Social Media is a global phenomenon in the 21st Century. Facebook alone has 1.2 Billion users and Twitter another 700 million. Due to these figures, Businesses of all sizes are using this service as a tool for their respective businesses. The following are 10 Ways small Irish Businesses can use Facebook and Twitter.

1. Brand Recognition; using Facebook and Twitter correctly can allow potential customers to instantly recognise your brand.

2. Audience Size; Being a small business has it’s downsides with regards reaching a large target audience. Facebook allows access to 1.2 Billion Facebook users as a potential audience and Twitter has 700 million potential viewers of the small business brand.

3. Dialogue; Twitter and Facebook allows the businesses to interact and discuss relevant information with customers.

4. Repeat Exposure; Facebook and twitter are used for exposure to a wide variety of potential customers. This repeat exposure may lead to sales and the reinforcement of what the product has to offer.

5. Competitive Advantage; A successful Social Media presence when successfully utilised is a distinct advantage over competitors who may lack knowledge and expertise in this area. Small businesses need to utilise all tools at their disposal to be successful in business.

6. Monitoring Competition; Social Media allows full access to competitors Facebook and Twitter pages. Small businesses can monitor business activity and what other businesses do on Social Media to promote and try attaining potential customers through the use of competitions or funny stories and all other attention catching methods.

7. Free Publicity; whether it be good or bad publicity, Facebook and Twitter are major sources for general and more traditional media outlets such as newspapers, radio and television. If small businesses use Facebook and Twitter correctly, the business itself may gain fame in some way.

8. Information Overload; Small businesses have avenues to learn about relevant business information and utilise it in the best way possible after a clear analysis of information gathered. See article on Social Media uses.

9. Linking to Business Website; Using Social Media as a direct link to the business website is a method of increasing hits on the business website.

10. Authority and Influence; the small business can use Facebook and Twitter to alter viewers behaviour. Sharing and Tweeting specific stories and events may lead potential customers to perceive the business as superior to other businesses offerings. This video on the influence of business discusses authority and influence.

Small business tips: how to use social media to boost business this article from the Guardian Small BusinessNetwork states that people are more likely to relate to business through Facebook and Twitter. For small businesses who don’t possess large marketing budgets, Facebook and Twitter act as a tool to balance the playing field.

The Hidden Benefits of Social Media Marketing: Why Your Strategy May Be Working Better Than You Think This artcile from Forbes.com outlines the potential success that may arrive on the coat tails of having an effective, infrormative and updated Social Media presence.

Government Shutdown? At Least Social Media Still Works An intersting heading from mashable.com discussing the American Governmental debacle. In no way is this related to small Irish businesses but it’s a distinct point of the power and influence Social Media holds globally.