Social Media for the Small Business Owner

Time is limited when you are a small business owner and many things don't make it onto our agenda. Some tasks take the back seat to other priorities that we find crucial for business sustenance such as finances and sales. For the woman business owner who is trying to decide whether social media is worth precious time and energy, there is some research that can make the case.

A new report from CEO.com shows that 50% of the population currently uses Facebook, and more than 37% use Twitter. LinkedIn is the network of choice for entrepreneurs who are interested in connecting socially with a professional audience. Many business owners are hesitant to become involved in the social space for lack of time, knowledge or resources, but social media is becoming one of the most important forms of engagement.

Some Important Facts and Figures to Consider

• There are nearly 850 million Facebook Users; 57% are female
• Twitter has over 465 million accounts and 175 million tweets are sent daily
• Pinterest is the largest generator of referral traffic and has over 10.4 million users

There are billions of people involved in the social media space, and you are neglecting them if you are not attempting to engage them where they are. Social media is a tool that should not be ignored because it is a way for customers, clients, employees and other members of your community to engage one another. It is also a way for you to communicate directly with those that you serve. The Internet is the megaphone that allows for ideas and feedback to be heard. It allows customers to send complaints, praise, ideas and requests for new products or services. The BRANDFog CEO Survey says more than 82% of respondents are likely or much more likely to trust a company whose CEO and team engage in social media. This is something important to consider when deciding what to pay attention to and dedicate your time to. One must develop a clear strategy on how to use social media to further your business’ marketing plan and achieve goals.

The social space is vital for business and regardless of the size of your company, you should consider becoming more involved. Commit to engaging at least 5 times a day. You can schedule 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes before the end of the day to post on your social media channels, engage with customers or potential clients and respond to any comments. A few minutes a day can make a great difference.

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