4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Social Media Ads for Your Small Business
Thomas Sheehan
Serial Entrepreneur | Investor | Purpose Driven Software Creator | Focused on Building Companies That Build Companies
The 2017 Clutch SocialMedia for Business Survey showed that 24% of small businesses don’t have a social media presence. The reason behind this could be heavily related to finances. Aside from the costs needed to boost your social media presence, other factors include posting new content regularly.
If you’re looking to grow your audience with social media ads, you may want to reconsider. They’re often costly for SMBs with lower budgets, and the results are not always worth the expense. A better alternative is to use a free, pro-owner digital service platform like YOUnion.?
While targeted, paid social media ads do generate leads, leveraging digital service platforms that identify and reward loyal buyers means you’re not just getting leads, you’re also taking care of them for better ROI. Continue reading to explore why you shouldn’t use social media ads and opt for alternative digital solutions instead.
4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Social Media Ads
Paid social media advertising can take away from your company’s margins in several ways. Here’s how:?
1. Social Media Ads Aren’t Worth The Money
Recently, over 80% of small businesses worldwide are spending less on media ads than last year.
In truth, social media advertising isn’t worth the money if you have less than a few thousand dollars to spend on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter ads. You’ll just be wasting time and resources and draining your funds with very little to show for it.
That’s because you’ll need to spend as much as giant companies if you want your ads to work. SMBs are not getting the results that the social media giants promise small business advertisers. As such, ads don’t necessarily offer any real value or ROI. Your budget is better allocated elsewhere.
On the other hand, you can promote your deals, offers, and discounts by directly messaging your customers through a free, AI-powered platform. That solution can definitely help you grow your business without the unnecessary expenses.
2. Social Media Ads Can Reduce Your Company's Margins
Another issue with paying for social media ads is that they can take money and resources away from key business areas, such as product development or customer service.
For small businesses striving to streamline operations and boost ROI, cutting corners on critical business aspects in exchange for a bigger ad budget is the last thing you want to happen.
For instance, if you spend $1000 on Facebook advertisements but only make $250 in sales after everything is done, you have lost at least $750. And this can be a good case scenario.
One great solution is to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to automate business operations for better customer satisfaction, service, and experience. With automation, you can focus on high-value business areas without sacrificing the essentials.?
3. Social Media Ads are Annoying, According to Viewers
Be honest - are you reading this article with an ad blocker on? A Hubspot study revealed that 91% of people believe that ads are more intrusive today, compared to two or three years ago.
On top of that, 79% of the study’s participants believe that they’re being tracked by retargeted ads. Thus, it only makes sense that the average consumer is pretty much ad-averse. After all, no one likes to feel like their privacy is being compromised.
As a business owner, understanding what can turn potential customers away can help you make better choices to actually engage your audience. As an alternative, you can always utilize a non-intrusive digital service platform that buyers can open and browse at their own convenience.
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Take YOUnion’s direct messaging feature for example. Because YOUnion prioritizes loyal buyers - customers who want to hear from you often - you won’t waste time on poor-quality leads. Instead, you can promote your offers to returning, paying customers who’d really want to see more of your products and services.
4. Results From Social Media Ads Are Difficult To Track
Tracking is another issue with using social media ads. Without accurate results, it’s difficult to monitor whether they’re working for your business or not.
On the other hand, digital solutions that are equipped with AI can help you assess your progress and view the results of your hard work in real time. You’ll be able to easily track your sales, calculate how much you’ve earned in the day, and know which deals and offers are well-received, among others.
How YOUnion Helps Sellers and Buyers Save
If you don’t want to spend your budget on social media ads that don't guarantee future success, you’re better off with alternative digital solutions that are well-suited for small businesses today.
The best option? YOUnion is a secure, AI-equipped, pro-owner digital service and rewards platform that puts your business on the map. It’s totally free for business owners, so you don’t need to take away from your business funds to optimize your digital store operations, such as mobile ordering, booking, payments, and more.
?YOUnion doesn’t just move money around but reduces the costs from both the buyers’ and sellers’ sides while providing complete digital sales channels:
●?????Free membership for businesses and customers
●?????Commission-free sales and delivery services that don’t take away from your profits
●?????Automated sales tax that simplifies accounting and saves valuable time
●?????Dynamic AI pricing that sets the best prices for your customers
●?????Free advertising that lets you alert your customers whenever you have special offers
●?????Loyalty rewards feature that automates discounts for your loyal customers
●?????Secure digital payments that reduce costly returns, chargebacks, and fraud
●????Prepaid bookings that prevent losses from missed appointments
Conclusion
Why would you opt for expensive social media ads that customers would likely skip, when you could choose a free marketing and sales channel that identifies returning customers that would really love and appreciate your special deals and offers?
Be the first in your area and Join the YOUnion today. Find us in the app stores or on the web by searching for JoinTheYounion.
Consumer obsessed Marketing, Digital and Technology Leader
3 年Great article and spot on! Thanks for sharing....
2X exited founder, entrepreneur, focused on tech for good.
3 年Thanks for sharing. this is great stuff.