Why Your Small Business Needs a Social Media Presence (Even if you think it doesn't)

It doesn’t matter how big or small your business is - having a social media presence is a basic requirement these days and for the foreseeable future. Not only does it allow you to expand your customer reach beyond “traditional” media forms, it also provides a powerful platform where you can connect with customers, build and reinforce your brand, and most importantly it drives sales. In 2024 an estimated 5.17 billion users will access approximately 7 different social media platforms each month. Don’t fool yourself thinking social media won’t make sense for your business, here are 4 great reasons why you should be using it regardless of your industry

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn have millions of active users daily. Even better; these users are spread out all across the country (and world!) giving your business reach well beyond your normal service areas. With a single viral post your brand can be seen by hundreds of thousands up to millions of people. Sure, they may not all be in your immediate service area, but word gets around and it will reach your customer-base without fail. 

From Likes to Love: Getting Customers to Swipe Right, Building Relationships, and Engagement

With social media you get huge opportunities to build actual relationships with your customers because your brand gets to interact with them directly. Responding to comments, answering questions, coming up with content that engages your followers - some companies even provide direct customer service through messages! What’s more, with social media you can bring authenticity in ways that can’t be done as easily through other mediums. This helps build trust, loyalty, and makes customers more likely to think of, and choose, your product or service - leaving competitors in the dust.

Penny Pinchers Prefer Promotions on Platforms for Public Posts

Running a small business successfully requires paying attention to spending. If something isn’t worth the cost, it’s dead weight. Social media marketing is pretty inexpensive compared to traditional advertising and here are some amazing ways to use it effectively: 

• Targeted ads - make personalized ads with user-supplied info right on their profile. For example, if you’re trying to reach 20-27 year old women interested in derby car racing, woodworking, and Pokemon Go - these will make sure that happens. Once you know who you’re after, you can get it right in front of them easily.

• Organic (viral) posts - viral posts not boosted by paid promotions can easily find your target audience and have it shared further - bringing demographics you may not have considered in with them. And all of this with minimal spend. This is easier said than done, but it’s why you should know your audience and what will appeal to them and what they’ll share.

• Evergreen content - no matter your business, some things are always relevant. Evergreen content takes advantage of this by remaining relevant over time, providing SEO benefits (SEO loves high quality, “timeless” content), consistent traffic, and has more likelihood of being shared and going viral. Maybe even multiple times.

• Influencer marketing - partnering with an online personality that can increase your brand visibility, engage your target audience, and drive conversion rates more effectively. Costs can be kept down even more by working with growing or regional influencers.

• User generated content - who doesn’t love a good review or seeing a post sharing an awesome product or service they got from your business? Sharing content posted by your customers can build trust, shows authenticity, and engages your community with relatable content.
  

Digging for Gold (Not in Noses); Unearth Nuggets of Insight and Feedback

Social media provides valuable data like customer behavior and preferences through a ton of analytics tools. Tracking engagement metrics like Likes, shares, and comments allows your business to understand what content resonates most with customers and lets you use this info to craft future marketing strategies and improve products or services. Beyond that, as we mentioned earlier, social media also provides a way for you to engage directly with customers - including giving them a direct line to the company where they can (and will!) share their thoughts, experiences, and feedback. This brings with it more chances to promote your authenticity and brand with how you respond to this commentary which is often publicly viewable. 

Why You Should Hire Someone to Manage Your Social Media (Even if You Think You Don’t Need To)

Let’s get extra real, running a social media presence, especially across multiple platforms, needs a few things most small businesses lack; time, expertise in social media, and the ability to create and post engaging material on a regular basis. 

Don’t Worry, I Have a Plan

Consider hiring an expert! This gets you a team with expertise and specialized knowledge that allows your brand to reach that next level. Understanding the nuances of the endless social networks, how to craft content and modify it for use across multiple venues, and developing a strategy that aligns with your business’s goals are all tasks not to be taken lightly or wander towards listlessly. 

To achieve the desired results, consistent posting and engagement are necessary, which can be a huge time suck. Outsourcing will support your goals and ensure your business has an effective social media strategy that delivers.

Why Choose TAWC?

We want to see you succeed just as much as you do - maybe even more because our success is based on your success. We will work directly with you to craft tailored strategies and creative content that is consistent with your business goals, authentic to your brand, and engages your audience. No more dead social media accounts, dry captions, or boring visuals. Let us handle your social media management so you can focus on what you do best - running your business.