Does your business need to be on social media?

 

Social networks is are now an integral part of our life, and not just a little!  On average, a user has 8.5 accounts on social networks. Even those who have not created profiles on these platforms are not immune to what is happening there. Comics like Starbucks , for example, are generally picked up by the media.    smoothtechi

But as a small business, how much time should you spend on social media?  

The main platforms  

Before deciding if you should invest in social media, let's first take a look at the main platforms that exist.  

You already know Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, but what are the others?  

The most visited platform is not the one we think it is: it's Youtube. Indeed, many of us tend to forget that the site and its many comments also act as a social network, but Youtube is visited by 86% of Internet users (not counting China).   

The following two platforms are both owned by Facebook. These are Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. They are used by 72% and 66% of Internet users, respectively (not counting China) .  

We must not forget the two Microsoft platforms, Linkedin and Skype with 40% and 35% , and, finally, Snapchat. Snapchat is one of a kind because the app is not owned by Google, Facebook, or Microsoft.  

The prerogative of large companies  

As we just saw, 9 of the top 10 social networks are owned by large companies and they can pay big. In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg made $ 1.7 billion in a single day thanks to the announcement of a new feature for Instagram .   

However, it is not always easy to know if investing your time and your company's marketing budget in social media is worth it, as the content you post on these platforms could bring you more sales if it does. found on your website or in your online directories. 

The business value of social media depends on the size of your business and your industry. They are undoubtedly a good marketing channel for brands that target younger generations.  

Research has shown that since 2017, social media has become the most influential digital marketing channel for 16-24 year olds .     mucommucation

The same study also found that 4 in 10 people use social media to research a new brand or product. This means that social networks play an important role in the decision-making process of buyers.  

Everything seems to indicate that social networks make it possible to build and strengthen brand awareness.  Last month, 22% of consumers on the Internet liked a brand or subscribed to its page. 

An echo chamber  

But what about small and medium businesses? The situation is not that simple as they lack the support base or the branding concept to take full advantage of this aspect of social media. 

If SMEs do not adopt the right social media strategy, they risk creating an echo chamber. They risk focusing on maintaining contact with people close to them who already know their products and services, such as colleagues or family members, but not reaching new customers. 

In that case, they would be better off investing their time and money in other more productive channels or, at the very least, rethinking their social media strategy. 

Priority to local referencing 

Before even thinking about social networks, any small business that receives its customers in person must first make sure that Internet users can find it in search engines, in online maps and in online directories.   appleinfocom

After all, what's the point of people finding your business Facebook page if they can't find your business at all?

Also, social media might have a big influence on young people, but have you ever tried asking someone under 30 for directions? 

Fewer and fewer people know how to read a map. For young people today, if your store or restaurant isn't listed on search engines or Google Maps, it's like it's on Mars. To ensure that customers can find your business, make sure you have an effective local SEO strategy. 

A key part of a successful strategy is to create listings in all of the major online directories, including Google My Business. This will allow you to improve the visibility of your site during local searches in search engines or online maps.  

Local directories and the customer reviews they include also have a great influence on consumers' decision-making processes. Efficiently managed records show that you can trust your business and attract new customers.

Having a profile in online directories can be more effective than having a profile on social networks. Indeed, Internet users who use online directories are looking for a company that offers specific services in a specific industry. They are not looking to spy on their friends.  computerlg

Directories are particularly useful for restaurants, for example. A recent study showed that TripAdvisor inspired 90% of consumers in the United States and 87% in the United Kingdom to try new restaurants .   

You should know that online comments left by customers about your business will appear in directories whether you have a listing or not. This means that if a you don't manage your directory presence, you could lose customers because of a negative comment that you don't even know about.

This is all the more reason why SMBs would be better off devoting their time to online directories rather than social networks. 

There are a lot of industry directories out there, and you need to make sure your business information appears correctly in those that matter to your field. Only after that you will be able to worry about your Facebook page.  smarttechnofy