Why Every Business Should Be Using Social Media Platforms

Social media has become the number one way businesses connect with consumers in the last five years, especially the younger Millennial and GenZ consumers. More than 3.6 billion people were using social media in 2020, and that number is expected to increase to around 4.41 billion by 2025.
 
Furthermore, a new study found that 35 percent of consumers said that the primary way they learn about brands and the products and services they offer is through social media. Given these impressive numbers, it has become clear that using social media for business is crucial for success, and here’s why.

Using Social Media Means Growing Your Reach

​​​​​​​Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook allow businesses to reach more potential customers quickly. The average social media user spends almost two and a half hours on social media platforms every day. With billions of people on social media, huge increases in a business’s exposure can come from simply posting engaging content that connects with users.

Social Media Gives Businesses a Chance to Truly Connect with Consumers

Social media also helps make the relationship between a business and its audience stronger than standard marketing ever could. It gives businesses a chance to humanize themselves and show consumers what they are all about outside of selling. For example, brands that showcase their dedication to social and climate issues give their audience more profound ways of connecting with the company. The same thing can happen when a brand tells its story, showing consumers that they are regular people just like them behind the scenes.
 
This helps sales directly as well as with customer retention. When people feel personally engaged with a brand, whether through inside information about who the brand is or alignment with the brand's ethics, they're more likely to become loyal customers.

Social Media Brings Traffic to the Company Website

​​​​​​​In order to buy a brand’s products online, customers have to get to the website first. Social media is a way for a brand to publicize who they are to the world, as it is a place where billions of people spend hours a day. Thus, a company that creates a powerful brand image on social media that builds a relationship with its audience can easily attract traffic to its website.
 
Plus, social media platforms are now making it simple for users to move to the website with one click. Instagram, for example, allows brands to display products and prices on the platform that directly link to the website. This makes it easy for users to make the jump from browsing to purchasing.

The Takeaway

With more people than ever using social media, businesses of all sizes would be wise to take advantage of this upward trend. The consumer world has moved from a culture of advertising to a culture of relationships and trust. As such, finding meaningful ways to connect with potential customers on various social media platforms can give a business the best chance to flourish.