SMEs still don't get Social Media - Business Works
BW brief

SMEs still don't get Social Media

Neil Baker, Marketing Manager, AddPeople large proportion of SMEs are yet to grasp the potential of social media as a communications tool for business according to Neil Baker, Marketing Manager at AddPeople.

The research reveals that 80% of the Manchester-based agency’s new SME customers were not previously active on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Additionally, the research discovered that, of those new customers with social media accounts, 69% didn’t have prominent website links, be it through well-positioned click through icons or a social media feed.

Given that 71% of social media participants are more likely to buy a product or service from a company they have connected with via social media and 36% of people have posted about a brand on social networks, the importance of SMEs making good use of social media cannot be underestimated.

focus time and attention on the platform that will deliver

Businesses new to social media should focus time and attention on the platform that will deliver the most for them. According to marketing software company, Hubspot, B2B companies say they have acquired the most new customers via LinkedIn, whilst 67% of B2C companies have acquired a new customer through Facebook. Twitter shouldn’t be overlooked, as it is a powerful tool for instantaneous interaction with customers and can be crucial for protecting and enhancing your brand’s reputation.

"We provide services to more than 3000 small and medium-sized firms across the world, from marquee hire and chauffeur businesses to solicitors, accountants, hotels and tourist attractions and were stunned by the results of our customer research," says Neil. "It is amazing to think, given the prominence of social media these days, that only 20% of our new SME customers have previously made use of social networking."

"Social media is emerging as an extremely effective promotional tool that is relatively cheap to implement, so it important that SMEs develop their skills and get to grips with social platforms that can deliver a sizeable ROI for their business. New business can be won and customers lost through an SMEs online behaviour, it is as simple as that."

"Take note of the plethora of advice and statistics out there which reiterate the importance of social media engagement. Websites such as www.mashable.com and www.socialmediaexaminer.com are useful resources for both newbies and experts looking to extend their knowledge and keep up to date with the latest news in a fast moving industry."

"SMEs who invest time to become more social media savvy will develop a greater understanding of passive advertising approaches, adding value to their brand in the process, through direct interaction and engagement with customers."

"Enterprises shouldn’t see social media as something to be afraid of and equally social media shouldn’t be viewed as a tool solely for teenagers. Companies need to focus on choosing the right platforms for them and commit to a strategy of interaction and unique content updates, as well as always remembering to communicate as a person, not a corporation!"



For more information about AddPeople, please call 0845 030 4444, visit www.addpeople.co.uk or find them on Twitter: @add_people or facebook/addpeoplemedia



Tweet article
BW on TwitterBW RSS feed