You may have come across this man or woman in your career recently.
Team, while just about every other business is using social media effectively and getting a good return on their efforts, we will be different. We will not fall prey to this fad that is social media. Trust me, it will be here and gone before you know it. We have bigger fish to fry at the end of the day.
Okay. The speech may not be exactly like that, but you get the idea.
The person running your company does not think that social media is worth their time or yours for that matter. They believe that spending time on company Facebook, Twitter, Google+ accounts etc. is akin to standing around the water cooler gossiping. To them, social media is low on the priority list.
So, does that ring a bell? Worked for or currently work for someone that just does not get it when it comes to social media?
The truth is that there are plenty of company heads out there nationwide that have their heads buried in the sand when it comes to social media. If you work for one of them, do them and your company a favor, go pick up a shovel and start digging them out.
Despite some studies and polls that show more companies adopting social media as part of their marketing outreach, too many businesses still fail to incorporate a solid SM game plan into their daily activities. As a result, they miss out on engagement with both current and potential customers, come up on the short end of promoting their brand, and fail to be seen by many as an authority in their given niche.
So, if your company is dropping the ball when it comes to social media promotion, gather the troops (your CEO will appreciate the initiative) and spread the word about the benefits of social media, among which include:
* Building your brand - One of the if not the most important reasons to be engaged on social media is building your company's brand. Let's face it, today's consumer wishes there were 25 or more hours in a day to get done all they have staring them in the face. How many times have you walked in a busy parking lot, crowded mall or sporting venue and seen people on their cell phones? The bottom line is not all of them are talking. Many area browsing companies and products, some are purchasing items, others are making travel plans. Whatever they are doing, they are using different apps to access countless companies that are engaged in social media. What better way to build your brand and bring eyes to your company than by using social media? Brands are not built overnight, but through constantly sending a message, a message that can be delivered free of cost via social media;
* Avoiding expensive advertising - While just about every business has to do some form of advertising in order to get the word out and remain competitive, social media is a great way to talk to the people and save money at the same time. The biggest cost as it relates to social media is the time element, something that some company heads feel is too expensive. Unfortunately for them and their companies, that is a major gaffe in thinking. You can reach far more people and at much less the cost by being active on social media. Have a Facebook fan page as an example. Update it regularly with information about your company, details on your respective industry as a whole, contests for visitors, deals and specials, etc. Social media is there for your business 24/7, so there is no excuse to be caught on the sidelines;
* Being there today and not tomorrow - One of the other many advantages to having a solid presence on social media is that your business can be there 24/7 as mentioned a moment ago. Consumers want quick action when it comes to their questions and/or problems, not a feeling of we'll get to you when we have time mentality. Social media allows you the business owner to reach out to the consumer and assist them as quickly as or even faster than the competition can;
* Viewed as a leader, not a follower - Yes, followers are important when it comes to Twitter, but that should be one of the few times as a business that you encourage following. Your goal when it comes to social media is to be a leader, doing things with your SM profiles that the competition could only dream of. In the event your company has been slow to get to the social media dance, there is still time to get there, make your presence known, and become the talk of the Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or whatever SM medium you choose. Companies that are benefiting from social media are those that are not afraid to be a little edgy, push the envelope, and roll the dice from time to time. If your social media existence is bland and not engaging, your online traffic will show just that.
Be a leader in social media; set the standard so that the competition is the one following.
Author Miguel Salcido has been an SEO professional for over 9 years, holding Director and VP positions at large agencies. Now he runs an organic SEO consulting agency and loves fielding questions over at his blog so feel free to reach out to him there.