aka Why you should use Social Media to your advantage.                                     By Rachel Shulick
 
Social media websites can be the best or worse advocate for your business or corporation. Take for instance, a lack of a social media/online presence for your company. You may think that it doesn’t matter for your business. You may just be right about that. But in today’s ever increasing digital marketplace, are you missing out on new customers? Let’s think it through.

The verb ‘google’ was added to the Oxford English and Merriam-Webster Collegiate dictionaries in mid-2006. The American Dialect Society named it ‘the most useful’ word in 2002. How is it used? Want to find the nearest bicycle retailer? Google it, and get not only a list, but directions and reviews. Want to know the definition of chiropractic? Google it! [You may be surprised to learn that it’s not only about the spine.] Want to find someone to develop a prototype for your new invention? GOOGLE IT!!!

What happens when you don’t show up on that list? To quote my favorite LinkedIn author, Wayne Breitbarth, “If I search for your company and you are not there, it must mean you are not open for business. Case closed!”

Social media can be a huge boost to the way you show up in searches. The higher your ranking on the search page, the more people will join your social media circle and learn about the features and benefits of your product. This means more business for you! The more people in your social media circle, the more chances for people to talk about your product and link to your website. This raises your search ranking.

Now some of you may be thinking, “That sounds like a vicious Catch-22. How do I get a better search ranking if I don’t already have a social media presence?” Fear not! This is where the art and science of Search Engine Optimization comes into play. Combined with an aggressive marketing strategy to drive people to your social media accounts and website, you can be as successful as the most popular brand that you know.

Have I convinced you to beef up your web presence by getting into social media yet?

No? Here are three other reasons:

1. Keep up to date on the latest industry news by following groups and professionals.
2. Stay competitive by seeing what other businesses are up to.
3. Learn about events that could be beneficial to your business like the Ideas to Profits Conference 2012! (You saw that coming, right?)