BUSINESS AMANDA CHALMERS
Amanda Chalmers: Photo by Dave Perry Photography
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS ESSENTIAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
We are delighted to bring you the next of our Business columns from local journalist and award-winning PR Amanda Chalmers. Amanda is a south Warwickshire-based writer, journalist and editor whose experience on newspapers and magazines spans three decades. Over the coming months Amanda will be taking a closer look at some of the topics that affect small businesses as well as offering some of her valuable top tips for PR.
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Social media works best alongside PR, a well-designed website, networking, email marketing, search engine optimisation and trusted local advertising, including quality regional magazines. Each channel plays a different role in building awareness, credibility and customer engagement.
A great example of this is using your social media platforms to share print and digital editorial coverage or advertising campaigns, extending their reach organically and reinforcing your message across multiple touchpoints.
Social media has become the modern high street - a place where customers browse, discover, compare and connect long before they ever walk through a physical door.
For many small businesses, it has become an important growth engine. Working in conjunction with paid advertising and other marketing activity, social media is a powerful way to reach and engage target audiences. It has also helped level the playing field, allowing independent businesses to compete with larger companies that have significantly bigger marketing budgets.
Small businesses thrive on being seen, and this is achieved most successfully by combining a range of marketing channels.
Social media is an excellent tool for increasing visibility. Every day, millions of users discover new products, local businesses and services through posts, recommendations and shares. A well-timed post can introduce a boutique bakery, independent retailer
or local service provider to a wide
audience, while consistent activity helps keep a business front of mind.
Just as importantly, social media helps build trust. Trust is one of the most valuable assets any small business can have, and social platforms create a direct line between businesses and customers, enabling real-time conversations, responsive customer service and meaningful engagement. Behind- the-scenes videos, staff introductions and day-in-the-life content add personality, helping brands feel approachable and authentic.
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