Just like the music industry, you will get out of your business what you put into it. Think about it: musicians work so hard for so long, just to catch that one break that will land them in the spotlight. Some of the most talented and popular artists today put in the longest hours and gave it everything they had to get to where they are now.

This same principle holds true for business owners. It seems like common sense to most, but sometimes it can be easy to forget when you start to get frustrated.

Some business owners naively think that they can start a business and customers will magically appear. Unfortunately, that’s usually not how it works. Successful business people realize that they need to spend money and time in order to make money. The more that you put into it, the more you will get out- as long as you are doing it wisely, of course.

How Much Time are Other Businesses Spending on Social Media?

According to Media Bistro, 43% of small businesses spend six or more hours per week on social media, 25% spend six to ten hours per week on social media, 11% spend eleven to twenty hours per week on social media, and 7% spend more than twenty hours per week.

That means that only 14% of small businesses are spending less than six hours per week on social media. If you fall in this last category, you might want to reconsider your business strategy. Social media is a long term investment that requires time and attention to reap the benefits.

What are the Benefits of Social Media Marketing?

Forbes recently published an article called The Top 10 Benefits Of Social Media Marketing  where they cited that 84% of marketers found as little as six hours per week dedicated to social media was enough to generate increased traffic. Especially in the beginning stages of building brand awareness for a company, it is essential to spend time connecting with prospective customers- and social media is an easy and effective way to do so.

Using social media will

  • Increase brand recognition
  • Improve brand loyalty
  • Boost conversion rates
  • Decrease marketing costs
  • Increase search engine rankings
  • Improve customer experiences

And so much more – if done right. But the key is to do it right. For instance, Auto-posting to Facebook decreases likes and comments by 70%, according to HubSpot. Those companies that think they can simply slap up a Facebook page without developing an effective strategy will fail see to see the returns they are looking for.

Still on the Fence?

If you’re still on the fence about investing tons amounts of time and energy into social media, just take a look at some of these mind-boggling statistics:

  • Social media has a 100% higher lead to close rate than outbound marketing. (Hubspot)
  • 92% of marketers in 2014 claimed that social media marketing was important for their business. (Forbes)
  • 74% of marketers who spend 40 or more hours per week using social media earn new business through their efforts. (HubSpot)
  • 80% indicated that their social media efforts increased traffic to their websites. (Forbes)

If nothing else, remember this: your competition is on social media, engaging audiences, building relationships, and gaining more qualified leads. Don’t sit in the stands and let your competitors steal the show. Get on that stage and show your audience what your company has to offer.

The great news is you don’t have to go at it alone. The rockstar social media team at Horton Group is here to help you get your show on the road. Give us a call today at (615) 292-8642.