As we celebrate National Small Business Month, we wanted to highlight the importance of small businesses. Small businesses are the heart and soul of each of their communities. Not only that, but they also elevate the economy by fostering innovation, generating jobs, boosting tourism, working with charities, and enabling revenue to circulate within their local communities.

We thank all our small businesses for their contributions to their communities. Check out a few resources we've pulled together to help you and your business!

Resources for Small Businesses:

• Set up a Google Business page to boost SEO.
• Network through your local chamber of commerce.
• Set up an official LinkedIn profile for your company and connect.
• Seek advice through a local Small Business Development Center.
• Check out this SBA how-to list for setting up a business.
• Enlist help from local colleges and universities.
• Use the Missouri and Illinois state business resources.
• Look at our insights page for marketing tips.

Social Media Tips for Small Businesses.

Of course, one of the best ways for a small business to market is by taking advantage of social media platforms.

• Know your customers and the sort of audience you'll have.
• Work out what platforms and the audience you want to reach.
• Have a goal in mind for your social media and build a strategy.
• Decide what sort of content you want to create on these platforms.
• Use tools and resources to schedule and automate your posting.
• Engage with your audience. Interact with comments and make content that encourages more engagement.
• Collab with creators and other small businesses.
• Have fun with it! Make your social media content exciting.

The top social media platforms for small businesses include: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and X. That being said, don't think that you need to post on all platforms. Pick one, two, or three that work best for your target audience and then master those platforms. Quality is better than quantity.

At the end of the day, small businesses make our communities flourish by paying local taxes and employing local people, who then again reinvest in our community. It's important to offer them your support!

Need a little help to get started, or would you like us to train your people? Contact Poole Communications at 573-221-3635... or email us at info@poolecommunications.com.

Using AI as a Tool.

The Age of AI can be daunting, especially when you are running a small business. However, it doesn't have to be. In fact, these programs can help simplify the workflow of a small business!

While we will not recommend AI as a creative tool, it can be used for organizing and problem-solving. Whether it’s marketing data, sales tracking, or handling daily emails, AI helps small businesses organize and use the information that drives success. Using AI as a tool like this can help streamline repetitive tasks and relieve the stress of disorganization. This can enable greater productivity and focus on more important tasks within a business. With more focus and less busy-work, businesses can have more leeway to succeed.

Some marketing-related AI tools to keep in mind:

• Grammarly: Writing assistance - Checking grammar & editing.
• Otter.ai: 3rd-party meeting transcriber - if you're not already paying your email provider to transcribe meetings.
• ChatGPT: Writing, brainstorming, troubleshooting assistance, coding (Not meant to be used with personally identifiable information).
• Claude: Writing, brainstorming, troubleshooting, and coding.
• Gemini: (Google AI) Ecosystem integration (aka. Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc) and writing, brainstorming, etc.
• Loom AI: Making quick videos & editing.
• Zapier AI: Custom Workflows - A connected AI platform.

Don't miss out! Want advice on AI or help with marketing management? Or would you like us to train your people? Give us a call: 573-221-3635.

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