We know social media is everywhere and accessible to millions of people from the touch of a button or click of a mouse. Due to the popularity and accessibility, 
small businesses are no longer left behind as business tycoons rise up the ladder of success. Social media bridges the gap between well-known corporations and small mom-and-pop shops, and continues to increase competition and encourage play amongst brands of all sizes; which makes the power of social media and technology that much more beautiful.
Let’s explore three ways social media has helped “level the playing field.”
1. Humanizing Brands -
Social media allows everyone to get into the same space, no matter the size. Everyone can have a powerful Facebook page (some might be better than others), but the pages occupy the same amount of space and have the same basic functionalities. You can be a small shop with limited funds, but still have a great page. Or you can be a huge brand with a great page and a few more engaging opportunities. This social presence has allowed brands to show their “personality” and field questions with answers coming from a “human.”
2. Increasing Engagement -
A social presence allows all brands, regardless of size, to communicate on an intimate level and interact with customers beyond the phone or face-to-face. The is something, which only small brands could do effectively in the past. Big brands didn’t have the right outlets to provide one-on-one communication unless a customer picked up the phone or sent an email. On the flipside, small businesses do not need extensive call rooms or multiple phone numbers to interact, and can field customer service issues through social media channels.
3. Overall Reach -
In the past, a company might have to make a huge online or traditional ad buy to capture a large audience. In reality, the approach was much less targeted and it was a challenge to ensure the right people were getting the blanket message. Thanks to social media, companies with small budgets have the ability to reach a couple hundred people with a mere 140 characters and without spending a penny. The message can also be targeted, timely, and tracked. For large companies, this approach encourages tracking of large online and traditional media buys by driving traffic to social sites and prolonging engagement. In either case, the use of social has expanded, streamlined, and encouraged tracking for all companies in the space.
Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or any other outlet, social media is a proven business tool and brings the business world to a level playing field where all businesses are given the an equal opportunity to thrive. That’s why we are so intrigued by social – everyone can play!
Interested in learning more about how social media marketing can give your business a cutting edge? Check out the Social Media Strategies Summit in Boston September 20-22, 2011
