According to our recent Local Pulse Report™, 88% of small businesses use social media for marketing purposes. This is not surprising, given the low cost and widespread accessibility of social media platforms. Small business owners have a variety of expectations for their social media marketing efforts, with the most common being the generation of leads (75%), building brand awareness (66%), and engaging customers (58%).

Generating Leads

One of the key benefits of social media marketing for small businesses is reaching a large audience at a relatively low cost. With just a few clicks, small business owners can create a social media account and promote their products or services to hundreds or even thousands of people. This is especially useful for businesses with limited marketing budgets.

In addition to cost-effectiveness, social media allows small businesses to target their marketing efforts better. Most social media platforms offer detailed demographic information and enable businesses to target their ads to specific age ranges, genders, and interests. This level of targeting can help small businesses reach their ideal customers and increase the likelihood of conversions.

Brand Awareness

Another expectation that small businesses have for social media marketing is the ability to build brand awareness. A strong social media presence can help small businesses establish credibility and build trust with potential customers. Small businesses can showcase their expertise and build a positive reputation by regularly posting engaging content and interacting with followers.

Customer Engagement

Social media can also serve as a valuable customer engagement tool for small businesses. Small businesses can create a sense of community and foster long-term relationships with their customers by responding to comments and messages and interacting with followers. This can be especially important for small businesses that rely on repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals.

Other Expectations

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, small businesses also expect social media marketing to add credibility to their business  (51%) and reduce their overall marketing costs (42%). A strong social media presence can help small businesses establish themselves as leaders in their industry and demonstrate their expertise to potential customers.

By utilizing social media, small businesses can eliminate or reduce the need for more traditional forms of marketing, such as print ads or direct mail campaigns. This can help small businesses save money and allocate their marketing budget to other areas.

Finally, a small percentage of small businesses (8%) expect social media marketing to help small businesses establish partnerships and collaborations with other businesses or influencers. By building a strong social media presence, small businesses can attract the attention of potential partners and negotiate mutually beneficial collaborations.

Overall, the majority of small businesses use social media for marketing purposes and have a variety of expectations for their social media efforts. From generating leads and building brand awareness to reducing marketing costs and working with partners, small businesses rely on social media to help grow their business and connect with customers.