The rise of social media in recent years has offered a whole new platform for companies to spread the word about their product or service. There is some debate about how effective social media is as a marketing tool, but the potential of it cannot be denied, and when it is used in the right way, it can be very effective. Social media has risen in popularity with businesses because it has risen in popularity with the consumer. In addition, it has the advantage of being a low cost option when it comes to marketing.

Connecting with the customer: Social media is very useful for those businesses that want to offer closer connections with their customers. Having a staff member who can answer queries on Twitter and Facebook means that customers are not in a position where they have to wait at the end of a phone for an answer. Instead, they can simply ask the question online and should be able to get an answer almost instantly, no matter what the time of day or night. Companies that make the effort to monitor their social media pages closely often have a better relationship with their customers. Being seen to deal with problems and issues effectively means that consumers begin to trust the brand a little more.

How can Social Media help with Purchasing Decisions of the Consumer?

A number of polls have suggested that many consumers are not actually influenced by social media when it comes to their purchasing decisions. One of the reasons is that some businesses have tried to use social media to change the way that people think, but this is not necessarily the best way forward. Consumers opt for social media to keep up with friends and make new connections. They can use it to follow trends and find information on products. However, the recession in 2008 led to consumers becoming more wary with their spending. A company that just talks about itself and its products on its social media outlets is unlikely to find lots of new customers this way.

Creating a relationship with a potential customer is essential. For example, a person looking for a new security system might check out a Facebook page for a relevant company. They will want to see more than plugs for products. They might want to see security tips that do not involve spending money, and they will want to see people answering questions and queries that have been posed via the page.

Keeping up to date with trends in social media is so much easier when you keep up with digital media news. This will provide businesses with the information they needs on internet users, demographics and trends for marketing via social media.

Simply creating a social media page is not enough – companies then have to use that page to its full advantage without seeming as though they are pushing a lot of products that people are not sure about. Social media can be used to build brand awareness rather than just being a platform for a sales pitch.