Social Media for B2B Companies: Is It Worth It?
One of the most commonly asked questions Vive receives is: “Why do B2B manufacturing companies need social media?” There is no doubt that leveraging social media in this environment encounters challenges, but it is all about strategy and ensuring your brand image and message positively reflects your organization. With the proper plan and execution, social media can unquestionably boost morale as well as increase external interactions and brand awareness.
Get Noticed. Stay Noticed.
There’s no denying that a vast majority of our population utilizes some form of social media, whether it’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube – so why wouldn’t your company want to optimize these channels to promote capabilities, services, and your internal culture? When curiosity arises from those unfamiliar with your organization, typically the second place people visit (following the website) is the company’s social media. If a company doesn’t have relevant, timely posts that people are interacting with, a company may be missing out on a huge opportunity to make a positive impression. It’s critical to build and maintain an online presence and most importantly, create multiple channels to connect with your potential customers, suppliers, or future talent.
Attract Talent. Retain Talent.
Another significant benefit of social media is it attracts prospective employees. If an interested candidate is uncertain he/she would be a good fit for an organization, that candidate can access your social media platforms to formulate an initial opinion and study the organization. One of the best ways to showcase a company’s personality and expertise is by sharing relevant articles, blogs, photos, videos, etc.
Building a strong culture with a team of dedicated internal ambassadors is influential to the success of an organization. Implementing a social media strategy can only enhance this initiative. Highlighting company outings, employee achievements/milestones, and organic moments can offer an insider’s perspective of your company.
So, is social media worth it? If providing an effective channel to capture the attention of new customers, suppliers, and talent is important to you, then yes, it is.