Social media is the new buzz word for today and is something that is gaining extreme popularity in the online environment. Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are getting more traffic hits than even the popular search engines online. Statistics show that millions of people join social media websites on a daily basis, and that is a huge online market.
It is no wonder that businesses are spending tons of money investing in social media. Almost all the major companies have an online presence on the popular social media websites, and are using their social media accounts to attract more customers. So does that mean that all businesses need to invest in social media? The answer is, No.
Social media might have its advantages and benefits, but there are also many others facets you need to consider before you jump onto it. There are many reasons why you should NOT invest in, social media:
Social media is resources consuming
The first reason not to invest in social media is that it takes up time and money. If you have a lot of money to spend on advertising and marketing, then maybe you should invest in social media. But smaller firms do not have unlimited advertising budgets, really need to think hard before they invest in social media. Many businesses are under the misconception that social media is free, but that is not the case. While it may be free to make an account on websites such as Facebook, it takes time, manpower and money to run it effectively.
You have no control over social media
Another reason why you should not invest in social media is that it is not something that you can control, or regulate. Let’s say someone buys your product and is not impressed with it. You cannot stop that person from writing negative comments about your company on your Facebook page, or writing bad replies to your Twitter feeds. In that way, everyone will read these negative comments which can bring in bad publicity for the company.
Social media is not for all businesses
Social media is also not a good idea for companies who cannot handle a large amount of customers and orders pouring in. This problem is often seen with small businesses such as bakers, caterers, and stylists etc. who are looking for clients and orders, and decide to make an account on Facebook. When orders start pouring in, they realize that they do not have the capacity to fulfill all the orders and have to say no to people. This makes a bad impression of the company, and shows that you cannot handle customers. So before you decide to invest in social media, make sure you are capable of handling all the new customers.
It is important for businesses to realize that they should not just jump on the bandwagon and invest in social media, if it does not suit their business. Social media can be beneficial, but it is a decision that should be made after considering all the aspects.
