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Social media marketing, as part of Internet marketing, is now becoming integral when it comes to building successful digital businesses. But what is it exactly and how can a digital entrepreneur benefit from it?

Social Media Marketing means gaining visitor traffic and getting noticed through the help of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Foursquare, etc. There’s no limit to how many and which social media platforms you use. It’s all about utilizing them and choosing the best ones your business would benefit more from. For example, restaurants and other establishments may encourage their customers to “check-in” through Facebook and Foursquare. This can help map their location when someone searches them online.

It all starts with creating a Facebook and Twitter account and using it to your business’ advantage. In turn, entrepreneurs have a quicker way in promoting their business and updating their customers on latest promos and changes. Social media marketing has also help entrepreneurs become more cost efficient. Imagine if you have a clearance sale, you can “advertise” and announce it through Facebook and Twitter; thus, there will be less need to print flyers and advertise on the radio or newspapers.

Another advantage of social marketing is the expansion of your business’ customer-reach, since you can basically interact with anyone who has access to a computer and to the Internet. Thus, also expanding your business. Also, engaging and communicating with your customers is faster and easier with social media. Customer feedback is instant, helping entrepreneurs improve their business. Customers can easily place a comment or reply to specific announcements and in turn, business owners also respond quickly.

So now, you may be asking, why is social media marketing so important nowadays? One reason is sharing information is faster through it. Also, you must take into consideration how mobile internet applications have become more accessible these days. Wifi access, mobile apps or applications, and telecommunication companies have made it easier for people to interact online without the need to be hooked on a cable and a computer. Customers can easily view updates from you online business anytime of the day, wherever they may be. On the other hand, you can also check on your business through several mobile apps, giving you easier way to keep an eye on your business.

Once you’ve set up your social media tools, now you ask, do I still need a website? The answer is yes! Your website serves as your store or headquarters. It is the more formal and professional way of featuring your products and services. The social media tools are your hotline and marketing campaign materials, all linking back to your website.

Hitting “Like, Share, Retweet, and Check-In” can do a lot for your business. It can help you attract new customers and spark buzz on your business. The availability of these tools makes it way easier for you to become a successful digital entrepreneur too.

Still want to learn more about social media marketing and how to build and run a profitable Online Business? Check out my seminar, Digital Marketing Masterplan on April 6. Sign up now! https://benfrancia.com/the-digital-marketing-masterplan-seminar/
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The importance of bringing your business to the Internet cannot be understated. People today shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and any enterprise that does not take advantage of online shopping’s convenience and ubiquity is definitely losing out a lot.

In recent years, social media has become one of the most important and effective ways to build brand names and to do public relations. Companies have learned that promoting their site or business through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter is a very powerful means of getting a big amount traffic that translates to sales.

Social media marketing, as a matter of fact, is so low cost that it almost looks like it costs next to nothing compared to the more traditional methods of marketing. By optimizing your social media visibility, you will not have to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of links for your site; you’ll be able to get them for free, or at least for a few hundred dollars, just a small amount you will have to pay for the efforts of John or Mike or whoever’s managing your social media initiatives.

It is true that social media marketing will not actually allow you to make money directly. However, you should remember that any business or website that wants to become profitable needs to gather a group of people who will serve as the nucleus of its community. These people will be the first in line, among all the other users who will visit your site, to make purchases or to let other people know about your site. It is your responsibility to make this nucleus of supporters grow. The more people talking about your website, the faster word will spread about what you have to offer.

In addition, social media marketing is also a means for you to interact with your customers in a more personal manner. Through social media channels, they will be able to communicate their comments, opinions and messages. Needless to say, knowing how to communicate with your public is an important way to perpetuate both your social media sites and your business website as well.

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