Episode 2: The 7 Reasons Your Small-Town Small Business NEEDS to be Online

This one is for my small-town small business owners, volunteers, and community organizers, and it's a topic I'm passionate about.

If you have a product to sell, a service that helps somebody, or a mission that the masses need to know about, then you need to get online and share it on social media, my friend.

I know that it seems like social media is a dumpster fire at this point of 2020 or that as a busy small-town soul you may not have the time to plan and implement a strategized social media approach, but I promise, people out there on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok are looking for the unique set of skills and services you provide to your community.

And if that's not enough, here are seven more reasons why your small-town small business (or school or nonprofit or City) needs to be online:

1. Social Media allows your news/updates to spread like wildfire. With a simple press of the SHARE button, your content can be spread exponentially among your target followers.
2. Meeting your target audience where they are at. Social media is where a large demographic of adults spend their downtime. Statistics show that the average Facebook user logs in daily. That's 365 opportunities to get in touch with your ideal customer. With social media you can meet them where they are at!
3. It's personal. Your area of the internet is your place to celebrate how your business is unique: ie, the ranch dressing theory. There may be 100,000 other businesses who do the same thing as you do, but I bet there is only one who has your unique processes and team members in your community…and I bet people want to know more about it.
4. Digital marketing is dynamic! Social & websites can easily and quickly be updated or adjusted to reflect new offers, a change in services, correct a typo, and more. It's versatile and flexible for your ever-changing needs in a small town.
5. You get cold, hard facts & statistics. No more vague answers about readership or listenership. Your social media insights allow you to see exactly how many devices your posts appeared on and how many people clicked over to take action in working with you. This helps you more effectively measure your marketing ROI and budgeting for future advertising campaigns.
6. Cost-effective. If you want to keep this low-budget, you can do so for the easy price of $0. For real. If you handle your own marketing on social and create your own content for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, you can do so at no cost. How many other marketing avenues can guarantee that price?
7. Customer service. These days, people expect you to have a digital presence, and not only that, but a digital presence that offers customer service follow-through. Make it easy for your clients and customers to ask questions and share their thoughts about your business by having a space on social media.

Want more? Listen to Episode 2 of the Small-Minded Podcast for details.

And if you need free tools and resources to get your social media going, head over to mollyknuthmedia.com or @mollyknuthmedia on Facebook and Instagram for training videos, free downloads, and more!

Our first small business spotlight:

McAllister Electrical Services

In 2002, electricians Pete and Christine McAllister knew they had a unique skill set that the town of Cascade, Iowa, and the surrounding area could greatly use. Together they created McAllister Electrical Services, providing customers with electrical wiring and servicing for agricultural, commercial and residential buildings. Ability to perform aerial jobs with their bucket truck, leading a home inspection, ordering decorative lamps and fixtures, and increasing efficiency with LED retrofitting and solar systems, are just a few of the services that set our company apart.

So whether you are in the market for new construction or maintenance on an existing structure, McAllister Electrical Services has the experience and resources to get the job done right the first time and provide you with service that matters. Contact them today for your free planning and estimates at 563-852-7484 or mcallisterelectricalservices.com.

Member American Builders & Contractors (ABC), Better Business Bureau (BBB) & Cascade Area Chamber of Commerce.