Why Your Small Business Needs Social Media
Everyone from kids to adults use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. We’re talking millions and millions of eyeballs, many of which walk by your business everyday.
They access their social media from home, from work, and from their cell-phones. The best part: many big-name competitors still don’t have a social media strategy, giving you, the small business owner, the opportunity to capture some of that cash while pleasing your customers.
A couple examples:
If you advertise your social media page in your store or restaurant, you provide an easy way to sync your product offerings with the customer’s eyeballs. You also open the door to special, random (read: viral) promotions. For example, you could have special sale days that are advertised via social media. It might look something like this: “Free Kids-size Ice Cream Cone for the next three hours to anyone who mentions this tweet at the checkout counter.”
At first, this sounds like a loss until you realize that your followers will do your advertising for you. The big guys may have a bunch of bucks but you have word of mouth on your side. Offer a good deal and people will tell their friends about it. They will say in their Facebook status/Tweet, “At SmallBusinessX. Come hang out and get a free cone! Just mention their status/tweet!”
Those who see the social media buzz will come down, try your ice cream cone, and probably order a sandwich (or whatever you offer) in the process. They will tell their friends/parents/dog/cat about how awesome your restaurant is on their Facebook page and in real life. Then their friends will come try your food, and so on and so on.
Anyhow, see the potential here. You, spend a minimal amount of cash (as minimal as it can get) to bring in a substantial amount of new business. The changing deals ensure that people will follow you via social media just in case there is a new, special deal.
Finally, by using social media as a way of advertising, you, the small business owner, plays on two psychological mindsets: 1) They will see your name several times throughout the day, reinforcing your business, and they will want to see that name because of a possible sale. 2) Most important: people will feel special by following and communicating with the small business, thus building brand loyalty. Treat the customer right, and they will treat you right.
