Social Media Essentials: How to Start Promoting Your Business
Lauren Batchelor • November 29, 2023
491 Words.
Social media has become an essential tool for businesses to connect with their customers and promote their products or services. Just take a look at the Google Survey data gathered here, social media has become part of the consumer experience. If you're just starting out with social media for your business, it can seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to get you started.
First, identify your goals. What do you want to achieve with social media? Do you want to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, use the platform for selling, or generate leads? Once you've identified your goals, you can tailor your social media strategy. Some platforms will even allow you to tailor your paid ads to a specific strategy.
Next, choose the right platforms. Your time is valuable, not all social media platforms are created equal, and you don't need to be on all of them. Consider your target audience and which platforms they are most likely to use. For example, if you want to reach a younger audience, you may want to focus on Instagram and Snapchat, while if you're targeting professionals, LinkedIn may be the way to go. Here’s an article that breaks down different platforms – Top Social Media Sites to Consider.
Now you’ll need to create a content plan. Consistency is key with social media, so create a content plan that outlines what you'll post and when. This can include a mix of promotional posts, educational content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into your business. Use a social media scheduling tool to make it easier to stick to your plan. Here’s a fairly exhaustive list – Social Media Posting Tools. Remember, people are often using your social media to evaluate your business/organization before they ever reach the store, donate, or call for an appointment, so use this as an opportunity to put your best foot forward.
Engage with your audience. Social media is about building relationships, so make sure you're responding to comments and messages in a timely manner. It’s easy to lose human connection in an online setting. Encourage user-generated content by asking your followers to share photos or stories related to your brand. This allows active participation and interaction between your business and your audience (potential customers).
Finally, track your results. Social media is a tool to help you stay on top of an ever-changing market, so use social media analytics to track your progress toward your goals and see what is and what isn’t working. This will help you refine your strategy over time, and alert you to any significant changes in your audience.
We hope these tips will help you start your social media strategy for your business. Remember, an audience doesn’t build up overnight, it requires consistency and time. And there’s no time like the present, so get going and get started.
For more articles and information, be sure to check out the Technology section of our Business Resources.
Most businesses don’t lose their edge in one dramatic, cinematic moment. They lose it quietly. A tweak here. Following a trend there. A consultant recommendation that sounds smart but doesn’t fit. A few AI-generated ideas pasted into the marketing plan with the confidence of someone assembling furniture without looking at the directions. Before long, something feels off. The business’ personality is flatter. The message sounds like everyone else’s. The thing that made people choose them has been polished, sanded, and lacquered in beige. That “thing” that makes you who you are is aptly called your unique value proposition (UVP). It’s the combination of what you offer, who you serve, how you serve them, and what you share about the “why” behind what you do. It’s what sets you apart and entices people to buy from you or visit your business over others. A strong UVP breeds loyalty. And yes, businesses kill it by accident all the time. Here are some of the most common ways it happens so you can watch out for it happening to yours: Listening to Advice From People Who Don’t Understand Your Market Marketing experts and business consultants can be incredibly helpful. Fresh perspective works because outside expertise can uncover problems you’ve been too close to see. But a consultant who doesn’t understand your audience can accidentally steer you away from the very thing that makes your business special in the eyes of your customers. A trendy, high-end rebrand might make sense for a luxury market, but it could alienate customers who love you because you’re approachable, familiar, and practical. A polished “curated experience” might sound sophisticated on paper and what “everyone is doing” but if your customers come to you because they feel known, welcomed, and part of a family, removing that warmth isn’t a strategy. It’s a fast train to “It’sJustNotTheSameVille.” Good advice should sharpen your difference, not erase it. Chasing Trends That Don’t Fit Your Audience Every industry has trends. Minimalist branding. TikTok-style videos. Subscription models. Luxe packaging. AI chatbots. “Experiences.” Founder-led content. Ultra-casual copy. Ultra-polished copy. Whatever LinkedIn is currently pretending it invented. Some trends are useful and some are noise. The danger to your business comes when you adopt a trend because everyone else is doing it, without asking whether your customers want it. For instance, if your audience values speed, don’t make everything more elaborate and wordier. If they value personal service, don’t automate every touchpoint. If they value affordability, don’t redesign your offer to feel exclusively high-end and then act shocked when your regulars disappear. A trend should serve your customer relationship. It should never become the new boss of your brand. Using AI Randomly Instead of Strategically AI can help a business get smarter, faster, and more consistent. It can help draft emails, organize ideas, summarize customer feedback, outline campaigns, brainstorm offers, and speed up routine tasks. But randomly asking AI questions is not the same as making AI part of your business. If you use it without teaching it your audience, offers, tone, standards, objections, FAQs, and customer journey, you’ll get generic output. Generic output leads to generic messaging. Generic messaging makes you sound like every other business trying to “elevate solutions.” AI works best when it’s treated like a trained assistant, not a slot machine for copy. Don’t use it hoping it will yield million-dollar results. Give it context. Build repeatable prompts. Feed it examples of what you like/want. Review the output. Protect your voice. Otherwise, you’ll sound like a bot and cost yourself additional time editing. That’s not very efficient. Becoming More Generic to “Grow” As businesses grow, they often try to appeal to more people. Cast a wide net, catch more customers, right? While that makes sense to a point, trying to attract everyone can make your message so broad and bland that it speaks to no one. For example, a business known for serving busy parents may water down its message to reach “families, professionals, individuals, and the community” because it seems like there are only a limited number of “parents.” A boutique service provider may stop naming the exact problems clients bring them because they don’t want to sound too narrow. A restaurant known for its decadent sausage gravy may redesign its menu because they realized heart disease is the number one killer in the US, and they thought they should remove the fat and switch to a healthier menu. While it may attract new customers, it will lose those who love their comfort food. Growth should expand opportunity. It shouldn’t require a personality transplant. Copying Competitors Too Closely Keeping an eye on competitors is smart. Copying their offers, language, pricing structure, content style, and customer experience is where you’ll run into trouble. You don’t know why a competitor is doing what they’re doing. Maybe their strategy is working. Maybe it’s failing loudly behind the scenes. Maybe they copied someone else because they “had to do something.” Maybe this is a Hail Mary pass in the last few seconds of the game and they’re just hoping to move the marker. Competitor research should help you find gaps. It should help you understand where you can stand apart. If it turns you into a slightly different version of another business, you’ve traded distinction for something else entirely. Forgetting to Talk to Real Customers Your customers will tell you what makes you different, but only if you keep listening. Businesses often make changes based on internal opinions, industry chatter, or the loudest person in the room. Meanwhile, customers are giving clues every day. They mention why they came back. They name the employee who made the experience better. They compliment the thing you barely noticed. They complain when something meaningful disappears. Pay attention to repeat phrases in reviews, emails, conversations, referrals, and testimonials. Your strongest positioning and ideas to meet customers needs are often hiding in plain sight. Over-Professionalizing the Brand There’s nothing wrong with looking polished. But polished should never mean sterile. Some businesses scrub away personality because they think professionalism requires sounding bigger, colder, or more formal. They replace specific language with vague industry terms. They remove humor. They bury warmth. They stop sounding like humans and start sounding like a committee circling back and drilling down because bandwidth requires a game-changing pivot—a bunch of empty, overused words. Professionals and brands have personalities and the best brands feel trustworthy and recognizable. Your unique value proposition is not a slogan you write once and tape to the wall. It should guide your decisions, messaging, customer experience, hiring, technology, partnerships, and growth. Before you follow the next trend, hire the next expert, or hand your voice to AI, ask one question: Will this make us more clearly ourselves to the people we’re here to serve? Read More: Are You Accidentally Repelling Perfect Clients? Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business The Hidden Shift Every Growing Business Owner Faces Your Business Isn't Too Small to Build a Brand ------------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5
Hopefully, your happiest customers are already doing some marketing for you. Maybe they’re mentioning your business to a neighbor or tagging you in a post. Perhaps they’ve told a friend, “You should call them.” The problem is that most small businesses leave those moments to chance and probably don’t even know about them. That’s why you must make referral marketing part of your marketing goals. Referrals are powerful because they come with built-in trust. A stranger clicking an ad may be curious. A person recommending your business to a friend is handing you a warm lead. That’s worth building a simple system around. You don’t need a huge budget or a complicated referral program. You just need a few repeatable habits that make it easy for happy customers to send more people your way. Ask at the Right Moment Start by knowing when to ask. Timing matters. The best moment is usually right after a customer has had a positive experience. Maybe they compliment your team. Maybe they leave a great review. Maybe they reorder, renew, rebook, or tell you how much something helped them. That’s your opening. Instead of saying, “Let us know if you know anyone,” which puts all the work on them, be specific. Try something like: “If you know another business owner who could use help with this, I’d be grateful if you’d send them my way.” Or: “We love working with customers like you. If you have a friend or colleague who needs this, feel free to share our contact info.” Specificity helps people think of someone. Or tell them the why you need referrals. People are more likely to help when you tell them why you need it. “We’re a small business and we get most of our clients through referrals. We would appreciate you telling your friends and family about us.” This helps them understand how important referrals are to you, but it also tells them that many people have referred you (“We get most of our clients through referrals.”)—that’s social proof. Make Referrals Easy to Share Next, make referrals easy to share. Create a short blurb customers can forward by text or email. Keep it conversational. For example: “I’ve been working with [Business Name], and they’ve been great. They help with [specific service/product], and I thought of you because [reason]. Here’s their info.” You can also create a simple referral card, QR code, or web page with your contact information, top services, and a clear explanation of who you help. If someone has to hunt for your phone number, website, or booking link, you’re making them work too hard and few people will do that. Turn Conversations into Warm Introductions Another quick win is to ask for introductions in person, especially at events. If a customer, vendor, or fellow business owner says they know someone you should meet, ask whether they’d be comfortable making the connection. A warm introduction is stronger than a cold email. It gives the other person context and makes the conversation feel less transactional. This is where your chamber can become a practical business development tool. Chamber events aren’t only for showing up, shaking hands, and collecting business cards you’ll later find in your purse, car, or desk drawer like tiny rectangles of guilt. Used well, they can help you build a smarter referral network. Use the Chamber as a Connection Partner Before attending an event, think about who you want to meet. Are you hoping to connect with real estate professionals, restaurant owners, nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, employers, young professionals, or city leaders? Reach out to the chamber and ask which events tend to attract those groups. Many chambers know the personality and audience of each gathering. A morning coffee may draw a different crowd than a women’s leadership event, an industry roundtable, a ribbon cutting, or a large signature event. Your chamber may also be able to make direct introductions. If you’re looking to meet a certain demographic, ask. That’s part of the relationship-building advantage of membership. Chamber staff often know who’s growing, who’s hiring, who’s collaborating, who’s new to the community, and who might be a strong connection for your business. Follow Up Before the Lead Goes Cold Once you make a connection, follow up quickly. Within 24 to 48 hours, send a short note. Mention where you met, reference something specific from the conversation, and suggest a next step if it makes sense. Don’t overcomplicate it. A good follow-up might be: “It was great meeting you at the chamber event yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about your expansion plans. If you ever need help with [specific need], I’d be happy to be a resource.” Track What’s Working Finally, keep track of referrals. A simple spreadsheet or notes field in your CRM is enough. Track who referred whom, when you followed up, and whether the connection became a customer. This helps you thank people properly and see which relationships are generating real business. The best referral strategy isn’t pushy. It’s prepared and focused. You’re making it easier for people who already trust you to open the next door. Take the Next Step Look at the chamber calendar and see what’s coming up next. Then reach out to the chamber before you attend. Let them know who you’re hoping to meet. The right event, the right introduction, and one happy customer can turn into your next three leads. Read More: How to Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Town How to Turn Small Talk into Big Opportunities The Referral Engine: How to Get People Talking About Your Business The Referral Revival: 5 Proven Ways to Get More word-Of-Mouth Without Ever Asking -------------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5
Marketing gets expensive fast. Even social media, which used to be one of the cheapest avenues for exposure, requires paid placement these days. But while social media is still affordable, and targeting is pretty good, if you don’t choose your audience effectively, you’re paying for people to see your content event though they’ll never buy from you or aren’t in your target market. You’re also getting charged for anyone who clicks—could be your competitors or even your friends who unknowingly click on your ad wondering what you’re up to. And for those of us with a marketing budget, it’s essential to decide where to spend your time and money so your business is seen by the right people, in the right places, without draining resources. The Chamber Can Help Most chambers offer marketing and advertising opportunities designed specifically for attracting local buyers. Because the chamber is built around community visibility, trusted relationships, and repeated exposure to people who already care about the local economy. In other words, you’re showing up in front of a connected business audience for pennies on the dollar. The most familiar opportunities are often the easiest place to start. Many chambers offer: · website banner ads · member directory · newsletter advertising These tools may sound simple, but they put your business in front of members, community partners, residents, event attendees, and regional decision-makers on a regular basis. Best of all, the chamber’s reputation vouges for you. Your business must be reputable because it’s associated with the chamber. A chamber newsletter spot, for example, reaches people who have chosen to hear from the chamber. Your message arrives inside a trusted communication channel rather than fighting for attention beside vacation photos, political arguments, and someone’s aggressively filtered beach pic. Website ads and directory upgrades can also help people find you when they’re actively looking for a local provider, vendor, restaurant, service, or expert. They’re looking to buy; they’re a warm lead. · Members at Builder Membership Tier and above have banner ads included in their benefits. They are also available for additional purchase. · Be sure to login to your membership center and update/personalize your directory listing- this can increase SEO. Your membership center will also provide an advertising ROI. · Our two regular newsletters are available to our members- Working Wednesday, all members are eligible to advertise their open positions. Community News, all members are welcome to share announcements/upcoming events for the wider community. ------------ Social Media Social media exposure is another common chamber benefit. Depending on your chamber’s offerings, that might include: · member spotlights · ribbon cutting posts · anniversary recognition · event promotions · behind-the-scenes features · shared announcements. These posts can help introduce your business to new audiences while reinforcing your connection to the local business community. · Member Spotlights- Drawn for at our monthly Chamber Coffees. Attend for a chance to win! · When a member hosts a ribbon cutting with us, we share pre and post event to social media and our newsletter. · Again, feel free to send us a flyer about an upcoming event: Office@LLChamber.com or to submit a Press Release · For behind-the-scenes and shared announcements, we also suggest posting to our Facebook Group, Chamber Connect ----------------- Sponsorship Opportunities Then there are event-related sponsorship opportunities, which are often some of the strongest ways to build visibility. They can put your business in the room with people who are already engaged. You may be able to sponsor a: · networking event · luncheon · workshop · awards program · women’s events · Leadership program · economic update The sponsorship opportunities vary by chamber, but can include speaking moments, table displays, introductions, program ads, signage, attendee lists when appropriate, access to leaders and decision makers, and follow-up promotion. Events also give your business something digital advertising can’t always provide—presence. People remember who welcomed them at the door, who sponsored the coffee, who hosted the mixer, who shared a helpful resource, or who made the experience better. Visibility feels different when it’s attached to a real interaction. · Would you like to host a 2027 Coffee? Or perhaps be put on a list of subject-matter experts ? Contact us and let us know! · It’s early, but if you want to sponsor a 2027 Banquet Award, we’ll save the spot! · Interested in sponsorship of our Women’s Division, Leadership Program, GAC, etc.? We have options for you! From becoming a Program Supporter ($250) to sponsoring an event, we can work with whatever format you’re looking for. ------------------------- Printer Materials Some chambers also offer advertising through printed materials such as: · visitor guides · welcome packets · event programs · digital resource pages These can be especially useful for businesses that serve newcomers, tourists, employers, families, or people making purchase decisions tied to location and quality of life. · We maintain brochures in our lobby for anyone coming by for information, and also send out packets as requested. If you'd like to include brochures/business cards about your business, feel free to drop them by. · Some of our special events include programs- check out event sponsorships to get listed. · Periodically we create resources for distribution, or people request specific industry lists for reference. Being a Chamber Member guarantees you a spot on those references. But the best chamber marketing opportunities aren’t always listed neatly on a rate sheet. Tailored Opportunities with the Chamber Talk with your chamber to find out if they offer customized annual packages. If you have a specific goal (or audience) in mind such as reaching small business owners, building name recognition, launching a new service, recruiting employees, connecting with civic leaders, supporting a cause, or becoming more visible in a certain industry sector, the chamber can help. Instead of buying one ad here and one sponsorship there, an annual package can create a steady visibility plan. It might combine newsletter ads, website placement, social media features, event sponsorships, speaking opportunities, program ads, and community-facing promotions into one coordinated approach. That kind of consistency helps people see your business more than once, which is useful because most people need repeated exposure before they remember, trust, or act. A custom package can also make your marketing budget easier to manage. You know what you’re investing for the year, what exposure you’re receiving, and how your business will show up across chamber channels. For many businesses, that’s far more practical than making one-off decisions every time an opportunity appears. There are options for every budget, even limited ones. A smart, affordable placement used consistently can outperform a bigger one-time splash that disappears after a week. The goal is to be visible in ways that feel aligned with your business and useful to the audience. In a noisy and crowded marketplace, being seen as a familiar, invested, community-minded business is a great place to be. And it’s especially appealing when you can get there and still have extra money in your marketing budget. To discuss a personalized package option, please contact us! Office@LLChamber.com Read More : 6 Ways Your Chamber Can Help You Win in 2026 15+ Inexpensive Ways to advertise Your Business Beyond the Mixer: Maximizing Your Chamber Membership Local Business Partnerships Strengthen Communities and Drive Growth Your Chamber Listing Matters More than Ever Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5
