Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Media: Understanding How Social Media Can Benefit Your Company

It’s impossible to ignore the recent growth of social media giants like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Flickr. But you may be asking yourself: Why is social media important for my business? The key reason is that every day your customers are visiting these social sites. If your company does not have a presence on these sites, you are missing some very valuable opportunities to connect and engage with your customers.

Utilizing social media can help your company increase website traffic and build brand awareness and loyalty. Data shows that consumers think more highly of companies who choose to engage in social media.  Take a look at some of these stats from a recent study about American consumers:

-93% think that a company should have presence on social media sites
-85% believe that companies should use social media to interact with their consumers
-56% feel that a company is providing them a better service or product if they interact with them online

Participating in social media allows you to connect with your customers on an intimate level. The communication is two-way and mutually beneficial. You can gain invaluable insight about your customers by simply observing and listening. Consumers on social media sites are often much more willing to open up and speak honestly when it comes to giving their opinion and feedback.

Also, because social media sites are some of the most popular and indexed sites in the World, being a part of social media can help your Web site become more credible in the eyes of Google. More credibility means better search engine visibility and more traffic to your site.

What? You’re convinced that social media is not only here to stay, but can also be extremely valuable for your business? Great! Stay tuned for part 2 of my series, Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Media: Look Before You Leap (Research).