We’d like to be using social media to market our business, but we just don’t have time.
I hear this nearly every day. To me, it’s not about whether or not you have time to add one more item to your to-do list, it is about shifting your priorities. I’m sure when e-mail came along, there were business people who said “I don’t have time to check e-mail, I have to keep answering this phone.”
Social media is here to stay and if you’re not using it, it’s like not answering the phone when your customers call.
However, utilizing social media by taking part not just in the dialogue, but listening to your customers and potential customers, does take time. How much time? Surveys show that of those marketers using social media, more than half spend 6 hours or more a week.
So what’s the answer? You want to participate in social media. You need to be doing it. How about hiring an expert to do it for you.
I don’t prepare my taxes every year. I hire an expert accountant. Sure, I could do it myself. But why should I spend hours if not days trying to prepare my own business tax return when an accountant could do it better in less than half the time.
Same thing for my car. I have to keep my car in good working condition. I could probably tune it up myself, but why not hire a skilled mechanic.
While the number of companies outsourcing their social media marketing is currently around 20% that percentage is growing. That’s because you need more than time to take part in social media – you need expertise.
Otherwise you could be running on empty and missing out on important deductions.