Social media marketing, will it pay for my business?
It is clear that social media has grown significantly in recent years and that with over 800 million active users, the number of Facebook users is easily more than double that of the entire US population!

Its growth has been astronomical, with millions of people posting more personal and business information online today than ever. It’s happening at lightning speed with thousands of posts, tweets and uploads happening every hour.

Recent research by the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) commissioned by Sensis Pty Ltd (May 2011, p. 10) indicates that “62% of Australian internet users use a variety of social networking sites, and many visit them. every day and most at least a couple of times a week. ” It’s no wonder that with the millions of potential customers around the world using these sites every day, so many businesses have decided to include social media marketing in their marketing mix. However, it is also important to understand how these sites are used and what it means to maintain or provide resources to your business presence on these sites. Your online footprint can last a long time, so don’t underestimate how this can affect your brand’s perception in the market. Take some time to think ahead of time if social media is right for your business.

1. First of all, try to understand – It is very important that you understand the basics of how social media actually works and how it is used. What do people and companies do with social media? What gives them results? Some of you may be thinking, how can I do this? Perhaps you could consider trying it out for yourself by creating a personal account, then trying out some of the features or asking a trusted friend to show you your account and walk you through. Alternatively, there are so many social media articles and resources online that you can do a Google or YouTube search on a particular topic of interest and watch video tutorials to find out. 2. Understand your purpose: What is your purpose in using social media? What do you hope to achieve for your business by using it? It is very important to identify your purpose for getting involved in social media (or any other marketing activity for that matter). You have to find out why you are participating. What do you hope to achieve? Do you simply want to increase brand awareness, interact with your customers or identify new sales opportunities? Remember to be realistic about what you think you can achieve.

3. If you decide to participate in social networks, which sites are best for you? – With the large number of social networking sites available, which ones are best for your business? Think about where your target audience would socialize online, and think about the amount of time and resources you could realistically commit to maintaining and managing your site’s presence. Which ones are right for you? You may find that some are more suitable than others.

Four. Quality content – If you decide that social media is right for your business, carefully consider the quantity and quality of the information you want to share in the online sphere. Remember that it will likely stay there for a long time, so you need to make sure it is accurate and reliable information that is valuable to your target audience. It has to be relevant, otherwise people won’t read it.

There are a number of reasons to participate in the social media community, including:

It is profitable. Many accounts on various social media sites can be set up for free. Large global audience. It allows you to receive feedback in real time and communicate with customers in real time. Provides your business with an additional marketing channel to raise awareness of your product, brand or organization. However, social media presents some hurdles for businesses that need to be measured:

Time and Resources: You need to be willing to take the time to create new content. Therefore, it is important to consider whether you have the time and resources to effectively manage your social media presence.