For small business owners, especially tradespeople, finding the time or a reason to invest in building a social media presence may feel unnecessary, and ‘not for you’. However, as noted in this piece by internet provider Plusnet, you could be missing out on the lucrative millennial market.
According to Plusnet, 41 per cent of millennials are unlikely to fix a problem in their homes themselves, even when it comes to painting a wall. 55 per cent reply purely on the internet to hire a tradesperson, and that reviews and social media presence are what drives their decision.
So, if you’ve been sat on the fence about putting your business on social media, let’s look at nine reasons for you to reconsider.
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Social media helps get the word out and generates brand awareness
Social media really does help get the word out about your business.
But what’s more important than the exposure, is that it allows you to develop and grow relationships with your audience. The people you connect with online will get to know you and your business, have possibly done business with you previously and will recommend you to friends.
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Social media is popular
You don’t need to be an expert in technology and social media marketing to know just how popular social media is with its consumers.
According to Avocado Social, 67 per cent of British adults used social networks in 2019, which means that social media will touch nearly every customer that walks through your door.
For most small businesses, Facebook – which has 2.32 billion monthly active users – is the jumping-off point for getting started with social media marketing.
With its extensive reach, there are very few businesses that couldn’t benefit from having a presence on Facebook.
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Social media is cost-effective
More and more social networks are controlling what users see in their news feeds, which means what you post could get lost in the shuffle. By using social media’s low-cost advertising, you can promote your business.
Most social media advertising is cheaper than traditional advertising, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to reach more people, increase your audience, and grow your business.
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Social media reaches all ages and demographics
Social media defies age barriers. An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report stated that 91 per cent of Brits are internet users, with access to social media in 2019.
While the majority of that percentage (99 per cent) are aged 16-44, a substantial amount is attributed to other ages that use social media as well, including 47 per cent of Brits aged 75 and older. So, no matter how young or old your target audience may be, chances are most of them are already logging on and waiting for you to get started.
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Social media encourages two-way communication
Social media gives you the power to learn more about your audience, their interests, and collect feedback.
Ask your customers to share their thoughts, questions, and ideas to get to know them better. You can respond just as fast, without having to pick up the phone or worry the customer isn’t seeing your response.
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Social media users are active
One thing you have to know about social media users is that when they say they are on social media, they are really on social media.
Users in the UK spend nearly 2 hours a day checking their social media, according to a We Are Social report. While a customer may visit your store once a week, they could see your social media posts in their feed multiple times during the week.
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Social media lets you share A LOT about your business
Social media sites allow businesses to offer the most up-to-date information about anything from products, services, or upcoming events.
Much of your activity and profiles on social media sites can be made public, meaning they can be indexed by search engines like Google — one more way to make sure your business or organisation comes up as the answer when someone is searching for a solution to a problem.
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Social media is perfect for customer service
Providing stellar customer service is likely already a top priority for your small business. But along with the two-way communication that social media provides, it also offers a unique opportunity to step up your customer service game.
This will allow you to provide a memorable experience. By monitoring social media for customer feedback and offering a response, you can drive real business results.
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Social media is everywhere
Today, more than half of all Brits are smartphone users, and it’s over 90 per cent for under 55 years old. More and more businesses are offering mobile-friendly experiences. The benefit of the increased presence of mobile activity in our daily lives is huge for small businesses.
Most major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, offer free mobile apps that let business owners manage their presence on-the-go.
Having a social media presence that’s accessible via mobile can improve the chances of your business getting found when someone is searching for a place to eat or a product to buy, while on-the-go.
If you’re looking for electrical wholesalers in Belfast and Liverpool, get in touch today.