Social media has been around since the early 2000’s. In 2002 Friendster emerged, following LinkedIn, which was introduced to the world as the first online job hunting platform.Then in 2003,the social media frenzy that was Myspace was introduced. Other noteworthy platforms are the ever popular Facebook which emerged in 2004, Twitter in 2006, and the game-changer, Instagram in 2010.

A majority of companies large and small have jumped on the social media bandwagon after seeing positive results firsthand. Nowadays, almost every business is on a social media site - Yelp, Tumblr, Facebook, Snapchat, Youtube, you name it, they're on it. Why? Because social media is an effective and innovative marketing tool.

Take Instagram, for example, which is populated by celebrities and widely known public figures who promote a variety of products such as dietary teas, clothing lines, eBooks and more. The creativity behind these postings is far from spammy and isn’t as “in your face” as other marketing efforts; but rather, they are addicting and intriguing to look at.  One component to this is visuals. The visual evolution of social media has made marketing efforts more effective, and less costly. So, how does this relate to your business?

Here are three reasons why your business should incorporate social media:

1. Increase traffic, brand recognition and brand loyalty: Getting your name out there, and getting it in front of the user is a vital step. Include landing pages, call-to-actions, and links back to your website, and watch traffic and engagement increase as a result. Consumers will begin to recognize your brand.

1. Build relationships and establish a sense of community: Social media has forever changed the way business is conducted by connecting users from around the world and building community, which was unimaginable 15 years ago.

1. Lower your marketing costs:  Forget expensive forms of marketing. With easy accessibility, users on social media are able to receive your marketing efforts effortlessly-- without spending big bucks.

Take into consideration that social media can elevate your business to unimaginable levels and can extend your brand name out further than you can alone. With its easy means of sharing, commenting, reviewing, liking, etc., your business will start to see tremendous success. The power of sharing, liking, and commenting can spread your brand name around cyberspace like never before. Instantly, a user who doesn’t follow your company is now scrolling through their feed, with your company’s post in front of them. But don’t take my word for it, check out other businesses who’ve hopped on the social media train.

Bowl’d Acai, a local San Francisco company, makes acai bowls, smoothies, and fresh juices. Founded by Reza Morvari and Angel Serratos, the two have successfully used social media as a means to promote their brand name, and get their business out there in front of the eyes of locavores. Marketing their delicious smoothies and acai bowls, the founders reach out to users through social activity, follow industry experts, and even post a tentative schedule of when and where the selling of their products will be. Read their success story on the San Francisco Chronicle.

The difference between before and after joining social media will always be greater if done correctly.