Return on investment, getting one’s money worth, making it
“worth it.” We seldom do things with absolutely no thought of a benefit for
ourselves, either immediately or somewhere down the road. Not only does this hold true for us in our
personal lives, it’s ESPECIALLY true in
world of business where EVERYTHING is measured in terms of profit and
loss.
I’ve got to say though (those who have listened to my radio
show “Socially Business with Tony Gates” on 1TalkNetwork.com or heard me speak know
this) that what really makes me crazy (a term I stole from my Pfizer Regional
Manager Mike Kraft, another amazing leader) is the fact that so many people
look to social media as a typical bringer of ROI. IT’S NOT!!
If you’re looking
for immediate and traditional ROI with social media, look elsewhere, or get
someone to explain how it REALLY works. You simply can’t tweet or create a
Facebook business page (no, we don’t say “fan page” anymore, unless you’re a bona-fide
celebrity with fans) and post your way to immediate revenue.
business entities do that aren’t necessarily tied to the immediacy of dollars
in the cash register. We do them for good will (charitable donations and
sponsorships), we do them to “get our name out there” (naming rights and
networking), and we do them because “that’s just what legitimate businesses
do.” I mean, no one asks what the ROI of
that new, big, nice expensive new oak board room table is, do they? No…
These are things that businesses do that are a part of doing business. Is there
eventual ROI? Absolutely!
What about
the ROI of your email address?
doing business in the 21st century. Poo-poo or ignore it at your and
your business’ own peril. Your competition is there. If you’re not, you are
automatically and immediately at a disadvantage. Did you know that Facebook business (or biz)
pages are now the #1 way customers interact with businesses now? Did you also know that over 1 million websites have integrated with Facebook? Did you know that 80% of users prefer to connect with brands through Facebook?
They beat out
websites 2 years ago.
connect, talk, interact, add to the conversation, and, most importantly, brand
yourself and add value with social media. Social media is actually a business
multiplier. That people have to ask
about its ROI is an indicator that they’re already way behind the power curve.
I feel the same way about businesses restricting employees’ use of social media
during business hours as well. If you’re a business who does this, stop!
Establishing some guidelines, then allowing your employees access to social
media can really be a (you’ve heard this before) multiplier.
They’re using
their smartphones to do it anyway! Let them post and tweet about all the good
things your business or organization is doing. It’s like having a sales and PR
force out there on your behalf.
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