Media release

Small business missing out on benefits of social media

27 September 2010

The Small Business Development Corporation's latest Ready Response Network indicates that only a third of Western Australia's small businesses are reaping the benefits of social media for their businesses.

SBDC Acting Managing Director, Ms Jacky Finlayson, says the Ready Response social media poll conducted this month shows 65 per cent of small business operators are missing a great opportunity to promote their businesses through social media.

"When used correctly, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other social media tools can be of enormous assistance to small business operators with limited capital to spend on advertising and promotion," Ms Finlayson said.

The results of the Ready Response Network poll indicate 35% of small business respondents regularly use social media as a business tool. Of those using social media for business purposes:

• 89% were using Facebook
• 68% were using LinkedIn, and
• 52% were using Twitter

The results also indicate the majority of those using social media for business purposes did so to increase brand awareness (34%), for networking purposes (25%) and to drive traffic to their business website (20%).

"With more than half of the businesses using social media reporting tangible benefits for their business including increased sales, enquiries and new contacts, this is a low-cost promotional tool well within the capabilities of most small businesses," Ms Finlayson said.

For details on how to use social media effectively in your business, contact the SBDC on 131 BIZ (131 249) for times of the next social media workshop.

Go to Ready Response Network Social Media poll results

Media contact: Di Graham on (08) 9220 0218 or 0432 750 565

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