As someone who is so “into” social media and technology, I often get into conversations with people about how much work it takes and how time consuming it can be to tweet, Facebook, blog and keep up with all the social networks. Most of the time, people say they don’t have time, but the truth is that we have time for all the things that we prioritize. If you felt like online networking was worth it, you would prioritize it. You would teach yourself, pay experts to teach you, and make time to execute a solid social strategy. But the truth is that you don’t yet see the value. And that’s okay.

Even as a huge fan of technology, I need to remind myself frequently of the benefits that I’m seeing. The benefits outweigh the work, but boy is the work time consuming!!

But here is what you have to understand. It is okay if you decide not to prioritize social media. However – it is (or soon will be) killing your business. Whether you have noticed or not, the world is rapidly changing. You no longer have the option to learn social.

But – let me not just be the bearer of bad news today. Here are some AMAZING reasons you should invest your time in social media.

About 80% of our business comes from online
As we all know, word-of-mouth is the best way to get your marketing out there. And word-of-mouth is exponentially greater when it’s happening online. Between the people that I’ve met online through Twitter chats and other social networks and the people that they have introduced me to, we bring in about 80% of our business online. And yes – I’m talking 80% of our sales – not “just” partnerships.

We’ve made GREAT friends
Sometimes I have to remind myself that I met someone online. When you’re able to connect with someone through social networking, the interaction is really unique – and it sometimes leads to finding some amazing friends. Whether they’re part of your industry or simply someone who shares some of your interests, these relationships can be huge. Remember – not everything comes back to the dollar bills.

BRANDING
One of the best features of social media is the way that helps you to get your brand out to a larger audience. I’ve been featured in magazines, had articles written about me, and even won a few awards, simply because of the presence that I have online. Of course it takes time to build a presence, but the branding that comes from all of that time is really unparalleled. You could buy a million online ads and never get the same quality reach.

I know. It’s hard. It feels foreign. It’s time-consuming. But I have walked this road of social networking for the past 8+ years and I can guarantee you that it is worth every moment of the effort. Every time you hear yourself saying you don’t have “time” for that, challenge yourself. Take a look at some of the things you’re doing that are not yielding results (you’ll find plenty of those if you’re honest with yourself) and move that time over to learning how to network online. You won’t regret it!