Social Media and Small Business
Courtni Woodcock
Miller- Motte Community College
Twenty years ago businesses were using newspaper, television, and radio to advertise. Fast forward twenty years and there is a plethora of ways to advertise for a business and connect with the customer. The use of the Internet for business has done a lot to change the dynamic of the relationship with customers. Social media has given small businesses an avenue for reaching new customers and maintaining relationships with existing ones. These relationships are what keeps the customer coming back. Small businesses should be using social media sites to advertise their business and build relationships with the clients.
Every business needs customers to succeed. As technology has advanced new ways to find customers have come along. Social media sites are a great way for small businesses to connect with their customers and gain some new ones. More businesses are making their presence known online and consumers are taking notice. Using social media as a valid marketing tool is a key to success in today’s market. Everyone with access to the Internet is a member of a social networking site and small businesses can really benefit from connecting with their customers this way.
In order to understand how social media marketing can benefit small businesses one must first understand what social media is. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are all examples of social media sites. Business owners can use these sites, and more like them, to advertise their business, get feedback from customers, and keep up with current trends. Each site offers the business different ways to reach their customer base and many companies utilize multiple social media marketing tools. Many businesses have even begun hiring social media marketing managers. These managers oversee the companies use of sites like Facebook and Twitter. Social media marketing can get overwhelming if one tries to go it alone.
The most...