If Facebook was a country it would be the largest in the world with over 2.32 billion people using the platform. So chances are your ideal customers are using the platform.

With the decline in paper advertising, it's getting hard for small businesses to ignore social media. The problem is that the majority of small business owners do not know how to effectively use it and rely on younger staff members. Many don’t yet see the value in hiring specifically for social media management. 

Social media is now the primary advertising tool for more than 50% of businesses because it's cost-effective and gives you the flexibility to advertise your business without paying for advertising.

Here are 7 Reason's Why Brick and Mortar Businesses Need to Embrace Social Media Marketing. 

 1. Brings awareness to your business

People are spending more time on social than watching TV.

In fact, a higher proportion of people are using Facebook daily (50%) than are watching TV (39%), with an even bigger gap seen among millennials (54% vs. 33%).

Similarly, there’s been a fall in the percentages of people sharing content and details of their daily lives. Instead, people are flocking to the platform for entertainment and time-filling content. 

Local radio advertising has also experienced a  slow decline in listenership because people have more options in this digital world with services like Spotify, Apple Music, as well as satellite radio. Some of which sell memberships and promote commercial-free listening. 

 2. Connect with customers and allow them to share your business with their friends/family

The goal of any Facebook page is to create a connection with your ideal customers. If it's done properly you will increase your brand reputation and build trust within your audience.

You want to encourage your customers to leave a Recommendation and share your content with their friends. Keep in mind the average person has over 338 friends so if you have a thousand followers you have the potential to reach 338,000 people. 

3. Use Stories

Stories provide a lot of entertainment for your account followers. On Facebook, they are short, 20-second clips, that allow customers to get to know you on a day-to-day basis. Instagram stories are only 15 second's in length but they both disappear after 24-hours.

The advantage of using Stories is that you can add your location to each story so people will easily know where you are located. You can also search by location and invite people in that area into your store. On Instagram, you can send them a direct message and offer an instant promo if they come to your stores 

 4. Engage with customers & interact on a daily basis so they don’t forget about you. 

Most people check their social media accounts multiple times a day so you want to ensure you have regular content showing up. People oftentimes are just scrolling their newsfeeds so you have to be strategic in order to grab their attention. 

It's important to take the time to respond to your customers and build on the relationship you have with them the same way you would if they were at your location. You now have the ability to move conversations into private messaging too.

 5. Millennials prefer to shop online

After a store visit, 56% of millennials buy online at least half of the time compared to 45% of both Gen X and boomers. What's more, 21% of millennials "almost always" buy online after seeing an item in-store while just 10% of the older generations do.

Millennials prefer to see reviews on products before making a purchase which is why it's so important to encourage your customers to leave you a Recommendation. 

6. Your competition has a Facebook page

Not having a Facebook page can cost you opportunities—especially if your competition is using social media and using it well. The key is to use Facebook marketing correctly and make sure that your efforts stand out from the crowd.

Copying what the competition does isn't enough you need to develop a strategy that sets you apart. 

7. Develop a Community

People like to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. When you are a member of a community you take pride, you support it, you encourage it and it builds loyalty. That is what Facebook is all about.

• Posting useful, relevant and interesting links
• Asking fans to contribute with comments
• Organizing contests and promotions
• Providing a place to leave reviews and other feedback
• Offering incentives for activity on the page

You're followers want to feel like their opinions and input matter to you. 

If you are a brick and mortar business and you would need help to develop a strategy to get more customers in your doors and stand out from the competition you should Schedule A Free Session to Learn How to Stand Out On Facebook and I'll help you come up with a plan.