Many small businesses wonder how social media works for business. The answer on how social media works for businesses depends on the business itself. That said, how social media works for businesses generally includes stimulating a conversation, and using that conversation to generate a lead.
Let me use an example of how social media works for businesses. Suppose you are a business, and you have a Facebook presence. You sell hiking boots. You scour through your friends and their friends, and notice someone posts that they are planning a major hiking trip in a few weeks. You engage that person by recommending to them hiking boots, the superiority of your boots in the given situation, and how it will affect the quality of her hiking. You probably have formed a relationship with her, and she is now a likely customer.
There are other examples of how social media works for businesses. For many small businesses, keeping up with a good social media strategy cuts into their time administering other tasks. Many small businesses, who see the value but do not wish to know how social media works for businesses, hire a social media firm. These firms often have monthly social media packages, and use their social media packages pricing based on anticipated output.
So the next time you wonder how social media works for businesses, consider how it does. When you are ready, call a third company. When you see increased sales, you will be glad you did.