Social Media can be a great tool to reach out to new and existing customers, but there are many misconceptions on this marketing tool. For those new to social media or who have not receive positive results from their campaigns, here are a few myths that it best this ever growing marketing venue:
- You just set it up and go!: Everyday hundreds of small business owners excitedly set up new social media pages and profiles… then they wait… and nothing happens. Social media, much like any other marketing tool, requires strategy, understanding of your target demographic and intentional pursuance of this group. Set-up and walk-away is not a strategy and will not bring you any attention.
- Creating a social media account will bring instant customers!: Not even close. If a customer was seeking you out, they would have found you already. Social media gives you a new way for you to find them, not force them to find you.
- Social media is free!: Yes and no. The platform is free, but an effective strategy requires some costs. For example, a writer to engage your customers, imagery to professionally represent your company, and ad placement to reinforce your online message. The costs can be minimal, but they are still present to make an effective campaign.
- Every business should be on social media!: Social media is not for everyone. Companies who do not have a high customer-need-frequency are not good candidates will not see great results through social media. Why would a person want to receive weekly messages from their dishwasher repairman when they only call him every two years to fix their machine?
