The Role of Social Media in Small Business Marketing

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of every large and small business marketing, including ours here at Leonard Lyon Solutions.

With millions of people using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, small businesses have the opportunity to reach their target audience with minimal cost and effort. Right?

Well, we know the importance of leveraging social media for small business growth and success, and we're excited to share some tips with you.

Did you know that 69% of U.S. adults use social media, and this number is only increasing?

This means that businesses have the potential to reach a large audience through social media marketing. Here are some ways we use social media that can help your small business too:

Brand Awareness: Firstly, social media can increase brand awareness. By having a social media presence, small businesses can reach a wider audience and interact with their customers, promoting their products or services. In fact, 78% of consumers who follow brands on social media platforms are more likely to make a purchase from that brand, according to a survey by Hootsuite.

Cost-Effective Marketing: Secondly, social media marketing is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional marketing methods. Small businesses can use social media platforms to run targeted ads and promotions to attract new customers. A survey by eMarketer found that 70% of small businesses use social media advertising to reach their target audience.

Improved Customer Engagement: Thirdly, social media allows small businesses to engage with their customers in a more personal way. By responding to comments and messages, small businesses can build trust and strengthen relationships with their customers. A survey by Sprout Social found that 83% of consumers appreciate it when a business responds to their questions or concerns on social media.

Valuable Customer Insights: Lastly, social media provides valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. Small businesses can use this information to improve their products or services and tailor their marketing strategies to better reach their target audience. For example, by analyzing social media data, a small business can determine which products are most popular among their customers and focus their marketing efforts on those products.

However, there are some common mistakes that small businesses should avoid when it comes to social media marketing. Let’s have a look at them.

Lack of Strategy: Jumping into social media without a clear strategy in place can result in a lack of consistency in messaging and a disjointed social media presence.

Inconsistent Posting: Inconsistent posting can cause small businesses to lose followers and reduce engagement. It's important to have a regular posting schedule to maintain a strong social media presence.

Over-Promotion: Small businesses should avoid over-promoting their products or services on social media. Instead, they should focus on building relationships with their customers and providing valuable content.

Ignoring Customer Feedback: Small businesses should respond to comments and messages and address customer concerns in a timely and professional manner.

At Leonard Lyon Solutions, we guide small businesses to develop a content calendar and posting schedule that works for them. We're also careful with our approach to ensure we don't over-promote our services on social media, but instead, provide valuable content to our followers. Every time we post content, we make sure to read all the valuable comments and even respond to the genuine ones.

Social media can be a valuable tool for small business marketing. By developing a clear strategy, maintaining a consistent posting schedule, and engaging with customers, small businesses can leverage the power of social media to increase brand awareness, improve customer engagement, and gain valuable insights into their target audience.

We're committed to helping small businesses succeed through effective social media marketing strategies here at Leonard Lyon Solutions, and we hope these tips have been helpful for you too.