Social media trends in small businesses

ABSTRACT

In this research paper, social media trends for small businesses (SMEs) are explored. Global trends suggest that the use of social media by small businesses has increased. In this small study conducted in Auckland, New Zealand, it was found that real estate companies were more likely to be using social media. It was also found that Facebook was most commonly used for marketing, whereas research conducted elsewhere suggests that Linkedin is more likely to be used. Finally, small businesses were not prepared to spend more than $2,000 on social media to support their core business. It would seem therefore, that New Zealand SMEs are not taking the same advantage of user-generated social media feedback to inform market strategy as suggested by Evans (2010).