By Cinthya Lavin, BBB
Rising inflation, a housing crisis, and a challenging economy are some of the issues that small businesses and consumers have been faced with during 2022. In addition to the economic challenges, businesses are constantly having to adjust to the ever-changing social media platforms which are essential to promote their business. We took some time to reflect on this year with local businesses in the area and ask how they have handled this year.
Anna Valencia Tillery, VP of Marketing for White Glove Moving, Storage & Delivery
As you close out 2022, what has been your biggest challenge?
Anna Valencia Tillery: The ability to attract and maintain help. Even with a shifting real estate market in South Florida, the demand for professional moving and storage services is still high though with a limited labor force, it becomes challenging to give clients what they want.
Social media plays a big part in how consumers evaluate a business, especially local businesses. What changes would you make, if you could, to how social media works?
Anna Valencia Tillery: As the person responsible for my company’s social media presence, I know it is important to have the content there and ready for potential customers to find and for them to review it at their leisure. However, I truly wish that the way content appears to consumers was more organic. It seems all too often; one sees the same people and businesses posts after having liked something of theirs recently versus getting continually fresh posts from similar community partners. Regardless, I believe that having information and pictures that reveal some insights as to the true character of the brand can be a real catalyst in having a customer choose to work with one company versus another. Personally, knowing the median age of our customers and where they spend time, White Glove Moving, Storage & Delivery is active on Facebook, Youtube and Linkedin.
Caroline McGinley, Owner of La Gringuita Cookies
As you close out 2022, what has been your biggest challenge?
Caroline McGinley: As a new CPG brand, my biggest challenge of the year has been to adjust production in order to meet demand and accommodate new wholesale accounts. I was fortunate enough to hire help, and in the process, I have learned how to be a team leader. Although 2022 did present some challenges, it was overall a year of growth for Gringuita Cookies and I am looking forward to what is to come.
Social media plays a big part in how consumers evaluate a business, especially local businesses. What changes would you make, if you could, to how social media works?
Caroline McGinley: Currently, social media is integral to a company’s brand, and even more so for consumer-packaged goods that do not have a brick-and-mortar store, like Gringuita’s bake-from-frozen cookie dough. For a new business owner like myself, it would be great if platforms like Instagram and Facebook had more accessible information concerning algorithms and their new developments, so that we could more efficiently plan out a marketing strategy.
Christopher Savage, Founder and CEO of Savage Global Marketing
As you close out 2022, what has been your biggest challenge?
Christopher Savage: Our biggest challenge in closing out 2022 is overcoming the economic conditions. We have clients in various industries who are impacted by the current economic conditions, so we are providing ways for them to break through and continue to succeed during tough times. The tough times in the market never stopped us from achieving success for our partners. In fact, we delivered for them through COVID and plan to continue doing so through any economic impacts.
Social media plays a big part in how consumers evaluate a business, especially local businesses. What changes would you make, if you could, to how social media works?
Christopher Savage: Social media is not going anywhere, so if you have not adopted at least one platform for your business – you need to. There is a platform now for almost any type of business, such as LinkedIn for B2B and recruiting, or TikTok for e-commerce companies selling to younger audiences. If I had to give you one tip, put lots of effort into YouTube and generating video content for your brand.
