What is social media and why do I need it?

What is Social Media Marketing?

Social media (such as Facebook and Twitter) are ways for people to communicate ideas through pictures, video, and text.

Only a few years ago, Facebook was just something college kids used to meet new friends. Now 70% of adults online use some form of social media networking. It has grown into a new way to find information on the web. Today it is not only individuals that use social media, but businesses.


Why do I need it?

Experts predict by 2020 customers will manage 85% of their business without ever talking to a human. There's an online conversation going on about what products to use, what places to shop, and what food to eat. As a growing business, you need to be part of that conversation.

Social media can drive customers to your business. 50% of millennials are on their smartphones researching products and services, and 80% of those US social media users say they would prefer to go to your company Facebook page rather than go to your website. You need to have a social media presence and it needs to be good.

Can't I do it myself?

As a small business owner, your time is precious. Hours are needed every day to devote solely to your business's social media pages. Of course you could run your own social media campaign. You could also film your own television commercial - but you probably wouldn't. You'd hire a professional that knew the territory. As a social media marketer, I've had training and I've studied that territory for years.

When an owner tries to run their own social media accounts, the page can be neglected. 52% of consumers say they've stopped following a brand on Facebook because the posts became “too repetitive and boring.” Getting their attention isn't enough; you have to keep it.

Social media marketing is still marketing, with ever-changing rules to keep people interested. Do you have time to learn what hashtags to use on Twitter? The most effective hours to post on Facebook? As a social media manager, it's my job to know how to navigate the waters of each different social network and keep up with the industry as it changes.

  

Receiving and answering customer feedback through social media is instrumental to keeping customers and getting new ones, but it can take hours of work every day. Social is a big part of social media. A whopping 95% of Facebook wall posts are not answered by brands! These businesses are basically telling their customers, "we don't care about you." Having an internet presence that makes the customer feel neglected can produce a negative feeling about your business.

So why should I hire you?

Put simply, I know what I'm doing and I can get results for your business.

On this page you'll find "Before and After" data from my management of the Twitter account for SNAP: Spay/Neuter Action Project. They'd had a Twitter presence for some time, but didn't know how to utilize it and didn't have to time to research it.

 

I took over the account in the middle of February. By March, the monthly total of post views went from 3,100 (Jan.) to 12,800 (Mar.).

We also saw a 3000% increase in page interaction, and gained 33 followers. Lots of people started talking about SNAP on Twitter and then out in the real world.

 Can I afford this type of advertising?

According to studies, social media has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing. Basically, this means Facebook and Twitter are 100% more effective than mailings or other advertising. How can you afford NOT to advertise this way?

Social media marketing is also very cost effective. Let's compare costs in Huntsville:

• Single-Panel Billboard- $85 a day 

• Average radio spot- $75 for three thirty second spots 

• Local television- $35-$600 for three spots 

• My social media marketing- as low as $16 for at least three posts a day

Get in touch with me today and learn what I can do for your business!