Expand Your Web Presence, Make Your Business Social Media Savvy

As social media continues to grow and change in its form, the number of businesses joining the networks continues to expand, too.

According to a TechJournal article last year, businesses using social media to attract new customers rose by 43 percent during the course of a year.

In Florissant, several businesses have capitalized on using social media, such as Yacovelli’s, de.lish Cheesecake Bakery and Café, DQ-Florissant and Helfer’s Pastries and Deli Café, have used social media to not only to attract customers but to promote specials, update menus and interact with customers first hand.

(Make sure you "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with what residents are talking about.)

But if you’re a business owner or an entrepreneur looking to break into the social engagement landscape, there’s a lot more that you can do to get started.

We’re giving five tips for how to get there: 

1. Claim your Patch listing: With 23 Patch sites across the St. Louis area, small businesses can claim their listing and upload photos, update their description and get rated and reviewed by customers.

2. Set up a Facebook page: When you set up a Facebook page, you can not only attract customers but promote specials of the day, interact with customers and share industry news with them, too.

3. Start a Twitter account: As important as it is to have Facebook, Twitter is equally important. Twitter gives you an opportunity to interact with customers in 140 characters, who may not be on Facebook, and continue to promote your business to a different audience.

4. Set up a Pinterest account: Pinterest is a bit different from Facebook and Twitter that it showcases photos that interest you, and with a restaurant, gym, boutique owner or other business, that could prove to be a big deal for you to showcase what you do.

5. Start a blog: A blog allows you to show your expertise to customers and to the public for your industry. Several bloggers on Patch are local business owners who share their expertise such as Masseuse Gail Wainasen, Certified Financial Planner Sheldon Harber and financial advisor Gregory Younger.