Are Social Media/Community Managers Needed In Small/Home Based Businesses?

I often get annoyed by the way ’small businesses’ are labelled as such.  No matter if there is only you working for your company or you have a team of 1000 employees, the end game in both types of business is to make a profit and to be good at ‘what you do’.

Advertising for a small business owner can be hard, they may not have the financial cash flow available or the time to be able to spend on an advertising campaign, branding their company throughout their ‘windows of opportunity’ or even just to say ‘WE ARE HERE!’

A Social Media Manager (also known as a SMM/Community Manager) can be a life line to small businesses.  By hiring them on a part time basis and paying by the hour, a SMM soon becomes not only a source of ‘inside information’ but also an affordable way to keep your business (no matter how small) name in the fore front of exisiting and potential clients and customers minds.

SMM’s can be a valuable source of information, help and advice as well making sure that your company becomes a ‘brand’.  Making sure that no matter where your clients and customers look online to find you, your brand is consistant throughout all social media and community outlets.  SMM’s not only market your brand and your name but also listen to what is happening in the world around you.  What trends are starting/ending, what your customers are saying about you and are able to respond to clients questions and comments if required.

A good SMM will listen.  Listen to their client, listen to the social media trends and listen to competitors.  SMM’s become the eyes and ears of your business and are able to interact within ‘real time’ discussions, providing your customers with the latest up to the minute news regarding your business.

Imagine having an extra marketing, advertising and public relations department that you can call in, just when you need it, even if it is just for a couple of hours a week and then ask yourself do small businesses need a SMM?  Of course they do, maybe even more so than a large corporate company simply because they may have fewer resources available. A business is a business, no matter how big or small, no matter if it is a Mum working from home setting up her own home based business or if you are the CEO of a global corporate brand.  It is always good to have a little helping hand on your side.