The Relationship Between Social Media and Your Business

Charmon Stiles-July 03, 2014

As a business owner 50 years ago, you needed to pay for print, radio, television ads and more in order to get your product or service noticed. Fast forward today, everything is different. As a matter of fact, all you need is a decent Internet connection, basic computer know-how, pictures of your products, a website and social media channels and you're good to go.

Thankfully, free social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter were developed not just to keep everyone connected but to also help business owners market their business.

Can social media affect your business?

Social media is used by people who share content in their personal social networks. The answer is yes. Social media can affect your business. In fact, social media can affect you and your business in the most unimaginable ways. While old school ‘word of mouth’ does work, most business owners today penetrate the online market to advertise a product or service. Smart businesses are now capitalizing on the new ‘word of mouth’ through social media. In effect, they are reaching thousands of people (or more) they would not be able to reach otherwise.

This is not the only benefit of social media for business. Social has also affected our organic rank, the ability for users to find us online in search. It has roots in many pieces of the whole of Internet marketing. Here are some ways that social media affects your business.

Site ranking

One of the ways to establish “authority” in your chosen niche is by sharing fresh, , and making it available to the public. Blogs are a great place to post your content and earn links back to your site by sharing your content links on social. No matter how you look at it, links are very important to your search engine rankings and one of the top organic search ranking factors.

Further, social media increases the volume of traffic visiting your site, another key factor in determining your search engine’s ranking. If your site is able to attract users to stick around for a while and finish the entire post or video, you may be rewarded in the organic results.

Relationship with potential customers

Before, customers had to write or call a business’ main office to voice their dissatisfaction. Now, all they have to do is to send a private message or tweet about it or even post information publicly. While you may see this as negative advertising and bad for your company’s reputation, social media can be used to directly reach out to dissatisfied customers. This is your opportunity to put your best foot forward and find a solution for the problem. You can more easily turn a sticky situation into a positive experience.

Plus, social media can be a good way to discuss with customers and learn from them in order to improve a product or service. By communicating with them directly for feedback, you are able to gain their trust and loyalty.

Marketing

Businesses will constantly be looking for ways to advertise a product or service. Thanks to technology and the development of social media platforms, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to inform people about sales, exclusive promos, and launching of a new product. You can post your message for free to reach a percentage of your fans and followers organically.

Branding

Social media was able to create a dialogue between consumers and business owners. In a consumer’s point of view, you become real, thereby increasing your brand awareness. There is less disconnect and customers can now get a sense of the people that make up your business. Your business takes on a personality. At the same time, forums and blogs become a venue for brand enthusiasts to come together and discuss what you are offering. This can help inform, educate and eventually attract potential customers to choose you instead of your competitors.

Get engaged. As long as it is done right, social media can definitely yield both short and long term goals of your business.

Charmon Stiles, VP Sales + Marketing, Tempo Creative

Over the last decade, Charmon has worked with a diverse array of brands ranging from B2B to B2C and small to medium size businesses. Her approach is to challenge the status quo, help you tell your story and share what makes you stand out so you can achieve more.

When not working, Charmon loves being with her family and friends, the challenge of a really hard yoga class, music and good wine.