Over half of small businesses do not use social media

Over half of small business owners in the UK do not use social media, according to a recent survey from Manta.

The research found that 76 per cent of business owners do not use Instagram to market their business, despite it currently being the most popular social media platform.

Unfamiliar

The survey showed that small business owners are unfamiliar with Instagram, with many saying that they do not use it to market their business because they lack knowledge of how to use it.

Over 30 per cent of business owners do not use social media at all, whilst 92 per cent of those who do use it said that their aim was to attract more customers.

Over 40 per cent of small business owners who use Instagram said that their goal is to support their community or show their company’s values or personality.

Facebook was revealed to be the most widely used social media website amongst small businesses, with 39 per cent of small business owners using the website to market their business.

Strategy

Commenting on the research, Manta VP of Marketing, Sara Oberst, said that small business owners are not taking full advantage of Instagram for business use.

She added: “To effectively use Instagram, small business owners should first determine their goals and budget to develop an Instagram strategy. With the right goals in place, small businesses can begin connecting with their customers in a visual way. Instagram is an especially powerful tool for businesses with visually appealing products as customers are able to see photos on their news feeds and ask questions or interact with the brand before making a purchase.”