There is no doubt that social media usage by small-business owners is an increasingly popular and effective way to increase sales and profitability. Small businesses now operate in both the brick-and-mortar as well as the cyber world.
By effectively utilizing social media, the search engines such as Google will rank your business website nearer to the top of the rankings. Social media is the principal tool for bringing both these spheres of operation together.
Wise Usage of Social Media Can Increase Sales
Businesses grow by increasing their sales. One way to hit the jackpot in sales prospecting is by effectively using the various social media on your cyber properties and even in your on-the-street store.
Most people have heard of the common types of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. But, it is important that you become aware of specialty social media that is tuned directly into your business niche. For example, if you are in the business of finding employees for specialty companies, then Linkedin would be a good choice to add to your social media repertoire.
Emerging Social Media Trends in Business
More than half of small businesses post on social media daily and that number is growing. To evaluate the magnitude of these trends, the Clutch digital marketing firm conducted a recent survey of more than 350 small business owners. Several powerful demographic trends were uncovered:
- Almost three-fourths of the small firms surveyed use social media, with 47% starting this usage before 2017.
- Facebook was the most popular platform, used by 86% of the small companies, followed by Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Snapchat, all of which came in at less than 50%.
- Female-owned businesses are more likely (74%) to use social media than their male-owned counterparts (65%)
- Not unexpectedly, millennial business owners are far more likely (79%) to use social media than older owners.
- Fifty-two percent of small businesses post on social media at least once each day.
Dissecting These Trends
The millennial generation was raised from infancy in the digital world. As such, This demographic has become savvy users of social media. The marriage between younger small-business owners and social media has transformed the way these enterprises operate. In fact, these days, most new businesses would even think of operating without some form of social media presence.
The continued rise of women-owned businesses appears to be an important driver in social media usage. Women tend to be more social than men, according to an article by Richard Adhikari appearing on the e-commerce times website. As more and more women start up their own enterprises, expect the trend of social media driving sales to increase.
Although Facebook is dominant, other social media platforms have less saturation. This suggests that there are many cyber opportunities still available, especially for certain businesses. For example, as mentioned earlier, Linkedin is a good choice if you are in the business-placement arena, but lesser-known Linkedin competitors such as Snap, TikTok, and Nexxt may be useful to check out.
What This Means For Your Business
Clearly, more and more people are gravitating to social media, not only for personal reasons but as integral parts of their businesses as well. As younger, social-media-savvy customers look to buy from small businesses, this trend is likely to continue. The writing on the proverbial wall is clear: Mastering social media is crucial for the continued success of your small business. If you’re not taking advantage of these tools and own or manage a small business, it’s time to begin now.
Summary Statement
Effectively using social media in your business can be a great tool to increase sales, which is the driving force behind business growth. Of course, incorporate the big social media platforms such as Facebook. But, also research into lesser well-known platforms that may be a perfect fit for your niche. You may be pleased as your sales, revenues and profits take a big step forward.
