We live in an era where social media can make you or break you. So how can a business be affected by this?
Well for starters, social media is THE place to promote. Gone are the days where you would buy an AD space in the local or national newspaper. Nowadays you flood every social media platform known to man with whatever business or product you are looking to promote. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to reach millions at one time. With everyone having at least one profile on said platforms, any business looking to gain
attention is sure to reach a variety of different clientele without even having to leave the comfort of their bed. Not to mention the extra publicity gained through working with influencers (social media’s budding stars), this can gain a business A LOT more attention, depending on popularity of course. You may be wondering how some minorly famous people can play a role in a business’s success and I have the
answer for you. It’s quite simple really; normally an influencer will request either regular PR packages or pay checks in exchange for their promotion on their platform. The influencer will then create content surrounding the product or business appealing to their audience.
Although sometimes businesses make the wrong choice and the ads they put out with social media stars can do more worse than good for them. Choosing the right influencer is important as some are notorious for negative things. Which in turn could jeopardise a business. Also, the fact that now every time an influencer gets paid to promote a business or product, they must declare it for their audience to see. This could make the audience question the credibility of said promotion- are they just saying such positive things because it landed them a paycheck?
So, follow this path with caution.
All in all, this sounds like a piece of cake, doesn’t it?
In some cases, yes, it is easier than setting up several business meetings with every major publication in town to attempt a partnership. And it is easier than going around the city putting up flyers and posters on every bus stop and shop window that will allow it. However, with social media, engagement is key. A business must keep up with the thousands of other businesses doing the same thing. Creating enough content to get their business in the top percentage of the algorithm.
Now your next question may be: What is an algorithm and how does it work?
A social media algorithm is the way the platforms determine which posts should be pushed on a user’s feed, this is calculated by how relevant the post is to the users’ other liked content, and how likely they will want to see said post. Now the tricky thing with the algorithm is it changes all the time. So, if you want to promote your business this way, you have to stay up to date with what is trending and relevant in the social media world, in order to stay relevant to the algorithm. With the world moving onto a new scandal or trend each day, this is easier said than done.
Have you ever heard the saying; ‘image is everything’? Well in the world of TikTok and Instagram this is vital. A clean-cut brand means EVERYTHING. Businesses must make sure to come up with a strong image and keep it in a positive light. EVERYONE these days look to others online to find out whether a business or product is worth supporting. One wrong move and all that hard work to build a following behind a brand could come crumbling down. Businesses should make sure to stay true to their brand, giving the people exactly what they intend. There are many brands out there that exaggerate their image to impress the crowd, only for them to come under fire when they can’t deliver on their word.
Businesses can use social media to build a loyal fanbase with their customers. By interacting with customers through social media regularly, a customer is more likely to keep returning to that business due to the excellent customer service. This is obviously easier done online due to a business being able to reach hundreds if not thousands of clienteles at once. It can also help a business grow their market reach. Social media is used by millions worldwide, so by taking a business onto social media, you could have clientele from all around the world, not just your region. This will help build a business’s success in record time.
Another thing to take into consideration is authenticity is key– no one wants to work with a business that must take from another brand to be successful. This could do serious damage to a brand, losing custom and money. Let’s take SHEIN for example, time and time again this brand has been caught stealing designs from underground artists and passing them off as their own, causing serious backlash for the company as well
as hundreds of lawsuits.
Even though negative reviews can harm a business it can also help it. By hearing all feedback (good and bad) a business can alter themselves accordingly. If a negative point comes up multiple times from different sources, a business can change the way they do these things. The same for good feedback, it allows businesses to know where they are going right. Feedback is key for any business to become successful.
A business’ success doesn’t necessarily depend on social media; however, it is quite clear the amazing benefits it can have. So, if you’re looking to expand your business and become an overnight success, get yourself on social media now.
Lauren is a content writer that is creating her own book and aspires to become a published author. While writing content, she also spends her time performing as an actress for different projects presented to her.
