SMES Embrace Social Media To Market Products
Isaac Pinielo | Monday March 14, 2016 14:38
Marketing experts ascertain that social networks are a cost-effective way to get one’s brand in front of fans and prospective customers. They accede that it does not cost anything to tweet a message, pin a product photo to Pinterest, or promote a discount on Facebook.
Danish Pharatlhatlhe of Exotic Towels said they sell towels at Tlokweng through Facebook and Twitter.
“We started using social media since the inception of our business,” he said. “Social media is a very cheap and convenient way to reach people and as such it gets us more clients.”
Pharatlhatlhe noted that social media advertising has revolutionised the way businesses advertise their products.
He added that with the social networks having such audiences at their fingertips at affordable rates, they are able to get more business and connect with clients on a more personal level and understand what they really need. Khumagadi Setlhare, who co-partners with Sidney Molefe at Tlosi Investments, said social media is a platform where many people can use to sell things for free.
“Young people should take part in being on Facebook to not only socialise, but to also make a living for themselves,” she said.
She said nowadays even the smallest of idea is the greatest, adding that since she completed her tertiary education and not finding a job, she had to rely on marketing goods on Facebook for her to make a living.
Both Setlhare and Molefe are in the entertainment business, running a recording studio and providing artist management services.
Another business owner who has decided to focus her efforts on social media advertising is Matshelo Samson. She set up a Facebook page for her bracelet business, which helped it to build a loyal following. Now most of her customers come via Facebook.
Owner of Hubbly Café bw, who goes by the sobriquet Blec Dott 24, also focuses on Facebook for advertising.
He said advertising on Facebook helps his business grow in the sense that it reaches a large audience from all corners of the world. “It brings in different clients and most people are always on Facebook so my advert is viewed quickly and friends can share on their timelines so that even people I am not friends with can get the advert,” he said.
He added that social media advertising has really made advertising quite easy, adding that it is a great platform to market products.
“My kind of clientele, almost 90 percent of them, own a smart phone thus making it obvious that they are on FB or whatsApp. It’s easy and quick to get the message across,” he said.