One of the most commonly asked questions about social media is:
Do I even NEED social media?
Short answer? Yes. And I’m not just saying that because it’s my job.
Your company might be doing good right now. Perhaps you have a great neighbourhood where you have been able to depend on local clients. However, there is a whole world out there who might be looking for your product!
I’ll give a great example: My sister is coming to visit me next week. And for some reason, she asked me if Toronto has any bakeries that sell piecaken. So I did what anyone might do, and I googled “piecaken Toronto”. Nothing really came up. But say you do make piecaken in your little bakery in North York – well out of my personal knowledge of bakeries, but close enough that I would have travelled with my sister. If you’re not online and promoting your product, there is no way people can know about your magical combination of cake and pie outside of your neighbourhood!
But where do I start?
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat – Just to name a few! I’m not going to pretend to tell you that you need to be on EVERY platform – You pick your battles and you do it well. However, I do have a few suggestions for starting blocks:
A website
Having a website is worth the investment. Using the piecaken example, if you are a bakery that serves piecaken, you’d do well to have your menu so that people can find your specialities. Think of a website as essential as having a Yellow Pages advertisement 20 years ago, except you reach everyone on the internet, and you can customize it as often as you want. Having a website is affordable, and a well designed site is a great investment.
It would be ridiculous to ignore the widespread use of Facebook. At the end of the third quarter of 2016, Facebook was sitting at 1.79 Billion active users. That is a LOT of people! If your website is like having a Yellow Pages ad, your Facebook is like having a wonderfully decorated window front. Restaurants can tell their fans what the chef’s special is that day. Bakeries can show fresh breads and cakes coming out of the oven. Stores can show new items on display. The opportunities are endless!
However, after those two? I say that social media is at your comfort level. Some companies are just made for Instagram, because they have beautiful visuals to share. Others can express themselves best through Youtube or Snapchat. Pinterest is great if you have parents on your radar. Even Google+ has its uses, even if it’s not as wide spread as others.
The important part is making sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. Keep your social media accounts active, and you’ll see steady growth in your business.
So have I convinced you that social media is well worth it? Still wondering where you’ll find the time? Shoot me an email through the Contact page and lets discuss how I can help you get the most out of the internet!
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