How Social Media Influences Your Sales Cycle

"People buy from people they trust and they trust people they like." (Garrison Wynn), which means that sales are driven through personal connections. Therefore, a company's social media efforts support sales by driving authentic interactions with your audience that lead to an increase in the intent to buy and, ultimately, more sales in shorter periods of time. Today's consumers research products online, check reviews and decide based on blog posts and opinions from their peers and others who have used the products. While social consumers often use their network for validation, they sometimes discover new options with specific features to meet their needs. This leads to interaction with the business and the start of sales process.