Why is Social Media so Important for Your Business?

Social media is no longer optional for businesses. It is a necessary part of your marketing strategy. In this guide, we explain why social media is so important and how to use it effectively for your business.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

Social Media Usage in the Netherlands (2025)

| Platform | Active users | Primary target audience | |----------|--------------|------------------------| | LinkedIn | 5.8 million | B2B, professionals | | Instagram | 7.2 million | 18-44 years | | Facebook | 10.4 million | 25-65+ years | | TikTok | 4.1 million | 16-34 years |

On average, Dutch people spend 1.5 hours per day on social media. That is where your customers are.

7 Reasons Why Social Media is Essential

1. Increase Brand Awareness

Social media is the most effective way to bring your brand to attention:

• Organic reach: Every post can be shared
• Visual identity: Consistently show your brand style
• Top-of-mind: Regular visibility with your target audience

77% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands they follow on social media.

2. Direct Contact with Your Target Audience

Social media enables two-way communication:

• Comments and reactions: Receive direct feedback
• DMs and messages: Personal contact with potential customers
• Polls and questions: Actively engage your target audience

3. Generate Leads

Social media is a powerful lead generation channel:

Organic:

• Share valuable content
• Call-to-actions in bio
• Link to website/landing pages

Paid:

• Lead generation ads
• Retargeting campaigns
• Lookalike audiences

4. Increase Website Traffic

Social media is an important traffic source:

• Posts with links to your website
• Stories with swipe-up links
• Bio links to important pages

Tip: Use UTM parameters to measure social traffic in Google Analytics.

5. Build Trust and Authority

Consistent presence builds trust:

• Thought leadership: Share knowledge in your field
• Customer experiences: Share reviews and testimonials
• Behind-the-scenes: Make your company human

6. Improve Customer Service

Customers expect quick responses via social media:

• Fast response time: Responding within 1 hour is appreciated
• Public resolution: Show that you take problems seriously
• Proactive: Monitor mentions of your brand

7. Competitive Advantage

If you are not on social media, your competitors are:

• Monitor what competitors are doing
• Learn from their successes and mistakes
• Differentiate yourself with better content

Which Platform Suits Your Business?

LinkedIn: For B2B and Professionals

Suitable for:

• B2B services
• Recruitment
• Thought leadership
• Business networking

Content types:

• Articles and long posts
• Carousel documents
• Videos
• Polls

Instagram: For Visual Brands

Suitable for:

• Retail and e-commerce
• Hospitality and food
• Lifestyle and beauty
• Creative services

Content types:

• Feed posts
• Stories
• Reels (short videos)
• Guides

Facebook: For Broad Audiences

Suitable for:

• Local businesses
• Community building
• Events
• Older target audiences

Content types:

• Posts with images
• Videos
• Events
• Groups

TikTok: For Younger Audiences

Suitable for:

• Consumer brands
• Entertainment
• Educational content
• Viral marketing

Content types:

• Short videos (15-60 sec)
• Trends and challenges
• Behind-the-scenes
• Tutorial content

From Strategy to Execution

Step 1: Define Your Goals

What do you want to achieve with social media?

• Awareness: Reach more people
• Engagement: Stimulate interaction
• Traffic: Visitors to your website
• Leads: Collect potential customers
• Sales: Direct sales

Step 2: Know Your Target Audience

Answer these questions:

• Which platforms are they active on?
• When are they online?
• What content appeals to them?
• What problems do they want to solve?

Step 3: Create a Content Calendar

Plan your content in advance:

| Day | Platform | Content type | Topic | |-----|----------|--------------|-------| | Mon | LinkedIn | Article | Industry insight | | Tue | Instagram | Reel | Tips | | Wed | Facebook | Post | Customer story | | Thu | LinkedIn | Poll | Engagement | | Fri | Instagram | Story | Behind-the-scenes |

Step 4: Create Consistent Content

The 80/20 rule:

• 80% valuable, educational content
• 20% promotional content

Content pillars:

1. Education: Tips, how-to's, guides
2. Inspiration: Success stories, quotes
3. Entertainment: Humor, behind-the-scenes
4. Promotion: Products, services, offers

Step 5: Measure and Optimize

Track your results:

Important metrics:

• Reach: How many people see your content?
• Engagement: Likes, comments, shares
• Clicks: Traffic to your website
• Conversions: Leads and sales

Common Mistakes

1. No Strategy

"Just posting something" does not work. You need:

• Clear goals
• Target audience insight
• Content planning
• Consistency

2. Only Broadcasting

Social media is not an advertising billboard:

• Engage in conversation
• Respond to comments
• Ask questions
• Listen to feedback

3. On All Platforms at Once

Better to be good on 2 platforms than mediocre on 5:

• Choose where your target audience is
• Focus your energy
• Build expertise

4. Inconsistent Posting

Algorithms reward consistency:

• Plan content in advance
• Use scheduling tools
• Create content batches

5. No Patience

Social media growth takes time:

• Do not expect instant results
• Build step by step
• Focus on quality over quantity

Social Media Advertising

Organic reach is limited. Advertising amplifies your results.

When to Advertise?

• You have proven content (organic engagement)
• You want to grow faster
• You have a specific campaign
• You are targeting a new audience

Types of Advertisements

| Type | Goal | Suitable for | |------|------|--------------| | Awareness | Increase reach | New brands | | Traffic | Website visits | Blog content | | Engagement | Interaction | Community building | | Leads | Contact details | B2B, services | | Conversions | Purchases | E-commerce |

Budget Estimate

Starting budget: EUR 500-1,000/month per platform

Rule of thumb:

• EUR 5-15 per 1,000 impressions
• EUR 0.50-2.00 per click
• EUR 5-50 per lead (depending on industry)

Getting Started

Do It Yourself

Advantages:

• Low costs
• Authentic voice
• Quick decisions

Disadvantages:

• Time-consuming
• Learning curve
• Risk of inconsistency

Outsource

Advantages:

• Professional content
• Consistent output
• Strategic approach
• Save time

Disadvantages:

• Higher costs
• Less direct contact
• Onboarding needed

Conclusion

Social media is no longer optional for businesses. It is where your customers are, where conversations take place, and where brand preference is built.

Key takeaways:

• Choose the right platforms for your target audience
• Be consistent in your presence
• Focus on providing value, not just selling
• Measure your results and optimize

Whether you do it yourself or outsource, social media deserves a place in your marketing mix.

Need help with your social media strategy? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

Related Articles

• Instagram for Business - Complete Instagram strategy
• LinkedIn B2B Strategy - LinkedIn for business growth
• Content Planning - Create an effective content calendar