Why does your local small business need a social media presence? You've likely seen big box stores and major e-tailers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media sites. But are you not sure if your business could benefit from a similar strategy? If you're new to social media for small business use, take a look at what you need to know about digital marketing.

What Is Social Media Marketing?

Do you already use social media in your personal life? According to data from the Pew Research Center, in 2021, 81 percent of adults used YouTube and 69 percent used Facebook.

With more than half of all American adults using some form of social media, chances are you have tried one of these or a similar site or app. Likewise, your customers have probably also used social media. This makes these digital platforms an ideal approach if you want to reach a new client base. 

While you might post family photos, updates about your life, or political links on your own social media pages, social media for small business use often takes a different tone. Instead of personal pictures or information that borders on personal, businesses use social media to attract customers through company-related photos, comments, stories, or videos. This allows you to reach a large number of people quickly and showcase your business through multiple digital methods.

Can Social Media Help Local Businesses?

Whether you've relied on word of mouth, mailers, ads in the local newspaper, or customers driving or walking past your business, you've likely always used a localized approach to marketing. Social media may feel like it's the opposite type of strategy. The Internet and the world of apps are global spaces that can reach people well beyond the borders of your local town or city.

If social media has such a broad reach, you may wonder why you should use it for local marketing purposes. Even though you could potentially reach customers in other cities, states, countries, or even continents, you can also use these platforms to find and connect with people in your local community. 

A social media presence allows you to spotlight your services or products in a way that grabs your customers' attention. Photos and videos can provide real-time information to your clients and may help you to showcase what your business does or offers. It can also give you a forum to directly connect with your customers without waiting for them to contact you in person or via phone calls.

Not only can social media give you a way to directly advertise your products or services, but it can also help to drive traffic to your website. Well-placed links and comments can help customers find and use your small business's website, order products, and interact with your company.

Should You Create Your Own Business Profile?

You could create your own social media profiles for your small local business and post content yourself. But if you aren't a digital marketing professional, this strategy could pose problems. You may not choose the best social media platforms for your business, create profiles that catch your client's attention, or post the types of content that maximize your marketing plan.

If you're new to social media, have only used these sites and apps for personal use, have never attempted to market your small local business yourself, aren't tech-savvy, or just don't have the time to devote to a social media marketing strategy, hire a professional.

Are you ready to learn more about the benefits of professional digital marketing and social media for small businesses? Contact us for more information on our services.