Growing Your Business Through Social Media

Social Media is all the rage today, but we (iMediaWorks & our strategic partners) are finding that a large amount of small businesses are not using it to grow their businesses. Also, the ones that are using social media are only dabbling in it. Why is this?

Here are a few responses...

• "I don't get it."

• "I don't understand computers."

• "Social Media is for the teenagers."

• "I don't have time."

• "I have better things to do."

In a well-researched report entitled, "2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report", by Michael A. Stelzner, he asked 8,600 marketers to participate in a survey to find out how small businesses are using social media to grow their businesses. I want to share some of the highlights of this report with you so can get a better understanding of why it is important to use social media as one of your marketing outlets. While I do not think that social media should be your only marketing outlet, you should be involved and harnessing it's power. If you don't, then you are missing out on some great opportunities to grow your business. A quick note before jumping in- 65% of those surveyed either just started using social media or had only been working it for a few months.

Increased website traffic
2 out of 3 participants found that their website traffic increased with as little as 6 hours per week invested in social media.

Time investment
56% of marketers spend 6 hours or more each week on social media.

Benefits of social media marketing
The #1 advantage is the generation of exposure. #2 increased site traffic. #3 building new business partnerships.

Top social tools
In order: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blogs

Blogging
Blogging is on the rise 81% of marketers plan to increase their use of blogs.

Social Media is here to stay, period! No matter the size of your business you need to develop and implement a social media strategy.