People are building businesses through pure social media exposure. Here's how.
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Social media has made it easier than ever for businesses to reach huge audiences. While some small businesses see it as another task to keep up with, others use it as a key marketing tool. A growing number of entrepreneurs are taking it one step further, building entire businesses through social media alone.
In 2024, San Francisco based entrepreneur Brandon Sardi founded Poorboy Coffee. What started as a single cold brew stand quickly grew into a business generating around $50,000 in monthly revenue through coffee carts, a roasting operation and a software platform.
Sardi is one of many founders documenting the process of building a business from the ground up. His social media presence helped his idea gain traction long before he had the budget for traditional marketing. By sharing both the highs and lows of growing a company, he built an audience that became invested in the journey as much as the product itself.
Want to learn more about turning social media into a business strategy? Read on to find out how.
Authenticity sells
People are becoming better at spotting content that feels forced. Overly polished videos and sales heavy posts are easy to scroll past, especially when audiences spend hours every day watching creators who share real moments. That does not mean every post has to be perfect. In fact, some of the best performing content is filmed on a phone with very little editing. Show people what goes on behind the scenes, share the challenges you are facing, celebrate the wins and talk honestly about the lessons you learn along the way. That is what builds trust.
People buy from people. If they feel like they know you and understand why you started your business, they are far more likely to support you.
Find a niche and stick to it
Trying to appeal to everyone usually means appealing to no one. The businesses that grow through social media tend to have a clear focus, whether that is coffee, fitness, fashion or home renovations. Once you have found your niche, stay consistent. Your audience should know what to expect every time they see one of your posts. Consistency helps platforms understand who to show your content to, and it helps people remember your brand.
That does not mean posting the same thing every day. Experiment with different formats, but keep your message and identity the same.
SMB social media do's and don'ts
Do:
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Show the people behind the business.
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Post consistently, even if it is only a few times each week.
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Reply to comments and messages to build a community.
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Share your process, not just the finished product.
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Learn from your analytics and double down on what works.
Don't:
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Only post when you have something to sell.
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Copy another brand's personality.
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Chase every trend if it does not fit your business.
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Give up because a few posts perform badly. Growth is rarely instant.
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Overcomplicate your content. Simple and genuine often performs best.
Social media is no longer just another marketing channel. For many businesses, it is the storefront, the advertising campaign and the customer relationship all rolled into one. The businesses seeing the most success are not necessarily spending the most money. They are showing up consistently, sharing their story and giving people a reason to follow the journey.