Pros and Cons of Social Media (2019)
Social Media
Is it a helpful tool, or waste of time?
Social Media has become of a huge part of our society today, as it seems the majority of people’s favorite pass times consists of looking at and talking through a screen. In addition, many business owners find it necessary to have a website and some sort of online advertisement in order to help generate more sales.
This topic of social media creates some controversy, but I personally believe that it is capable of being both beneficial and detrimental, depending on how you use it. Check out my full list of pros and cons for social media (2019).
Pros:
1. Provides Platform(s) to Advertise your Business
Nearly every business owner and entrepreneur has a website. Why? Simply because it opens up a whole new world of advertising for them. The online marketing industry is booming, and using various online platforms to promote your business or brand will inevitably lead to more followers and sales.
2. Helps Establish Connections
One of the most important steps online your journey as an entrepreneur is to make connections with your followers and with those in your same niche. Social media helps you easily connect with people, ask questions, give advice, promote products, and collaborate with one another.
Likes. -HD photo by NeONBRAND via Unsplash
3. Great Way to Share Information and Research
If you have a question (about anything!), how easy is it to look it up and get an instant answer? Especially with search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing that connect you with thousands of websites and social media platforms, you are guaranteed to find what you’re looking for. Research is made so simple with the Internet, and social media helps you share everything you learn with others too.
4. Generates More Sales With Online Transactions
Social media is such a useful network for businesses to sell their products online. The more followers and traffic you get, the more likely it is that you’ll sell your product! More people are choosing to shop online these days because it’s quick, easy, and convenient.
5. Many Different Platform Styles
The phrase “social media” covers a wide range of platforms, and each one has it’s own unique features and it all depends on what you’re looking for. For example, you can use Instagram or Tumblr if you want a more artist and visually appealing effect, or choose Twitter when your focus is on your words. There are multiple platforms to meet a variety of social media needs, and if you’re working on promoting your business, I recommend using more than just one!
HD photo by geo uc via Unsplash
6. Most Platforms Are Free To Join
One of the best things about these platforms is that most of them are FREE to join, and pretty easy to sign up and use.
Cons:
1. It Can Waste Your Time (If You Spend Too Much Time)
Depending on how you use it, social media can either be your greatest tool or your biggest waste of time. I think it’s important to establish why you are using it in the first place, and if it’s to promote your business, then your time spent online will be more focus driven. If it’s just for fun, maybe set a time limit for yourself and so you won’t end up wasting your day away.
HD photo by ROBIN WORRALL via Unsplash
2. Requires Smart Technology (Smart Phone, and Data or Wifi)
This may be a drawback for some as social media relies on having some type of smart device (either a computer or smart phone) and a type of internet connection (data or wifi). Depending on where you live, wifi may not be easily accessible to you, so it might be harder for you to use social media.
3. Can Take Away From Face-to-Face Connection
There are many theories about this, and it’s clear to see nowadays how many people are addicted to staring at their phones instead of interacting with their friends and family around them. Does social media take away from face-to-face connection? I think it’s important that how ever many friends and followers you meet online, you still make face-to-face quality time for the ones offline too.
Addiction. -HD photo by Marc Schaefer via Unsplash
4. You Don’t Always Know if the Information You Find is Coming From a Valid Source
The internet is a melting pot of numerous amounts of ideas and theories. While I believe you can find many legit facts online that are proven by studies and evidence, I know there is also a lot of information that is not backed up at all. So when you’re browsing through social media, always make sure to check the sources behind the information and check the credibility of the author.
Social media is a great advancement in technology for a lot of reasons, but it also clearly has it’s disadvantages. If you choose to use it productively instead of as a time waster, it can benefit you personally and benefit your business too.
What are your thoughts on social media? Leave a comment below or email me at mauientrepreneur@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!
All the Best,
Maui Entrepreneur
Recent Comments
11
I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I know I should use it more for my business but the time it takes and the crap you have to sift through to find useful information does my head in.
I agree it can be frustrating sometimes but if used for the right motives within a set time frame, I believe you can have a healthy relationship with it!
It is on being in control of our own requirements in using all vailable social media. What is the purpose of social media if they use us instead of us using them?
There are problems with social media, but for some marketing on the internet the benefits are much greater than the potential problems. If you can find a way for me, in California, to offer a new post to people all over the world in a hundredth of a second, other than social media, let me know. I have a real love/hate relationship with social media.
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Great valid post on the pros and cons of Social media Sarah! My thoughts are you can live and die by it depending on how you use it!
Jeff
That's so true, either use it wisely or be used by it!