Do small businesses use social media effectively?

The question of the day is, do small businesses use social media effectively? My answer to this question is simply no, no they do not. Just think of how many small businesses surround us. There might be the many family owned business in your town, farms, your friends landscaping service, etc. Basically any business that is not a large chain with many other stores under the same name.

Are these businesses thriving in this day and age? The answer is no. There was a time when starting a business was safer and was something people looked to do much more frequently. Unfortunately with the economy we have today, creating and owning a small business presents a much larger risk than ever before. Sure, you could succeed and make a lot of money, but you could also fail and lose EVERYTHING.

                                     
People have become more reluctant to spend their money so businesses need to use every tool at their disposal to bring in customers. A crucial tool here is social media. One great thing about this tool; its completely FREE. That's right, free advertising. It seems like a no brainer, but the majority of small businesses choose not to use social media.

While most of us are used social media by now, and it has been relevant for 10+ years, compared to other methods of advertisement like newspaper and television which have each been on the scene for 50+ years, it is still quite new. Even so small businesses need to get past this and move into the present day where it is the BEST way to advertise your service and brand. There is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and many more. The more a business joins and uses, the more people they can reach. The more people they can reach, the more money they can make. This is the point of business which is why small businesses need to use social media.