As small business owners, we are constantly being told we need to be using social media to promote ourselves. Some networks have been around for over 5 years now, like Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and YouTube. However, there are many other social media sites that crop up on a seemingly weekly basis. Some say they’re a passing fad. Having said that, here are 5 reasons to avoid social marketing:

1. You have the writing skills of a coffee table. If you can’t provide relevant content (or hire someone to provide it), you probably won’t do well in the social arena. Engagement is a product of interesting, timely and relevant writing.
2. You don’t have any time. Social marketing takes time and effort, if you can’t invest the time it won’t work. It doesn’t have to be your time but it has to take SOMBODY’S time.
3. Your website hasn’t been updated since 2002. Social marketing comes last. If you don’t have a good site, good products and a business plan, you need to focus on the basics before implementing a social marketing program.
4. You don’t know how to use social sites. If you don’t have a Linkedin profile and a Facebook profile, and think twitter is something kids do after school, you probably need to get online and start using social. Before you set up a social marketing program learn how to use social media personally.
5. You actually believe there is no value in social media. One million plus groups on Linkedin, over 835,000,000 users worldwide on Facebook, millions of companies engaged on twitter and other social platforms, they could all be wrong. A passing fad, well most marketers don’t think so.

This content originated from Robert Fleming, CEO / FOUNDER eMarketing Association www.eMarketingAssociation.com

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