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MORE than half of small businesses use social media such as Facebook or Twitter yet many of those are uncertain how much value they add to their company.
Research by the Forum of Private Business shows that 52 per cent of its 20,000 member firms now use social networking websites including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Yet, of those, more than half (27 per cent) expressed doubts about the value of such sites to their business, while a fifth of firms described them as ‘not useful’ and a further six per cent said they were ‘useless’.
Just seven per cent of those small businesses using social media websites described them as very useful.
In recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of firms using Facebook or Twitter to promote their business and alert potential customers to new products or developments. Customers also are increasingly using such sites to post comments and feedback about different companies online.
As a result firms without a presence on such sites or who fail to track their electronic profile, could find themselves at a business disadvantage say experts.
A report published earlier this year by office solutions company Regus suggested that 44 per cent of small businesses had gained new customers by using networking sites, highlighting the potential benefits of an online presence.
Phil McCabe, spokesman for the FPB, said: ‘It is clear that while a lot of our members are trying out social media for their businesses, many remain unconvinced of its benefits.
‘We believe social media does hold a great deal of potential for many smaller firms. Its conversational, real-time nature makes it ideal for entrepreneurs and small, dynamic firms who often have much more relaxed attitudes towards public relations than big companies.’
The FPB is currently holding a series of breakfast networking events around the UK to provide small business owners with advice and information on how to promote their firm online.
>> For more information go to the events section at fpb.org.uk.
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