2 Reasons Many Small Businesses Are Still Hesitant About Using Social Media

We are living in the age of social media.

So if you and your business are not active on social media, this needs to change TODAY.

There is no reason to not invest time, money, and effort into a social media strategy this year, seriously. If you are fearing or avoiding social media, you need to get with the times because that is where your customers are hanging out.

Social media has truly changed the way that businesses can communicate with their customers. That’s because it gives businesses an affordable and accessible way to grow a community around their brand.

So if you are a small business owner and you aren’t active on social media, what are you waiting for?

Social Media Is Where Your Customers Are Spending Their Time

If you are afraid of or confused about the social media landscape and are avoiding it, I am here to help.

Stop keeping your business in the dark ages, it’s time to get on social media and connect with your potential customers and dedicated fans.

If you think social media is just a fad, I got news for you… social media is here to stay.

Furthermore, I have had the pleasure of working with many amazing clients over the last few years (@DigiHype Media) by helping them grow their social media following from ground zero. So don’t worry you aren’t the only one who is afraid of change or investing in a “new” marketing strategy.

But trust me, if you are not using social media in 2018 just keep in mind your competitors are using it to attract your target market away from you!

So don’t miss out on the opportunity, especially if you are a small business!

If you are hesitant about using social media to build a community around your small business, you aren’t the only one.

In fact, I have noticed that there are two specific reasons many small business owners are hesitant about investing in a social media strategy but why they should today.

1. Small Businesses Want Immediate Results

One of the biggest reasons many small businesses stay away from social media is because they want to see immediate results. Unfortunately, growing a social media following takes time and if you want to build a community of fans around your brand, that also takes time. Unlike traditional advertising methods, social media is a long-term strategy which is often a scary thing to hear. Especially if you are a small business, every dollar counts, I get it. But just think of it like this, an investment in social media marketing today could pay dividends in the future!

For example, one of the biggest business social media influencers right now is Gary Vaynerchuk. But how did he rise to fame? He invested years into growing his personal brand on social media through the creation of inspiring content, entertaining viewers through a Wine show called, “Wine Library TV”, and providing value to people on their entrepreneurial journeys. Over the years, Gary Vaynerchuck’s brand has adapted and grown to new heights which have allowed him to not only leverage new content but build trust with viewers. In addition, this new found “trust” has allowed him to generate new clients for his advertising agency, Vayner Media!

So think of social media as a long-term marketing strategy and you can leverage it to grow your personal brand and your business’s brand online!

2. Small Businesses Don’t Understand the Benefits

Another reason many companies are laggards when it comes to social media is that they don’t understand the benefits of social media marketing. Social media has the power to connect a company directly to their target market while providing them with actionable insights. Are you still not impressed? Well, social media has the power to drive traffic to your website, create a community around your brand and help your bottom line.

So if your goal at the end of the day is to get more customers, social media can help you on your journey. For example, one way many companies use social media is by driving customers to their website through entertaining or educational content. Don’t believe me? One brand that has become well-known for educational and inspirational videos is Goalcast. They have grown a substantial following on social media by creating biographical videos of famous individuals such as Elon Musk and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

So don’t underestimate the power of social media, it has the potential to take your business to the next level by generating more potential customers while creating valuable brand loyals.

Don’t Fear Social Media!

If one of these reasons was holding you and your small business back from investing in a quality social media strategy, I hope your mind has been changed.

Please remember that social media is not just a hip way of connecting with your customers, it has the potential to grow your company exponentially in the long run.

Seriously, don’t fear the social media landscape. Think of it as a way to communicate with your customers and grow a community around your brand!

So what are you waiting for? Get your business on social media today!

I’d love to hear your opinion about social media marketing when it comes to small businesses, so leave a comment or drop me a note on Twitter @iambradthompson or on my blog!