Four Common Misconceptions About Social Media Marketing Among Small Business Owners
Marketing through social networking websites such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It’s called social media marketing (SMM). It is gaining popularity these days and for many companies it has become a part of their marketing strategy. Despite the popularity, there are some misconceptions among small business owners about SMM and for this reason, many of them have not adopted it. In this article, we’ll take a look at four common misconceptions about SMM among small business owners.
Misconception #1: Social media is only for teens
Most small business owners are under the misconception that Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are meant for fun and entertainment and are mostly used only by teenagers. It is true that when these websites started, they were initially mostly used by teenagers. But little by little, the scenario changed. Today, people of all ages use social networking websites. According to State of Search, users aged 45-54 are the fastest growing segment. 55% of Internet users in this age group have an account on at least one social networking website.
Misconception #2: SMM is easy
Register on websites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It is easy. But it takes time and effort to maintain profiles and be active. You need to invest time and effort in
• Create and update content, videos, graphics, report developments in the industry/products/services, etc.
• Interact with customers and provide solutions whenever there are customer inquiries.
Misconception #3: SMM Gives Immediate Results
Having a good profile on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogging regularly does not mean that you will get immediate results in the form of sales/leads. It may take a few months before you see results. For that, you need to be patient and interested in building a relationship with customers through an effective SMM campaign. Over time, you will see the results.
Misconception #4: Social media is only for marketing
Another misconception of some small business owners about SMM is that it is intended for product/service marketing only. Although broadly speaking the purpose is the same, it is more than just marketing. Social media also helps small businesses in the following ways
• Acquire new customers and retain existing customers – It is one of the best methods to reach a large number of target audiences with less effort and in less time. By posting informative content, you can attract and acquire new customers and by updating business and product/service developments, you can keep your existing customers informed. This helps build a relationship with customers.
• Find employees and partners for your business – Small businesses can also find people to hire for their business on social networking sites. For example, LinkedIn is ideal for B2B companies to find candidates and business partners.
• Search engine ranking – It is believed that Google and Bing search engines consider social signals: shares, retweets, G+ posts, etc. while ranking websites. Businesses that are active on social networking websites have a chance of ranking on search engine result pages.
• Customer service – According to Social Media Today, 53% of small businesses use SMM as a two-way communication tool to serve their customers. Allows one-on-one dialogue/conversation with customers. This leads to building customer loyalty and trust with your service.
It is a good time to have a presence on social networking websites and take advantage of the benefits they offer. We suggest that you hire professionals to monitor and maintain profiles on these websites, as it is not as easy as it seems.