Why social media matters

From large multinational corporations to small locally owned companies, every type of business can benefit from using social media within their overall marketing strategy. Not everyone has the ability to hire a social media manager, but even with just a few hours dedicated each week to social media you can see results.

If you only have a small amount of time to invest, then using social media to keep followers updated on hours and offerings is critical. If a  local business loses power and doesn’t want customers to travel to the store expecting service, a great way to try and help spread the word would be to create a post on social media. Share what is going on and what services you are able to offer if any. It might only take a few minutes, but customers who see that will appreciate the effort of the business being mindful of their time. It’s also a great tool for promoting limited-time offers like sales, daily specials, or events that are going on. 

However, if you only ever use social media to post time sensitive updates, then your followers and customers may not think to check your pages for updates. With consistent content and updates, you’ll show them your social media pages are a great way to keep up to date on important changes.

More than just about your business

If you’d like to take it a step further, you can use your social media channels as ways to engage with your followers and show your expertise in your industry. If you are in the restaurant, you could film and post a short clip of your head chef explaining where they got the inspiration for some seasonal dishes. If you’re in the restoration business, you could share before and after pictures of your work. A tutoring agency might share articles on best practices for parents to set up a space most conducive to studying for their student. Not only do you provide interesting and engaging content, you also are showing your customers and followers they can turn to you for valuable information. 

Another perk of posting content like this is that it promotes engagement. When someone makes a comment it opens the door for you to engage with them on a personal level. It warms them to your business and makes them feel seen and heard, creating better overall impressions of your business. A caveat though is to make sure you’re consistently checking your social media for those comments so someone doesn’t feel ignored. 

MDA can guide you on how to set up a social media profile, give access to your team who will work together to monitor and create content, and help you with best practices. With social media outreach, a little really can go a long way.