How much value does social media actually add to a business
We all know how social media has a big impact on businesses in today economy but does it actually make a difference to the operation of your business?
Sean Gardner (@2morrowknight) “Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources. Surround yourself with people who not just support you and stay with you, but inform your thinking about ways to WOW your online presence”
It’s almost impossible to imagine a life before social media, Facebook and Twitter have been around for less than a decade however I find myself struggling to remember the times i spent on the internet not looking at this websites. As businesses look back over this short amount of time, they can easily see how these sites are changing the way they do business. Business professionals use these social media sites to network, interact with customers, and bring a new dynamic with how they interact and bring their team members together.
Social Media is a undoubtable a great tool for any business however it has the ability to divide and destroy industries, with outdated companies falling behind their competitors. Social media can be a distraction for majority of the workforce, quickly diminishing employee productivity throughout the day, but it can also be a way to open up opportunities that would never have existed in the past time. This the current day and age social media is a effective tool for any business.
As businesses continue to try to redesign themselves in this new technology-driven environment, customers are crucial to those changes. While a director may not be required to spend all day tweeting or posting insightful and motivational comments on Facebook, it is important that they consider the value of social media to their business.
Do you think a director will need to consider how many complaints or praise came through via Twitter last month? Which company posts on Facebook received the most “likes” or “shares?” Do the customers react better to quotes or pictures?
I think using these tools are essential as the Directors can use this information to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors
Crowdsourcing
What is Crowdsourcing? First we must understand this term the oxford dictionary defines crowdsourcing as : obtain (information or input into a particular task or project) by enlisting the services of a number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the Internet.
What does this mean for my business? Is this something that I should be worried about to gain business value?
Whether you like it or not, you are either crowdsourcing or being sourced. The information we are generating in a big data world is starting to funnel into specific areas of interest to companies and people. And it’s only going to get bigger as technology advances.
You need to know just how crowdsourcing actually works. It starts with your overall business objective and your target audience. The better the story you pitch, the more likely you will receive effect feedback and buy in from your audience. I recommend you spend majority of your time crafting an genuine story, and how it clearly ties back to your business or product. How did your experience lead your to coming up with this idea? How did a tragic or terrific time in your life inspire the need to change it for others? People innately look to connect with others on a personal level and with those who share their own personal values.
This approach gives better insight to a company or person about the overall level of interest in what they’re offering to their audience. It’s almost like market research that actually pays you in the end. The level of support you get for a project can be used to determine overall supply and demand, and help you figure out the best strategies to move forward and grow your business.
Building a online community by crowdsourcing has massive value when your brand or product has an authentic value and story behind it. You’ll collect an insider audience of buyers eager to talk about it, share it and be a part of your brand for life. This will expand your product and increase the footprint your business has in the online environment.
Bonnie Sainsbury (@bsainsbury) “Social media will help you build up loyalty of your current customers to the point that they will willingly, and for free, tell others about you.”
Business Blog 