While we assume that social media marketing is only practiced by big companies who have the means (Read: budget) to indulge in this internet marketing strategy, small businesses actually engage in social media marketing as well. In fact, social media’s best clients are small businesses.
The biggest commitment one needs in doing social media is time because the truth is, setting up a Facebook Page or Twitter account doesn’t cost anything at all. However, social media requires patience, time, and effort for it to become successful in the long run. For small businesses, there is absolutely nothing to lose.
According to Social Media Examiner’s 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, social media marketing offers the greatest results to small businesses. From being an uncertain internet marketing strategy in 2009 to a permanent fixture in 2010, social media marketing has now turned into a full-blown tool for anyone who wants to succeed in the internet marketing industry.
The latest report from the Social Media Examiner also revealed that 88% of users experienced increased exposure and 76% of those resulted in increased traffic and subscriptions – all because of social media. The DeGroote School of Business also recently released a study that revealed how social media has helped small businesses level the playing field with the big companies who also use this strategy.
The three major results of the study may encourage small business owners to participate in social media marketing.
1. Small businesses should not fear the use of internet marketing strategies such as social media marketing or pay-per-click management because these methods do not necessarily require a large capital investment to begin with. Despite having limited resources, small businesses can easily begin social media campaigns with a simple click on the internet.
2. Communicating with audiences can help small businesses stand out against their competitive peers, and in time, big corporations as well. Fans and followers value companies that communicate with them, so establishing a personal or professional relationship can be beneficial to both parties in the long run.
3. Because of the small-scale nature of small businesses, they have faster means to adopt new technologies compared to larger corporations. There are no directors or departments to go through for the approval of certain campaigns or budgets.
With these in mind, it’s easy to understand why small businesses are beginning to grasp the significance of social media marketing in their internet marketing campaigns. Social media marketing is inexpensive and it can also foster online communities and personal/professional relationships between the brand and its consumers.
