Social Media Marketing for Small Business: What the SBA Blog Says

A seven-step guide on the Small Business Administration's blog sets out a path for social media: define a small set of marketing goals, identify the best platforms, launch your profiles, update content, comment and reply, use automation to help, and track and measure results Source [1].

The three SBA blog posts behind this page were published in 2017, 2018 and 2020, and the 2017 and 2018 ones are by an SBA blog contributor Source [1]Source [2]Source [3]. Check any detail about a network or a feature in them against that network's current help pages.

Compared with going it alone, Autonomah works out what to publish, produces it and publishes it on its date, and the brand's team reviews and decides Source [4].

Step 1: pick a few goals

The SBA says to start with a plan and define a small set of marketing goals, "but not too many" Source [1]. Its examples are better brand loyalty among customers who already like what you sell, a mailing list for news, more traffic to your website, thought leadership in your industry, and wider brand recognition Source [1].

Step 2: match platforms to the goals

The guide's instruction is to decide which platform will best achieve your goal and to figure out which will be most effective for promoting your brand's message Source [1]. Its examples of what each platform suits were written in 2018, so read what each network offers today before choosing Source [1].

Starter is for starting to show up on the network that matters most to the brand Source [4].

Step 3: set up the profile

The SBA suggests a description of your business that grabs a visitor's attention, a link, your logo, and a cover image that could feature products, team or store interior Source [1].

Steps 4 and 5: post, then engage

The guide says visitors want fresh content regularly, and it suggests feeding news, photos and videos to your accounts at least a couple of times a week Source [1]. Content does not all have to be your own: it says you can curate from others' blogs or video channels and credit them with their social handle Source [1]. It adds that posting alone does not make you a social media success, so comment, reply and share on other people's content too Source [1].

Step 6: use automation, but not for everything

The SBA says automation can save time as activity grows, and it suggests using it to schedule updates and to bring activity into a central place Source [1]. It also says not to automate everything, so that you keep a personal connection with followers Source [1].

Step 7: track and measure

The SBA points out that analytics measure progress toward marketing goals and are built into the social platforms themselves Source [1].

What the SBA says social media can do for you

A 2020 SBA article lists ways social media can help a business: establish your brand, reach new customers, build a reputation for customer service, communicate important information quickly, and recruit new employees Source [2]. For reaching customers it names two routes: buying social media ads that let you select a budget and boost your posts, and unpaid ways such as relevant hashtags and asking loyal customers to mention your account Source [2].

A weekly time budget

The SBA's calendar article gives an example schedule. It suggests blocking about an hour once a week to compose and schedule the next seven days of updates, 15 minutes each weekday afternoon to check replies and comments, and 15 minutes once a week to check analytics Source [3]. It says that works out to 2 to 3 hours per week, and that you can adjust it up or down to your resources and goals Source [3].

It also asks for consistency with variety: do not let important channels go silent for weeks, and mix your own content with third parties', informative articles, videos and the occasional promotion Source [3].

How Autonomah does it

Autonomah is an artificial creative and advertising brain that thinks, creates and publishes each brand's advertising Source [4]. On time, the FAQ says it takes as long as the review of the pending pieces Source [4]. Compare Starter, Growth and Pro.

Frequently asked questions

What does the SBA recommend for small business social media?

Seven steps: define a small set of goals, identify the best platforms, launch your profiles, update content, comment and reply, use automation to help, and track and measure results Source [1].

How much time should a small business spend on social media?

The SBA's calendar article gives an example of 2 to 3 hours per week and says to adjust it to your resources and goals Source [3].

Do I have to pay for social media ads?

The SBA names buying ads as one option, and it says you do not necessarily have to pay: relevant hashtags and loyal customers who mention your account are unpaid routes Source [2].