Did you know that nearly a quarter of all small businesses do not use social media? Not even a little bit!
Small businesses can be funny creatures. Sometimes, they embrace new technology with open arms. Other times, they’re slow, hesitant, skeptical, or just too busy to even notice it.
That’s exactly how it is with social media.
According to the Clutch 2017 Small Business Social Media Survey, 24 percent of small businesses don’t have a single presence on social media. That’s almost one out of every four small business owners.
Diving deeper into the Clutch data, we find that less than half of all small businesses actually use their social media presence regularly. Sure, a restaurant might have a fancy Facebook page, but chances are their last post was about a special Wednesday night deal back in July 2016.
Clutch discovered that only 41 percent of small businesses visit their social media sites multiple times a day. Another 23 percent at least update their social profiles once a day.
If I don’t stay active on social media, I’ll lose my message. People are more likely to see posts from companies and individuals who are active on the site. If my page is quiet, it will go unnoticed.
According to the data, about one-third of companies with a social presence aren’t using social media enough.
If I don’t consistently post about my business, even if I have a lot of followers, my reach will be low. If I only visit social media weekly, at best, I’m making my customers wait too long for a response.
Facebook is Still Important for Small Businesses
If you ask a small business about their social media presence, they’ll probably show you their Facebook page.
I want to let you in on some popular websites that small businesses like us love. Take a look:
It’s Time to Get Social
Can you believe that small businesses are missing out on a big opportunity by not being on social media? I know there are challenges and a lot of work involved, but trust me, it’s worth it.
When it comes to having a social media presence, it’s hard to argue against it. I mean, really, who wouldn’t want to reach more people and connect with their audience?
And you know what? Clutch agrees with me. They say that this year, it’s crucial for your small business to have some kind of presence on social media. So, what are you waiting for?
If you have a local business, Facebook is the place to be. But if you’re an online business, Twitter, Instagram, or even Pinterest (which they didn’t mention) might be even better for you.
According to Clutch, more than half of small businesses use their own staff to handle their social media sites. That’s a great starting point, don’t you think?
First, let’s make a plan for when to post, create some posts, and then focus on growing your audience.
If you have a Facebook page that hasn’t been very active, start getting into the habit of posting something at different times throughout the day. Make it part of your routine. Many small businesses are planning to put more effort into Facebook this year, but it’s not the only site you should focus on.
Reach More People
If you already have a Facebook page for your small business, it might be a good idea to consider using other sites to reach even more people.
Small businesses have said they plan to invest more in social media marketing this year. They’ve identified Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube as the sites where they’re most likely to create a presence.
When it comes to Twitter, I’ve learned that you need to be careful with your message and how you deliver it. Some promotions work really well on Twitter, but others don’t. Take live events or contests, for example – they thrive on Twitter. But if you’re introducing new menu items, it’s probably best to showcase them on Instagram instead.
Now, let’s talk about YouTube. Here’s the thing – it requires a bigger investment, but it can be worth it if you’re ready to take the leap into video marketing.
