SOCIAL MEDIA: Why Are Rural Firms Getting Left Behind?
Social media marketing is no longer the new kid on the block, companies in all sectors now understand the value social media marketing can bring. But despite this not all businesses seem to have cracked it.
While some businesses have created an army of loyalist fans, others have barely even scratched the surface, this is particularly true for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Why is this? Well for many SMEs it’s a simple issue of time and resources. Most small business owners and managers simply don’t have the time to invest in social media.
And this is the issue with social media. It is not a quick and easy way to make thousands of sales. No. Social media takes times and effort to grow, nurture and develop into an effective marketing tool. But with over 44 million active social media users in the UK alone (according to data released by Statista) the rewards are huge, if one only has the time to spare.
The second big issue for SMEs is skills. Those small businesses which are owned internet natives may well make huge waves online but for many business owners’ social media is as baffling as it is time consuming.
Both of these issues are worsened when considering SMEs in rural areas, so despite rural communities having the highest density of businesses per capita, 450 per 10,000 (according to government statistics), social media marketing is extremely low. Not to mention the lack of reliable internet and access to quality marketing services at affordable prices.
So, what is there to be done about it? Well you can’t magic more time up so it seems you will need some help. For that you will be wanting someone who understands you market and doesn’t make you pay through the nose for it.
This is exactly why I started Flame Marketing, you can try to take the girl out of Devon but you can’t take Devon out of the girl. Well in my case you also can’t take me out of Devon, trust me I tried but the rolling hills just kept calling me home.
I chose farmland over glass box offices, a jeep over a sportscar, and I know how to rescue a stuck sheep. Now I want to use my skills to make my home as great as possible one business at a time
