this is something new to you, I would suggest hiring a social consultant OR pick up a book and start reading because you have a LOT to catch up on!

4. Your competition is!

This really goes without saying but I will say it anyway…as a business owner, we are often times pushed into making a certain decision simply because our competitor did! Market share is often more valuable to us than the cost associated with playing the game and in those circumstances, we are pushed into a decision, right? Well, this is absolutely one of those times! Your completion is using social media, wake-up!

One of two things WILL happen:

-You will gain customers because of social -You will LOSE customers because OF social

You pick!

5. Easiest way for honest/true customer's feedback

Social media is the best way to give and receive feedback from customers instantly. By having a social media presence you open the door to an open & honest discussion with customers and convey an important message to potential customers. You care! And as a business owner, I am sure you can take criticism; as an entrepreneur you should learn to not just take criticism but embarrass it because it creates a blueprint for customer success. Why? It is directly from customers, live and unfiltered and…it's FREE!

6. Your online presence depends on it

I am going to set the entire local SEO factor aside (my next article will layout the local SEO GRB framework) here and it will still make sense!No one can deny that social media has turned into a big part of our daily life but the question stands, has it done the same for business? Well, it is clear that social has changed the way we CAN interact with the largest number of customers at once and the way those customers buy, so the question shifts back to you, the business owner. Do you have a message you want customers to know and if so, you need to properly brand your business using social; it's not enough having just an Internet advertising campaign.

If you want your business to succeed, you must interact and connect with customers, and there's no better way to do so than using social media as a marketing tool.