Social media. You heard that you needed to be there for your business so you created accounts on a handful of platforms. You were excited. This was going to change everything. And you were so gungho for the first month that you posted every day!
But then you ran out of content and realized that managing it all takes so. much. time. So do you really need to be there?
Well the short answer is...yes.
There are a myriad of reasons to be on social media as a business. According to the PEW Research Center:
- 69% of Americans are on at least one social media site.
- Over 50% of people use Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat every day.
- Between 70-90% of people use all social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and Twitter) weekly.
Additionally:
- Social media’s organic reach is free advertising.
- In the past you had to rely on a publication or program’s published statistics to understand who would see your ad, and pay their fee. Ads on social media can be flexible, highly targeted to your exact market, and are relatively cheap to run.
- Posts and ads can be directed to specific events, discounts, or even email collection--reinforcing your message, making it easier to opt in to your promotions, and helping you build your potential client list.
- Social media can be spontaneous. You don’t need to wait for the “October issue” to be published, or for an entity to run your ad--you control the release of information.
Clearly it’s an important marketing and outreach arm to utilize, so don’t dismiss social media just yet. There are a variety of ways to deal with it. You could focus in on posting to just one platform like Instagram or Facebook. Perhaps try making a realistic goal of posting just once a week. You could try looking at your calendar and post exclusively around events that you are holding. Or--you could hire out. More and more people are relying on outside organizations to plan and run their social media accounts.
No matter which route you choose, know that for now at least, social media is here to stay, so it’s important to find a way to get on board.
Need some social media assistance? We can help with that. Social Media Management by In Form Creations >>.
About Amy
Amy Mertz is our resident social media person and copywriter. When not in the office you can find her chasing down her hilarious toddler, searching the land for great coffee and baked goods, or espousing the current books on her nightstand.