26 Things B2B Startups Need To Know About Social Media Marketing (Infographic)

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is “Kostas, how can we use social media to benefit our startup?” My response varies depending on their target audience. But for the most part, social media marketing is about opening the channels of communications between your startup and potential customers. Which means in order to see any return, you need to get active on social networks where your audience is spending time on.

That is responding to comments, questions and mentions from people talking about your startup. Social media has not only changed how we interact with each other personally, it’s also redefined how businesses need to approach marketing in the information era.

The main appeal of social media is it’s potential to get your startup in front of a large audience through viral content.

B2C startups have benefited quite nicely from an active social media presence, since they’re able to reach and sell directly to buyers.

But what about B2B? Can B2B startups really gain something from social media?

My answer is: Yes!

Social media helps you reach potential buyers and build relationships with them. Yes I know, most buying decisions are made via committee and the buying cycle is longer. But getting in touch with buyers can be easier through Twitter or LinkedIn than cold calling and emailing.

Below you’ll find an infographic created by Inside View. It highlights some interesting statistics and ideas for B2B startups on how to use social media for lead generation and closing more sales.

Here are my top 3 favorite statistics you might want to check out first:

• 55% of B2B survey respondents search for information on social media
• 67% more leads per month for companies who have an active blog
• LinkedIn generates more leads than Facebook, Twitter, or blogging for B2B

Discover the 23 other statistics gathered by Inside View by scrolling down and checking out their neat infographic. 

What B2B Startups Need to Know About Social Media

What about you?

How have you been using social media – and what sort of results have you experienced? Let us know by leaving a comment below.