Small businesses are the leaders in our economy. They create 6 out of every 10 new jobs and contributed $3 trillion in revenue last year alone. This is an exciting statistic, but risk and uncertainty are present at every turn for these small businesses. Every decision they make can impact the company’s bottom line.
LinkedIn, a leader in social media, conducted a study to investigate how small businesses are using social media, and whether it’s worth the investment. They found that the biggest problem facing most small businesses is the need to attract new clients, and 61% of these small business’ believe social media is helping them solve it.
For small businesses, taking the step into the world of social media can be uneasy. Some may be resistant to the idea of social media, however, this is usually due to a lack of understanding of the proper use and all that it can do for them. Luckily there are a great many resources for small business owners, One such resource is LinkedIn’s new small business microsite. Another is Klout, which allows a business owner to track the ebbs and flows over time of their popularity score across a variety of social media platforms. There are a great number of other resources available, the key is identifying the right tools for each business.
The most important thing for small businesses to remember about social media, in which ever platform they decide is right for them, is that it’s all about valuable content. Having the right content is what will encourage their customers to interact and engage through these venues which is ultimately the goal. This can include industry-specific news, practical guidance or testimonials and reviews from both customers and industry experts. The more their clients see and connect with their business the more the relationship is built.
Whether small business use social media as a marketing tool, for educational purposes, or to derive business insights, the use of social media is on the rise and for good reason. It can be a very valuable tool for any small business now and into the future. As a whole, humans are a social creature and social media is an ever growing instrument that if used correctly can help small business expand further than they ever imagined.