“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work

— Thomas A. Edison

When developing the devices in the nineteenth century which greatly influenced life worldwide into the twenty-first century, I’m sure Thomas Edison, who invented the earliest motion picture cameras amongst thousands of other inventions, would have wanted to stand on a pedestal and tell you not to overlook this incredible, cost-effective tool in this century.  Social Media.

What started as a way to communicate with each other, Social Media, has developed into a massive conduit for communication, and not only for social reasons. Everyone’s on it… everyone’s using it… everyone is now researching with, communicating with, developing a relationship with… businesses on “Social Media”. 

When Mark Zuckerberg, and fellow college roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, developed Facebook in 2004, pushing businesses probably wasn’t on the agenda, but either was turning Facebook into a $69 billion powerhouse.

While ‘Social Media’ is still called that, some business owners are still thinking it’s just social media. Most are slowly coming around to the idea that ‘everyone’s doing it’ but are still not properly using it and worse, not seeing it’s worth.

According to ‘Statista‘, “the power of social networking is such that the number of worldwide users is expected to reach some 3.02 billion monthly active social media users by 2021, around a third of Earth’s entire population.”

So I ask you this question: how are you marketing your business if you’re not on Social Media?

Are you using print media? How much does it cost you? Are you targeting your audience? Are you measuring your results? Is your brand in front of current and future clients every day?

Are the Yellow Pages still around? I’m asking because it’s been years since I used them personally so I have no idea. What’s that cost these days? Wait.. yep, online.  Fabulous!  Shame the businesses advertising here aren’t all adding their website… we know nothing about them.

Which brings me to another point ….. if you’re using print, radio, online directories, how do you develop a relationship with your client and importantly, future client? How do let them know you’re around.. who you are, what you sell?  How do they find you if they don’t yet know your name? Will they come across your competitor first if they start searching for your service or product?

So the big question.  Why aren’t you taking Social Media seriously?

It’s great to see so many businesses, large and small are starting to realise the worth of Social Media these days. If you look through Seek you’ll see hundreds of businesses advertising for Social Media Managers. This is because they have come to realise that Social Media is a vital Marketing Tool.  Congratulations to you if you are doing this.

On to my next point for today’s blog. If you don’t currently use Social Media, or you are not managing it properly, are you considering outsourcing or hiring a professional to manage your digital marketing? It’s not cheap? Maybe not but it’s not all that expensive either. Compare your weekly print costs to the cost of an experienced Digital Marketing Manager. Businesses using our services will tell you it’s worth it.  Do you have a budget for your marketing?  Digital Marketing is the most cost-effective way to market your business because you can ‘target your audience’.

Did you notice now we’re calling it ‘Digital Marketing’? Yes. Because that’s what it is.  Let’s stop calling it Social Media because this is where your dollars will count most. Targeted, vibrant, tool for communication and a place to build your online businesses community. We, Digital Marketing Managers don’t just ‘play’ on Facebook.  There are multiple digital marketing platforms vital for your business and we can manage them all. Pushing your brand, your message and building your ideal online community and at the end of the day, helping you to be seen by the people who will want to see you. Your clients, using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, now Thread and TikTok and Email Marketing… God forbid even Snap Chat for some businesses.

So, smart man, this Thomas A. Edison was. He saw into the future and made what seemed impossible… possible. Don’t miss an opportunity to get in front of your future clients because you don’t see the worth of ‘Social Media.’ Your competitors are there. They see it.

Call me to discuss having your ‘Digital Marketing’ managed. It’s worth it.