Can social media marketing really help my business?

Social media marketing is not a magic wand. You need to have actual knowledge of your industry, know your targeted audience, and be very creative with how you use social media. A small local business could go a long way simply by using Facebook as their main platform; once they become more familiar with social media and marketing, they can add other platforms based on what their audience is interested in. There are many strategies that one can take to promote themselves through social media. One strategy could be to create an account on Facebook under a fake name, then leave positive comments on relevant pages or accounts. Another strategy could be to engage in a conversation with customers or prospects on Instagram or Twitter; these conversations will last longer than those posted on platforms like Facebook.

I would be very careful about using social media marketing to promote your business. It is problematic for a number of reasons. First, you want your clients to trust you and see that you provide value beyond the service. For example, if you do work as a plumber, why mention it on Twitter or Facebook? Yes, people will find out through these mediums that you are a plumber – but they might not get the message until they are in your office and looking at the business card. Second, if your marketing efforts produce a lot of negative comments or complaints on social media platforms, then this may make people less likely to do business with you. Third, don’t spend too much time talking about what you do at work.