8 Myths and Truths About Social Media for Small Business

It's no secret that social media has become one of the essential marketing tools for small businesses. However, there are still some misconceptions about how it works and its actual value to a business, so we're busting these myths right here! Some myths and truths may sound like no-brainers, but we've heard all of these multiple times from our clients before we started working with them. Maybe you have too.

Myth 1: There is a fee to set up business profiles on social media
All business profiles are free on all social media sites. Business profiles can be a great resource to share contact information, show your personality, brand, or mission with posts and build connections with current and potential customers.
Small businesses who believed there was a cost for a business profile would set up a personal profile. Using a personal profile for a company does not allow features that a business profile has, including adding a website, hours of operation, listing services, capturing reviews, adding an online shop and running ads.

Myth 2: My business needs to be on all the social media sites
A small business does not need to be on all of the social media sites. Instead, focus only on one or two platforms and post consistently. If necessary, add more platforms later if you eventually feel comfortable with your first ones as you work them into your routine.
Need help figuring out which social media sites to start using? Read How to Choose the Best Social media Sites for Your Small Business.

Myth 3: My customers aren't on social media
According to Pew Research Center, there are 2.8 billion monthly users on Facebook alone! Some business owners and managers think if their customers are older, they won’t know how to use social media. Or customers in rural areas don't use social media at all – this is not the case. Many use social media to stay connected with friends and family, especially those who don't live nearby. Others use it to connect with like-minded people who share a hobby such as crafting or cooking.
In addition, social media sites, such as Facebook, are used to search local businesses and look for up-to-date info on those businesses.
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Myth 4: Social media marketing is completely free
You may be scratching your head after reading Myth 1. While it is entirely free to set up a business profile, executing social media marketing does cost a lot of time and planning. And we all know that time is money. Social media is an extension of your business brand. Whether you do it yourself, pay an employee or a consultant to manage marketing, a social media strategy needs to be consistent. It is an investment and takes time. It is part of marketing a business. But it is time and money well spent.
Myth 5: I can have a teenager or college student manage my content
Some small business owners may mistakenly think that younger people understand social media better. Even though they may use it more often and understand some of social media's features, inexperienced people may not know how to best use it for marketing and business purposes.
Here’s an example to better explain: I know how to drive. I know all the features of a car and I know how to make it work. But that's not enough qualifications or experience to make me a NASCAR driver or professional race car driver. That’s not enough knowledge for me to get on a race track!
However, college students are very creative and energetic but also need guidance. As they start to understand your business and voice and understand the ever-changing landscape of social media as it relates to a business, they can become an important part of your social media marketing team. Keep this in mind for anyone who manages your marketing messages. Social media content needs to be strategic and the business owner or manager needs to be involved in the strategy.
Myth 6: I only need to show pictures of my products
Social media is an excellent tool for businesses to showcase their products and the story behind them. We found that people are also interested in hearing about what goes on behind the scenes of your business. People love to see photos and videos of your staff members or pictures with customers. These photos often draw the most engagement, which the algorithms like!
These platforms are meant to be social! So if possible, share posts with people in the posts.
Myth 7:  It's okay to ignore negative reviews on social media
Monitoring comments on posts and reviews are crucially important for small businesses. No one likes to receive a poor review. It may be easy to overlook a bad review, especially if the majority of your reviews are positive. But how you respond shows customers how much you care about them. Thank the reviewer for their feedback and apologize if applicable. Explain any miscommunication or misunderstanding, and offer to continue the conversation offline if desired.
You may also learn about something within your business that needs attention. Thank the reviewer for calling it to your attention and explain your effort to correct the issue.
Myth 8: I can stop doing email marketing if I have social media
This myth isn't directly related to social media, but we've had clients stop contacting their customers via email once social media profiles were established. This is a big mistake. Social media is rented land. The social media gods can shut down your page at any time with little to no explanation with no recourse. However, an email list is something that will always be yours. In addition, people aren't on social media every day. Using your email list is another way to keep communicating with your audience.
If any of these myths sound familiar to you too, let us know - we want to hear from our readers and be able to provide valuable insight on growing your online presence through powerful digital marketing campaigns. Were you surprised by any of these? Let us know in the comments below!

If you're interested in an audit of your social media and/or a marketing consultation that is personal, practical and meaningful, contact us here.