The Impact of Social Media on Businesses Today

In the technology era, the importance of social media in business is constantly growing. Social media affects businesses of all sizes in very many ways. Social media and social networks have changed the landscape of businesses for those companies which have adopted them and those who have not. Social media platforms enable users to create online communities and share content such as pictures, videos, ideas, and other information about themselves. On the other hand, a business social media profile should include their contact information, links to their website and pictures of products or services that they offer. Businesses can use social media to accomplish various business objectives such as increasing their sales, create brand awareness and also interact with their customers.

Branding

Social media platforms have become a very important branding tool for businesses. In the past, before social media become popular, a lot of people always thought of business as impersonal entities. However, with social media new levels of interaction between the business and the consumers emerged. The way a business connects with their customers on social media platforms influences how potential customers perceive the business. For instance, if a business sells fashion items and they mainly connect with young people in their 20’s then other consumers are more likely to associate that brand with that age group.

Marketing

Currently, most businesses are trying to find new ways to implement their marketing strategies through social media. Before social media most businesses relied on television commercials, sending emails and word of mouth. These channels are still important but businesses can now utilize social media to inform their consumers of any new products, sales, and promotions. Businesses can also pay for target marketing on social media which has been proved to be very effective. Consumers can stay informed on their favorite brands and even shop from their social media platforms.

Communication

Social media has affected the way most of the retail businesses communicate with their customers. In the past, people used to call, write a letter or send email to the retailers but now they just go to the social media profile of businesses and interact with them there. The customers are able to send private messages to the business or they can also post publicly. Customers have turned to social media to give their feedback whether positive or negative. This information can be helpful to other consumers who follow the social media platforms of the business. How the businesses respond to the negative feedback is critical. Businesses need to respond quickly to customer complains of social media to foster loyalty and improve the brands’ reputation.