Social Media and your Business

The world is watching…

It is hard to believe that a mere 10 years ago, we were only using the telephone, email and the fax machine for business communication. If we had a complaint or were dissatisfied with a service, we would send an email and hope for a response.  One-way,passive communicat
ion at its best.

Gone are those days, right? Right!

However, with the explosion of Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin businesses large and small, have to be awake and on their toes like never before. Social Media has become the medium for instant, multidimensional communication with both positive and negative effect. A two way process at best.

Without exception, it has become the largest marketing tool used for growing and promoting businesses we have ever seen. Businesses can now get instant recognition at the touch of a button. Unfortunately this comes at a price of monumental proportion. Some time ago two employees at Domino’s Pizza performed an unsavoury prank that ended up on youtube. Needless to say, even after a public apology from their CEO, their brand is suffering severely.

Social Media has given the consumer a new sense of power, a magic wand if you will. Customer service has to be top priority like never before. The days of ignoring a complaint in the hope they will just go away are gone. They will not. Ever. Giving your customer a positive response within 24 hours is like gold. Customers and fellow competitors are watching. Their good feedback or ‘like’ is worth more than any big ad in a glossy magazine.

And if you are not a fan of Social Media and you are hoping all the hype will be over soon. Think again. It has changed the way we live, think, communicate, buy, sell, market and advertise. If your business in not featured on one of these platforms- it’s time.

Go on, take the plunge. But beware, Social Media never sleeps!