Event Recap: Social Media for Small Businesses Workshop
Yesterday, Magnolia Marketing had the opportunity to lead an incredible hands-on training session on Social Media for Small Businesses, in partnership with the Cookeville Chamber. I was joined by Ellen Williamson, one of our social media account managers, and together, we walked through the essential strategies that small businesses need to build an effective social media presence in 2025.
I was so excited by the energy and engagement in the room! We had a fantastic group of business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers who were eager to learn, ask questions, and think critically about their social media strategies. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive—attendees left with new insights, fresh ideas, and actionable steps to strengthen their online presence. Seeing that kind of impact is exactly why I love doing these workshops!
If you missed the session, here’s a recap of what we covered and how you can apply these social media strategies to grow your business.
Key Takeaways from the Workshop
1. Social Media is a Business Tool—Not Just a Trend
We kicked off the workshop by busting some common social media misconceptions—like the idea that social media doesn’t drive real business results. The truth is, when used strategically, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can be some of the most powerful marketing and sales tools available to small businesses.
✔ Social Media Impacts SEO – Your content influences search rankings.
✔ Social Media Drives Sales – 31% of consumers research businesses on social media before making a purchase.
✔ Consistency is Key – An inconsistent presence = missed opportunities.
2. Know Your Audience: Who Are You Really Talking To?
Many businesses struggle with social media because they don’t have a clear picture of their target audience. You can’t market effectively if you don’t know who you’re trying to reach.
We walked through a simple but powerful process to identify your ideal customer by asking these questions:
Who is your customer? (Demographics, interests, behaviors)
Where do they spend their time? (Facebook? Instagram? LinkedIn?)
What do they need to hear? (Pain points, desires, key messaging)
By defining these elements, businesses can create content that resonates, rather than posting randomly and hoping for the best.
3. Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is trying to be everywhere at once. Instead of stretching yourself thin, focus on the platforms that matter most to your audience.
🔹 Facebook – The largest platform, great for ads, community building, and customer engagement.
🔹 Instagram – Highly visual, ideal for storytelling, brand building, and reaching younger audiences.
🔹 LinkedIn – A must for B2B businesses, networking, and industry authority.
🔹 TikTok & YouTube – Video-driven platforms that can boost brand awareness and visibility.
4. Content Strategy: What to Post & How to Stay Consistent
Once you know who you’re talking to and where to reach them, the next step is what to post.
We covered the importance of a content mix, including:
✅ Educational Content (Tips, FAQs, behind-the-scenes)
✅ Engagement Content (Polls, questions, interactive posts)
✅ Promotional Content (Special offers, services, testimonials)
A great strategy is to use content buckets—pre-defined themes that guide your posts and keep you from scrambling for ideas every week.
📅 Pro Tip: Use a content calendar to plan posts in advance and stay consistent! You can get a free content planner on our Social Media page!
5. Social Media Ads: How to Get the Most from Your Budget
Organic reach on social media is not enough anymore. If you want to grow, you need to invest in ads—but the key is spending wisely.
Best practices for social media ads:
🔹 Understand Your Audience – Use detailed targeting to reach the right people.
🔹 Write Compelling Copy – Clear, engaging messaging drives action.
🔹 Use High-Quality Visuals – Great design stops people from scrolling past.
🔹 Leverage Retargeting – Stay in front of warm leads and past visitors.
We also shared a great hack—using Facebook’s Ad Library to spy on your competitors’ ads and see what’s working in your industry!
6. Instagram: Maximizing Engagement & Visibility
Instagram has become one of the most powerful platforms for brand visibility, and businesses that use it strategically can see huge engagement boosts.
🚀 Instagram Reels – 50% of users' time is spent watching Reels. They help reach non-followers and drive more engagement than static posts.
📢 Stories – Perfect for behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, and polls.
🔗 Multiple Links in Bio – Take advantage of Instagram’s latest features to drive traffic.
🎯 Hashtag Strategy – Use 5-7 highly relevant hashtags per post to maximize reach.
7. Analytics: Tracking What Works & What Doesn’t
At the end of the day, data is your best friend. Businesses that track their social media performance can see what’s working, what’s not, and where to improve.
📊 Key metrics to watch:
Reach & Impressions – How many people saw your content?
Engagement (Likes, Shares, Comments) – Is your content resonating?
Conversions & Website Clicks – Are people taking action?
By regularly analyzing your data, you can make smarter marketing decisions instead of guessing.
Final Thoughts: Small Steps Lead to Big Results
One of my favorite moments from this workshop was hearing business owners say things like:
"The topics gave me a lot of ideas on how to grow my own social media brand."
"So insightful and a wealth of knowledge!"
Social media doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small, intentional actions add up. Focus on the right platforms, create content with purpose, and track your results. Over time, you’ll see real growth.
If you missed the event but want to dive deeper into your social media strategy, Magnolia Marketing is here to help. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, social media management, or strategy consulting, we can help you build a system that works.
📩 Let’s Chat! Contact us today to see how we can help your business grow.
