Business executives and branding experts often ask why they should utilize social media as a tool for business branding and marketing. Traditional marketing efforts with the use of radio, television and newspaper ads are consistently giving ever smaller returns on the investment. Now is the time for a new way of thinking and strategizing. Here are four main reasons why you should seriously consider implementing a social media strategy for your business.

Establish Your Brand

Let us say your company has an event coming up. Normally, you place a few traditional ads and hope for the best at that event. Some people may show up, yet it may not be the best you can achieve in that circumstances. With the help of social media, you can post that same event on social media sites that you have established accounts on. Your followers will then spread the word to their friends, and so on and so forth. What you get in return is a greater showing for your planned event. It is also much easier to create and talk about your brand. Social media allows you to create a conversation, between you and your potential customers which could establishes your brand in your niche or industry and allow people to get to know you and your business way  before you expect them to show up for an event.

Customer Service and Interaction

Majority of your customers are already online. There is a very good chance they are even talking about you online, and without your presence in the social media arena, you may never get know it. Also, your presence gives you the ability to respond faster when the customer speaks. It also shows that you are interested and willing to show up to discuss things or to resolve problems that are important to them. Your social media presence also allows for much faster communication with your customer base. The truth is, being in business is about relationships. Knowing that’s the case, it’s the relationship building we should always focus on and that is why social media is a very important tool in your marketing and branding arsenal.

Lead Generation

Having a well strategized social media presence allows you to create better lead generation mechanism. Through your conversations on social media, you can reach a bigger audience base. For example, you may organize a short contest on Facebook. The people entering that contest are sure additions to your lead base. Most companies have weekly contests. While the “prize” may usually not be that much it creates dialogue and that conversation gets shared with others.

This is a hypothetical situation of how that may work if you create a contest for your business. You have a pet grooming salon, you could create a contest where folks can talk about the worst haircut their dog ever received. People enjoy talking about their animals. Let them post images showing how their dog looked when it came home with the haircut from the salon. This is a big opportunity. You may offer anybody who entered the discussion a $10 off coupon for any services totaling $50 or more. That contest alone may bring you fifty new customers who would have their pet groomed once a month. You have just increased your leads base as well as revenue to your business.

Goodwill

If your customers are really engaged with you and your brand, they are emotionally attached to you and your business, no doubt. Everyone can tell of a time when they have had a mind blowing customer experience. When that happens to you, you tend to tell all the people around. Engaged and satisfied customers spread the word about your brand and business because they believe in you and what you are offering.

It’s About Relationships

Business is really about building relationships and in most cases; people don’t buy from someone without first knowing them and having that relationship. The use of social media as a tool to brand your business allows for your current and potential customers to engage with you and develop that relationship. What are you waiting for? Get on the bandwagon now.