Why Your Business Can’t Afford to Ignore Social Media

Whether or not to involve your business in social media is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Just as high school kids who participate in sports and extracurricular activities tend to be more popular than those who don’t, so it is with businesses that take part in social media. Fair or not, your company’s popularity, perhaps even its reputation, depends on joining the conversation. Granted, this may involve risks, but not participating can be far riskier according to a recent post on the HBR Blog Network.

So what’s the best way to shed your business’s wallflower image and venture into the conversation? Here are some tips to overcoming the most often-cited objections.

What if people say bad things about my company?

People may say bad things about your company whether or not you participate in the conversation. By monitoring what they’re saying, you at least have the opportunity to respond and give your side of the story.

Why should I invest the time and personnel when the results can’t be easily measured?

Thanks to easy online access via smartphones and tablets, your company has far less control over the sales process than it did in the past. By the time today’s buyers encounter a sales rep, they’ve already completed 60% of the purchasing process. If you want to effectively influence them, you need to reach them during that critical upfront time.

I have a website. Isn’t that enough?

No. While a website is completely necessary, it may not be enough to reach potential customers. If you want your company and its products to appear prominently in search results, you need, at the very least, a social media page, and preferably, a company profile, too. Make it easy for those interested to find the information they need to include you in their purchasing decision. Besides, not being visible via social media makes your company appear out of touch—much the same way that not having a website did a decade ago

But I have no idea how to get started.

Think of social media as a way to build relationships. By exchanging information with your customers and prospects on a regular basis, you’ll gradually build a network of trusted friends and allies. Share your company’s news with them. Introduce them to new products and invite them to write reviews.

If you need help with the basics, find a marketing partner well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of social media etiquette.

Leverage the power of social media in your branding and advertising. Contact MDG today at 561-338-7797, or visit www.mdgsolutions.com.

MDG, a full-service advertising agency with offices in Boca Raton and New York, NY, is one of Florida’s top branding firms. MDG’s capabilities include print advertising, direct mail marketing, branding, logo design, creative, digital marketing, media buying and planning, radio and TV advertising, Web design and development, online video advertising, infographic development, email marketing, content marketing, social media marketing, and SEO. For the latest trends in advertising and branding, contact MDG today at 561-338-7797 or visit www.mdgsolutions.com.