Over half of adults in the U.S. expect brands to have a social media presence online. According to Forrester Research report, developed and emerging markets have more than 75 percent of people using social tools, and 62 percent are not bothered by brand messaging. This means that not only are people expecting brands to have a social media presence, but also that several people are already using it!
Social media is a great extension of a company website. There is more information on a company website, but social media sites are updated more frequently and show more personality which work well into overall branding. It is less about the company and more about the conversation happening with their followers. This explains why people are viewing brands’ social presence as important now more than ever.
Out of all the people that follow brands on social media, 82 percent said that it is a good place to interact with brands and let their voice be heard. Customer interaction is no longer just something that just happens during the selling process. Customer interaction is now something that happens every day through a conversation happening on social media. People want to know that their opinion matters and that they have a personal connection with a brand.
Exclusivity is the main factor in driving people to like brand pages. They want to be the first to learn about new products, they want exclusive behind the scenes look at brands, and they want coupons and discount codes. As long as you have a purpose behind your coupons and discounts, then social media is a great place to promote them!
The stronger your social media presence is, the more likely you are to have a strong brand following. With every conversation and post you have on social media, you are ultimately working on building and maintaining a strong brand loyalty with your followers. People are now expecting to have this special online connection with brands, and if they cannot have this with your brand—they probably will develop one with your competitors instead.