Small business owners are catching on to social media in a big way. And many of them are reporting some impressive results.
A recent survey of 614 U.S. small business owners showed that 90 percent are actively engaged in social networking sites. And about three of four said those sites are as valuable — or more so — than in-person networking.
More than a third of the respondents said being found by new customers was the most valuable benefit of social media. Impressively, 78 percent said that over the past year they gained a quarter or more of their new customers through online or social media channels.
But the large number of available options — Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Groupon and other channels — is overwhelming for many small business owners.
This is where an experienced social media consultant can help. Choosing the right channels and then keeping them filled with regularly updated, quality content can make the difference between social media success and failure. The same holds true of a company website, which one in four of the survey respondents said was an important business driver.
The time has come when a small business owner not engaging or properly using social media is at a competitive disadvantage.
Click here for more details on the recent survey sponsored by a small business online community.
-JD
Twitter: @jdaum
