There were over 800 million active Facebook users in 2011 with 200 million being added in that year alone.  Over a million users was surpassed in 2012 There is less time spent emailing compared to time spent engaging social media sites.

• 52% of people who find news online forward it on through social networks, email, or posts.
• 59% of adults use their mobile phones to remain connected with their social networks.
• 81% of small business leaders use social media to get in front of customers and find new customers (source Zoomerang). As we are finding out social media is good for business.
• 50% of small business owners reported gaining new customers through social media, mainly Facebook and Linked in (source Crowdspring).

With the amount of networking done throughout the World on social media sites a company that has an SEO campaign running should have an SMO (Social Media Optimisation) campaign running concurrently. SEO digital marketing combines the two and have the SMO within the main structure of the SEO package. If a business has an SMO campaign running it’s visibility will increase, it will connect with it’s customers and promote itself.

Considering these facts we can safely assume that the answer to the question asked in this blog title is yes, Social media is important and its also an interesting phenomenon.  Especially for businesses and customers, and the relationship between the two.

Looked at one way, social media provides an opportunity for businesses, giving them a personalized platform to connect with their customers. By using social media as a way to advertise for your company, you can speak directly to the consumer in an arena they are comfortable with. Social media allows businesses to connect with customers while shaping their perceptions of products and services.

Three practical reasons to use social media

There are three main reasons businesses should at least look into implementing social media and reputation management strategies into their marketing strategies.

1) Reduced cost.

If properly implemented, social initiatives can help reduce costs. Social media provides businesses with the means to increase customer service, saving costs and increasing customer satisfaction.

2) Increased revenue.

Engagement with social consumers allows for increased direct communication with consumers. These consumers can then influence others, shaping opinions and in turn expanding the customer base, driving new business.

3) Brand building.

Developing a social forum around your business helps to increase awareness of your brand as well as build brand value. Build up your brand through social media initiatives, increasing perceived value in products and services. This is how you will beat your competition.