Over the last five years, South African businesses have increasingly harnessed social media to reach their target audience and grow their brand. With the rise of digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution, social media marketing has become a must-have for businesses in South Africa. In this blog post, we will discuss how South African businesses have developed over the last five years in terms of harnessing social media and how the social media environment has altered how these businesses operate.
Social Media Statistics in South Africa
Uncos’s research has found that of 43.48 million internet users in South Africa, those active on social media comprise some 25.8 million. Social media continues to dominate the digital landscape, with an increase in both new users and more time per user spent on social media platforms. The most popular social media platforms in South Africa are WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Facebook is the biggest social media platform in South Africa, followed by TikTok, which is quickly gaining on it. The number of active social media users in South Africa grew almost three-fold in the last eight years, reaching 28 million in 2022.
Importance of Social Media for South African Businesses
South African businesses are well underway in completing the process of the digitalization of everything. This is why becoming skilled in social media marketing is paramount for your business. Social media marketing is exploding, and studies show that this form of digital marketing is expected to grow dramatically in the very near future. In fact, research shows that social media marketing is the most cost-effective form of digital marketing. Besides this important point, social media marketing allows South African businesses to explore limitless digital marketing opportunities. The importance of social media for successful e-commerce in South Africa cannot be overstated. A significant insight that came out of the investigation was that South Africans are spending more time on social media than ever before. The Sortlist survey found that 80% of South Africans use social media to research products and services before making a purchase. This means that businesses that are not active on social media are missing out on a significant portion of their target audience.
How Social Media has Altered How South African Businesses Operate
Social media has altered how South African businesses operate in several ways. Firstly, social media has made it easier for businesses to reach their target audience. With the use of social media in South Africa up across the vast majority of demographics, it provides an excellent means for businesses to reach their audience. Secondly, social media has made it easier for businesses to engage with their customers. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow businesses to respond to customer queries and complaints in real-time, which can help to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Thirdly, social media has made it easier for businesses to monitor their brand reputation. It is crucial to understand the conversations happening on social media about your brand, industry, and even competitors. Achieved with a social listening tool like the Meltwater social media monitoring platform, the insights you gain will inform both your business and marketing strategy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, South African businesses have increasingly harnessed social media over the last five years to reach their target audience and grow their brand. Social media has become a must-have for businesses in South Africa, with the rise of digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution. Social media has altered how South African businesses operate in several ways, including making it easier for businesses to reach their target audience, engage with their customers, and monitor their brand reputation. With the continued growth of social media in South Africa, businesses that are not active on social media are missing out on a significant portion of their target audience.