Is Social Media for All Businesses?

Social media platforms can be difficult to manage from a business standpoint. Sure, places like Coca-Cola, Victoria's Secret and Ford make it look easy because with huge hiring ability and millions in yearly revenues it is easy to hire people to take care of the organization's social channels. As a small business, however, it may be daunting hearing everyone talk about creating Facebook pages. You may think, "When will I find the time," or, "Is is that important?"

I'm hear to tell you yes! Social media is that important! In the day of "googling" everything it is important to have information readily available for potential and current clients. Facebook pages can be an ideal place for people to come find out more about you, your product/service and more practical details like business hours.

Facebook can also be a place for your consumers to influence others - for good or bad. Facebook gives consumers the ability to comment and review your business on your page. As new consumers find you on Facebook they can read the (hopefully) glowing reviews your previous customers have said about you. Or, if someone has said something not as nice, Facebook gives you the ability to defend yourself or correct information that is not accurate.

Finally, Facebook is a free tool that has huge marketing ability. Facebook provides free analytics on each business page for the page owner (Facebook calls these people administrators) to look at to see how their social media efforts are paying off. If you would like to invest money into Facebook advertising, the analytics page gives you those options as well, which include boosting posts, Facebook ads and target audiences.

Facebook is an amazing and essential tool for many business owners no matter how large the business is. As far as other social media platforms go, you will want to do a lot of research to see if the platform is a good fit for your business. Twitter usually is a difficult medium for businesses to break into and Pinterest is usually better for visually-based businesses.

Social media is essential to business now. If your business does not have a social presence, or at least a website, you are behind in the game. Now, a huge warning for those interested in social media for your business or if you already have one for your business: a vacant, inaccurate Facebook page or website is worse than not having one. Though social media is important if you do not have the time, energy or inclination to keep a page updated do not create one.