Social networks are one of the most popular places to advertise on the internet, next to the search engines. Facebook and Twitter are the top social media platforms for advertising, due to their popularity and ease of use. Almost everyone has a Facebook or Twitter account- over a billion people have a­ Facebook account, according to the company- and nearly everyone who has one is checking it frequently (or should I say, obsessively?) Every one of these people is a potential customer. A business can reach a larger number of potentially new customers with social media then with any other online tool. If one wants to be as successful as possible, they need to take advantage of social media. However, it is important to note that they should not drop all other online advertising. The biggest success comes from a balanced amount of online advertising through several locations. The goal is to get one’s name out to as many people as possible.

Is It Worth Devoting a Significant Amount of Money on Social Media Advertising?

Advertising on social networks benefit companies in two ways.

1. Using social media as a marketing tool allows the business to create a business profile.

2. Social Media allows the business and the potential customer to interact.Before they ever leave their home, the customer can gain a high level of trust for the brand being advertised. For example, on Facebook a company can create a page for their business instead of an individual account. Once the page is created, potential customers can “like” the page. It then shows up on their own profile, allowing all their friends to view the business. Many people will trust a company more if they know others who believe in it as well. If they then like it, a pyramid effect is created. It doesn’t take long for a company to acquire a large following.

What are the Costs Entailed with Advertising on Facebook?

Facebook has created a system that is used for buying advertising. It is much like the systems being used by major search engines. It pays per click. The company wanting to advertise places a bid as to how much they are willing to pay each time their ad is clicked on. Payment is only made when the advertisement is fully clicked through, not just clicked on. As a business, you are assured that your message is being heard by potential customers. You are not paying for every person who glances at an ad, but for those who are truly interested in the services or products being offered. This makes it an economical way of advertising, while knowing you are directly reaching those who are interested in your company.

What makes advertising on social media so effective is that it is actually socially based. When one individual likes a company’s ad, their friends are immediately aware of it. The goal is for them to also like it, based on what they see in the advertisement and their friend’s recommendation by liking it. This is followed by their friends liking it and so on and so forth. This creates a large amount of potential customers for the business who is advertising. And the fact that people who have social media sites seem to be on them constantly makes this a can’t miss opportunity for advertisers. It may be an inaccurate cliché to say social media is the future- social media is the present, and companies need to start getting on board.