Social media is critical

​Look around you, everyone is connecting and interacting with others, but not in the traditional way of in-person communication. Instead people are connecting through their smartphones and computers. The social media scene has exploded in recent years, from Facebook to Snapchat, a typical user has over 5 social media accounts.

The average time spent on Social Media is 118 minutes per day per user, which is up from 109 from last year. This increased time spent on social media by consumers is not only to interact with friends and family but has also become a key form of media in which people interact with companies and brands. This is especially true for younger generations. for In fact, a third of Millennials say social media is one of their preferred channels for communicating with businesses. Do you have a strong social media presence to interact and engage with your customers?

Companies around the world use different forms of social media to extend their reach beyond traditional advertising of TV and print. Among top 100 global brands, YouTube is the most widely adopted social network; all 100 companies maintain at least one YouTube channel. Twitter is the second-most adopted at 98% followed by Facebook and Instagram. Having an online presence does not necessarily translate into success, but it is a great start.

A company that has perfected its social media presence over the years is Starbucks. The company not only exists online, but also ensures it is continuously increasing its reach by producing and sharing content on a regular basis that is relevant to its customers. They do this by creating and sharing aesthetically pleasing images and videos of new products and promotions. The content does not only promote products but also calls for engagement from the followers by asking them to share their favorite Frappuccino picture to tweeting about their Pumpkin Spice Latte. This level of engagement by the fan base allows the message of Starbucks to increase reach, and influence not just the fans but also rest of their social circle indirectly, ultimately leading to increased customer base for Starbucks.

As seen from the Starbucks example, social media presence does not mean spending millions of dollars on advertising but instead it’s more about acquiring millions of fans or followers by creating content that is both meaningful and engaging. This allows you to differentiate yourself from the crowd and make your customers want to associate themselves with your company or brand.

Does your company or brand exist on social media, or more importantly, are you engaging with your customers more and more through social media? Let Spartan Consulting help you take a deeper dive into your social media strategy.

Ajay Singh serves as the VP of Sales at Spartan Consulting. He has experience implementing continuous improvement projects as a Supply Chain engineer in the 3PL industry. His past experience has included retail, CPG, and technology clients. ​