5 Common Social Media Misconceptions

Posted: October 12, 2016 - By Allison Doyle

In this day and age, if you don’t know what “social media” is, you might have just emerged from a cryogenic state, or you’re living a bit off the grid. But for those of us who do utilize it in our daily lives, and even for those of us who might be resistant (or a bit intimidated) to it, we all recognize its power. Social media especially can be an incredible tool for small businesses looking to boost their online reputations, attract new customers and broaden their reach.

But before you delve headfirst into social media, we wanted to share…

5 Common Social Media Misconceptions

Avoid these and you’ll be well on your way to winning new customers and owning your social media presence!

I Don’t Need Social Media for My Business

Don’t believe the naysayers who believe a social media presence isn’t necessary for small business. The opposite is in fact true: social media might just be the missing ingredient in your marketing strategy. The stats don’t lie. Not only have the number of social media users steadily increased from 2010 to 2016, but sites like Yelp!, Google Local, and Facebook have become trusted sources for consumer reviews.

Social Media Is Just People Posting About What They Ate for Breakfast…

So if you’ve stood at the sidelines of social media and just watched others use it, you might think that social media (Instagram or Facebook, anyone?) might just be people posting about what they ate for breakfast, or discussing politics, posting pictures of their children, or their pets. But in reality, sites like Twitter and Facebook can help boost your customer communication and engagement. You can find new customers on Twitter by searching for relevant keywords and phrases. And you can create a Facebook Business Page for your organization – and on it, you can not only share updates about your product or practice, but you can also celebrate your customers, provide interesting articles, and celebrate your company culture.

You Can’t Track Value on Social Media

Some hardline data hounds might want to avoid social media because they think you can’t track value on it versus other, more traditional marketing channels. However, the reality is that social media is among the easiest channels to measure, because quantifying results is ingrained into the social media culture. Valuable information comes from metrics surrounding client engagements (likes, comments, sharing), and you can see immediately what posts engage your customers most, and what people want, and like.

It Won’t Bring In Sales

Another common social media misconception is that, while posting is all well and good, focusing on social media won’t actually bring in sales. The answer to this is two-fold. Not only do you need to remember that your customer’s story is more than just the sale. While of course your business’ bottom line is the driving force behind everything else, experts agree that social media cements the relationship between a business and its existing customers, making those customers more loyal, and more willing to refer and advocate for the company. And in straight stats, 78% of people recently polled by DDB Worldwide said that a company’s social posts impact their purchase decisions.

My Customers Don’t Use Social Media

If you think that social media might work for “other businesses” but not your customers, think again. Have you really dug deep into your customer demographics? A misunderstanding about your customers’ behaviors might be driving this misconception. For instance, many businesses that work with seniors think that their customers don’t use social media, but in reality – 65% of U.S. adults ages 50-64 are on social media more than cable and satellite television, and 49% aged 65+. (Statistica, 2015)

These are just 5 of the most common Social Media Misconceptions we have heard, what about you? Have you checked out how you look online lately? You don’t need to be a social media expert to run your business, but you could incorporate a stronger social media presence and strategy into your business plan moving forward. With a platform like Demandforce, social media strategy is incorporated into everything else we do to help your business grow. Don’t pay for a la carte experts or software when you can get an all-in-one solution for your marketing, social media, and customer communications. Contact us today at (800) 246-4853 to find out more, or set up a demo with us, and speak with an expert about your specific needs and business goals.