All businesses can benefit from building a social media presence, but this doesn’t mean that the results will be immediate. Although social media is a must for modern brands, it’s important to recognize that followers and conversions usually happen gradually. Interested in learning more about why social media marketing is worth the long-term effort? Here, we discuss the intricacies of this type of networking and why it’s so crucial for your business:
It Takes Time to Build Relationships
At its core, social media is about making connections and building relationships. This endeavor takes time, but studies indicate that the investment can begin to pay off in as little as a year. In general, the longer you commit to engaging with your customers (including current, future, and potential), the more success you’ll enjoy. This chart shows a positive relationship between the number of years in social media and achievements in awareness and sales.
What to Expect From Social Media Marketing
One of the biggest mistakes that businesses make is giving up on social media prematurely. Many executives compare social media marketing to advertising, but it’s essential to note that they’re not the same and yield different results. Unlike advertising, the nuanced art of social media will almost certainly take more time before the sales start rolling in. However, all that effort spent in outreach will deliver a high ROI in due time.
The benefits of social networking are valuable, but you probably won’t see immediate results that are often achieved with traditional forms of advertising, such as a limited-time coupon code. Instead of expecting an uptick in conversions right off the bat, focus on the long-term goal of this type of outreach: establishing awareness and trust. When your company invests in building and maintaining an active social media presence, you’ll spark engagement, establish a reputation for great customer service, and gain insight into your target audience. Ultimately, you’ll get the best results by recognizing that the unique power of social media is most effective with a long-term commitment to gradually building connections.
Maintaining an active social media presence will help your company’s values and customer service shine through to customers. Building awareness and opening new doors takes time, and it can be daunting to start the process. If you’d like to start connecting with your customer base but lack the time or interest to do so, consult with a team of experts to handle the ever-present task of social media marketing. We’re here to help you create a customized plan for your business, so contact us today to learn more about our services.