LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Over 1.8 million Arkansans engage in social media, and small businesses are taking advantage of a cheap way to get their message to future customers.
Arkansas Business Publisher Jeff Hankins stopped by the studio today to talk about small businesses and their relation to social media.
He says it's too early to tell exactly how much social media campaigns increases sales, but experts in the industry do say that social media works. With the proliferation of not only Facebook accounts, but smart-phones as well, it's gotten a lot easier for some merchants to reach their target audience.
Even if a small business doesn't make a sale with a potential customer, the intimacy of the Internet still works in its favor. Online campaigns can incorporate marketing, customer service, and public relations on a more personal level.
Being on Facebook or Twitter may not increase measurable sales for a company quickly over time, but the relationships they building could pay off.
Jeff's advice for companies getting involved in social media is to avoid political or controversial subjects. They key is to keep your message very targeted, if you're trying to appeal to a broad customer base.