The phrase of the year for 2009 (and 2010) should be social media. Everyone’s doing it, and the ones who aren’t are apparently idiots. Or at least that’s what you might believe if you read just about any popular website these days. Social media is in, it’s cool, it’s hip, and it makes you money.
That’s great and all, but let’s hold up just a second, k?
Setting up a Facebook page and a Twitter profile are great steps, and most businesses should probably do both at some point. There’s a ton of value in both sites, and used properly, they can help your business succeed.
BUT!
Having a Facebook and Twitter presence is absolutely useless if you don’t have a website of your own. A real, live, website that you own. Your own website should be your online hub. The majority of your budget, time, and effort should be spent making sure your website is up to par. Think about it:
Your clients can’t fill out an order form on your Facebook page.
Prospective customers can’t read all about your company and offerings on your Twitter profile.
You can’t sell anything on social media sites – it just doesn’t work that way.
Relationships are important
Social media sites are great for building relationships. Eventually that can translate into getting new business, which is the ultimate goal. Without a solid website to direct prospective customers to, you’ll never get to that point. Making money is the point of any business, and it’s crucial that you don’t forget that.
Get your website in order first, because that makes you money. Then you can start dabbling in social media.
