If your business isn’t showing up on social media, you’re basically handing over your customers to the competition. Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Our content team just conducted some site traffic and sneaky conversion research on a few of our clients competitors (shh don’t tell) and guess what we found? Our client (who always refused social media as a money making marketing strategy) was missing revenue opportunities on social media that their competition had been capitalizing on! You can’t deny data (so you can guess what happened next).
Here’s the point: social platforms are officially business hubs: they can be used as full-funnel conversion platforms, search engines, e-commerce storefronts, community builders, provide reviews and testimonials, act as mood boards, brand presentations, and interactive websites and even generate serious ROI (and that is really the short version)!
Small businesses in Austin know that social media is your digital storefront, sales funnel, customer service desk, and brand megaphone all rolled into one. Effective social media use by businesses can enhance everything, from customer relationships to revenue. And in a city as creatively caffeinated as Austin, small businesses use social media every day to build visibility and community.
Our digital marketing agency was born and raised here in Austin, which is why we’re excited to break down the best social media platforms for businesses (even if you’re not in Austin!) and how to use them like a pro.
How Can Social Media Help a Business Grow?
Social media isn’t just “nice to have.”
- It builds trust before the first transaction
- It creates community that turns customers into evangelists
- It delivers insights that drive better decisions
- It sells via DMs, shopable posts, or smart targeting
Put simply, the benefits are too big to ignore.
Benefits of Social Media for Business
Social media isn’t just popular; it’s powerful. And when you use it right, it’s one of the most effective (and free) ways to market your business. Here’s what it brings to the table:
- Build trust through personality: Your posts and interactions help humanize your brand. Show up consistently, and your audience will start to recognize and trust you.
- Drive traffic to your site: With profile links, shopable posts, and swipe-up features, social media makes it easy to guide followers straight to your website, offers, or booking page.
- Generate leads and sales: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook now offer built-in tools like lead forms, product tags, and shop integrations, so your audience can take action without ever leaving the app.
- Grow brand awareness: Every share, save, and tag increases your visibility. Consistent branding and strong content help you stay top-of-mind with the people who matter most.
- Build real relationships: Social media opens direct lines of communication with your customers, whether it’s responding to DMs, running polls, or getting instant feedback in the comments.
- Stay agile and informed: With real-time analytics and audience insights, social lets you test, learn, and adapt faster than traditional marketing ever could.
What social media accounts should a business have?
Not all platforms are created equal, especially when you’re running lean. Here's our hot take on the best social media for business, and how small businesses can use each one strategically:
Instagram is ideal for visual storytelling and direct product discovery. It offers tools like:
- Reels for short-form, viral video content
- Stories for Q&As, polls, and real-time engagement
- Shoppable posts that drive in-app purchases
- Hashtags and geotags to boost local and niche discovery
- DMs for seamless customer support
Instagram helps small businesses build brand personality and customer trust. Its visual nature makes it one of the top business social media platforms for showcasing products and services. Want to move beyond likes and start turning followers into buyers? This guide on turning Instagram followers into customers breaks down how to run viral campaigns that actually lead to sales. With the right instagram marketing services, you can increase engagement, drive traffic, and even convert directly from your grid.
Facebook combines organic reach with powerful ad capabilities. Core tools include:
- Facebook Pages with CTAs, reviews, and messaging
- Groups and Events for community-building
- Meta Ads Manager for detailed targeting and tracking
- Pixel integration for eCommerce and retargeting
- Insights to understand user behavior
Facebook allows you to target users by interest, behavior, or location, making it a top choice for local promotions and lead gen. It’s especially valuable when paired with a facebook advertising agency that knows how to test, optimize, and scale results efficiently.
TikTok
TikTok’s algorithm favors relevance and engagement over follower count, making it perfect for new and growing businesses. Features include:
- Short-form video tools with native editing and trending audio
- The “For You” page to reach non-followers
- TikTok Shop for selling brand products
- Analytics dashboards to assess performance
- Branded content integration for creator partnerships
TikTok is a high-reach, low-cost platform for building awareness and capturing attention. It’s especially useful for businesses with a strong brand personality or demo-friendly products. Many small businesses use TikTok to go viral, humanize their brand, and drive website traffic or product interest.
LinkedIn is a must for professionals and B2B brands. Core features include:
- Company Pages that showcase services, team, and culture
- Native publishing tools for expert positioning
- Networking features like tagging, DMs, and comments
- Job postings and hiring tools
- Professional analytics to track reach and engagement
LinkedIn is ideal for establishing authority and trust, especially if your business model involves referrals, consulting, or high-ticket services. Struggling to get eyes on your posts? Here’s how to actually get people to see your LinkedIn content with clear, actionable tips to boost reach, visibility, and engagement. With consistent content and clear positioning, it becomes one of the most effective social networking platforms for business targeting a professional audience.
X
X is fast, conversational, and news-driven, making it perfect for real-time reactions, thought leadership, and engaging with niche communities. Features include:
- Threads for storytelling and insight sharing
- Hashtags and trending topics for exposure
- Replies and retweets to spark discussion
- Lists to monitor key industry voices
X is ideal for establishing a voice, joining trending conversations, and connecting with influencers or journalists. For businesses with a strong POV or time-sensitive updates, X can increase visibility, engagement, and even direct web traffic, especially when used by a skilled content marketer or part of a broader PR strategy.
Niche Socials
Smaller or niche platforms can deliver big results when matched to your business model and audience. Here's how:
- Pinterest: Great for eCommerce, DIY, recipes, events, and evergreen content. Pins drive traffic for months (or years).
- YouTube: Ideal for how-tos, long-form storytelling, and high-trust sales content. It’s a powerful SEO engine too.
- Threads: Meta’s conversation-first platform, still evolving but great for community updates, brand voice, and testing quick content.
- Discord: Amazing for high-engagement communities, membership groups, or product-based brands with active fanbases.
These platforms often drive more qualified traffic than bigger ones. Whether you’re nurturing a tight-knit audience or leveraging long-form content for lead gen, niche socials allow you to build depth, not just breadth, perfect for brands ready to deepen customer loyalty and retention.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget Social SEO
Here’s a move most brands miss: your social content should be optimized for search, not just engagement. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your posts show up when people are actively searching, not just scrolling.
Social platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok are evolving into search engines in their own right. That means keywords, hashtags, alt text, captions, it all matters.
Not sure how to get started? Our Social Media SEO Strategy Guide walks you through it step-by-step. You’ll learn how to make your posts searchable, clickable, and way more effective, without feeling like a robot.
Social Media Marketing Tips
So, how do you actually grow your business on social media, without spending 10 hours a week on Canva or guessing what to post? It all comes down to having a handful of strategies you can actually stick to. These are also key social media marketing strategies for small businesses to to stay visible, consistent, and connected, even when time and resources are limited:
- Plan around content buckets: Rotate through content types like educate, inspire, and promote. It keeps your content focused and your feed dynamic.
- Post consistently and stay on-brand: Your voice, visuals, and vibe should feel cohesive across every platform. Show up regularly and intentionally.
- Create once, use everywhere: Repurpose your best stuff. Turn a blog post into a carousel. Recut a Reel for TikTok. Re-share top content every few weeks. Make your content work harder for you.
- Engage like a human: Don’t just post and ghost. Respond to comments, start conversations, and be present in your own community.
- Use tools that make life easier: Canva, CapCut, whatever helps you move faster without sacrificing quality.
- Track what matters: Likes are cool, but saves, shares, clicks, retention, conversion and DMs are what count. Use built-in analytics to figure out what’s landing.
- Boost smart, not big: A small ad budget behind the right post can go a long way. Focus on targeting, creative, and clear calls to action.
And if all of that still feels like too much? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to do it solo. That’s where a social media manager or digital marketing agency can make things way easier, and sometimes even way more effective.
What Does a Social Media Manager Do?
Glad you asked, because it’s definitely more than just throwing up a few posts and calling it a day.
A good social media manager wears a lot of hats: strategist, writer, community cheerleader, and sometimes even part-time therapist (for the algorithm and your brand). Social media manager duties include:
- Planning your content strategy and calendar
- Writing captions and scheduling posts
- Responding to DMs, comments, and mentions
- Running ads and checking what’s actually working
- Keeping up with trends so you don’t have to
Not ready to bring someone on full-time? Totally fine! Working with a part-time freelancer or a digital marketing agency can be a game-changer without blowing your budget.
In Summary: Show Up, Strategically
Social media isn’t just about showing up, it’s where your business gets seen, builds trust, and grows. Whether you’re running a neighborhood storefront, launching your next big thing, or just trying to stay consistent while juggling a million other roles, the right platform with the right plan can go a long way.
You don’t need to be everywhere. You don’t need to go viral. You just need to show up with intention, stay consistent, and focus on what works for you. And remember: you don’t have to do it all, and you definitely don’t have to do it alone.
At Sangfroid!, we’re your Austin-based creative growth partner, a social media agency Austin businesses trust that blends storytelling, strategy, and smart data to help you thrive online.
Need a fresh perspective, a clear plan, or full support behind the scenes? Let’s chat and turn your presence into performance.
