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When it comes to planning how to make a website , knowing which type of website works best for you, and specifically for the functionality of your site may affect how you choose to build it. Most websites can be defined as static vs dynamic websites, with increasing numbers being termed hybrids—meaning they are made up of a mixture of static and dynamic web pages. In the context of website creation , static and dynamic refers to the ways in which websites deliver and display content. The key difference between static websites vs dynamic websites is that static websites have stable content, where every user sees the exact same thing on each individual page (like a privacy policy ), whereas dynamic websites pull content on the fly, allowing its content to change with the user. In this article, we’re going to make sense of the whole static vs. dynamic debate. In the process, we’ll review important factors to consider when deciding which one is right for you: What is a static website? What is a dynamic website? The main differences between a static and dynamic website A hybrid approach: combining static and dynamic Static vs. dynamic websites The underlying mechanisms and capabilities of static and dynamic websites differ significantly, impacting factors such as interactivity, customization, scalability and maintenance requirements. Static websites consist of fixed content stored on the server and delivered to the user without any server-side processing. These websites are simple and easy to host but lack interactivity and require manual updates. Dynamic websites, on the other hand, generate content on the fly using server-side processing and databases. They offer interactivity, personalized content and dynamic features but are more complex to develop and maintain. What is a static website? A static website is made up of web pages created using HTML , CSS and Javascript (all examples of web development languages). Each page on a static website is stored as a single HTML file, which is delivered directly from the server to the web page exactly as is. This content essentially becomes a part of the design on your page, and won’t change unless the original HTML file is edited at a code level. Changes to a static website can be done manually, and will only be made page by page, HTML file by HTML file. For example, edits made to the HTML file of a homepage will only be reflected on the homepage. This is true even for elements that are identical across the whole site, such as the footer. If you’re using a website builder, changes to static pages will be made automatically every time you use the website editor. One of the most characteristic aspects of a static site is that every user receives and views the exact same content. Because of this, static websites work best for sites with fewer pages that don’t require frequent updates or changes. A good candidate for a static site is a resume website . This is a type of site with set content for each page and doesn't require many changes to individual pages, or real-time updates based on user behavior. Other examples of common static website types include personal websites , nonprofit websites and purely informative websites (good examples of these include one-page or landing page sites ). Advantages of a static website Static sites are back—well, in some situations—and we’re going to go over several main reasons for this comeback. Faster page loading speed The makeup of a static page prioritizes load speed, resulting in a better browsing experience. Because the content on this type of site is pre-written and delivered directly from the server, caching is easier and the content is less likely to load with delays or UX issues, such as broken images. In general, static websites require less server power, and with no database or client-server infrastructure to run through, they’re naturally faster. Since page load speed is a key part of the way Google assesses a website's performance (and it seems to be having a more significant impact on SEO and ranking performance , too) this ability should not be underestimated. Quick creation When you are thinking about how long it takes to build a website and time is an issue, a static website is easier to get live quicker. Static websites are faster to create and publish since they are less complex and don’t need to be connected to databases of organized content. This is even more true if built on a WYSIWYG platform. All that limits the time to go live with a static site is how creative you want to be with each page design. This doesn’t mean making a dynamic alternative will be a slow process, but static pages tend to be simpler and consequently faster to deploy. Lower hosting costs Static websites can be incredibly wallet-friendly when it comes to hosting fees. Because they don’t rely on databases or heavyweight backend processes, they require fewer server resources. This often translates to using lower-cost hosting plans or even free hosting solutions, depending on the scale of your site. When paired with a Content Delivery Network (CDN), static websites enjoy faster global load speeds without driving up costs. This combination is especially appealing for small businesses or creators working with a limited budget while still aiming for a reliable and high-performing web presence. Potential for enhanced security In theory, static website pages are potentially more difficult to hack. This is because there are fewer points to attack them from. We’ll explain: Static pages don’t connect with a database or use external extensions and plugins—all of which can be common entry points for attacks. In comparison, dynamic sites are not inherently unsafe, but potential attackers theoretically pose less risk with a static website. How relevant this is depends entirely on how you choose to build your site. For example, a webpage or website created on a website builder like Wix is protected by a host of protective measures whether it’s static or dynamic. From DDoS protection and SQL certificates to extra layers of website security provided by TLS 1.2, you won’t need to worry about security. Learn more: Small business website statistics Disadvantages of a static website Having been through the benefits of a static site, we are now going to cover some of the disadvantages below. Limited scalability One of the largest disadvantages of a static website only comes into play with larger, content-heavy designs. While it’s possible to build hundreds of pages with a static website, it will always be a slow and long process. This is less relevant when creating a personal website though. Every page on a static website has to be built as a separate entity. For a site with multiple pages, you would need to create each page individually. Less efficient management Static websites may be quicker to create, but they can be more time-consuming to manage. Edits to a static website need to be made page by page, and as websites are loaded with more content, or rapidly changing content, this becomes a much more challenging—and in some cases, near impossible—task. What is a dynamic website? Built using server-side language and technology, dynamic websites allow for the content of each page to be delivered and displayed dynamically, or on-the-fly, according to user behavior or from user-generated content. With a dynamic website, all of your data and content are organized in a database or backend content management system (CMS), which connects to your website pages. The way this information is arranged and connected to your site’s design controls how and when its content is revealed on a page. What does all of this mean? Well, dynamic content gives you the ability to customize and personalize the website experience, and what is displayed, for a specific user. It also allows you to make changes to many pages at the same time, since modifications made to one dynamic page can be automatically made across thousands. For example, dynamic websites enable you to choose which information is displayed to a user based on their location. You can also deliver content to users based on their current or past actions on your site (thanks to cookies), which essentially means each visitor sees a different view of the content on a page. A multilingual website is a great example of when creating a dynamic website might be relevant. Other examples of well-known dynamic websites include: Instagram : as a social media site, dependent on user-generated content, Instagram relies on a dynamic website. CNN : media outlets use dynamic websites to update their content, either in response to breaking news or as stories age. Disney Plus : as a large streaming site, this dynamic entertainment website's dynamic nature allows its content to be chosen and displayed according to a user's location, subscription and preferences. Generally, dynamic websites are those which are content heavy and user-driven. Let’s say the main purpose of your website is to act as a real estate listing website. You’ll need to generate hundreds of pages to list hundreds of available properties. In order to improve the functionality of your site and accommodate a user’s intent, the content on these pages will need to reflect the real-time availability of properties. Using dynamic pages will be the most efficient way to display these changes on your site. Event websites, eCommerce websites , online forums, membership websites, portfolio websites and blogs are some other types of websites that benefit from being dynamic. Advantages of a dynamic website For many website creators dynamic pages are the only way to go, and for good reason. Dynamic pages have the following advantages: Easily updated Starting a business and building a brand online requires continually updated content. You need to stay current with trends, updates and changes within your business, as well as within your industry. A dynamic website is the most effective way to do this. With a dynamic website, a content change on one page can be automatically duplicated on other pages without needing to alter the design. This is particularly relevant to sites with a large number of pages since it makes maintaining a website more efficient. One of the main advantages in terms of updating a dynamic website is that it makes maintenance easier and faster. Multiple users will have access to your database, allowing them to manage the content on the site without the ability to touch the structure or design. Dynamic pages also allow for scalability, since you can manage thousands of pages quickly and easily. Even if you don’t plan for a large website from day one, a dynamic website gives you the option to grow when it becomes necessary. A better user experience A dynamic website provides content that’s tailored to the needs of the user. This might mean displaying information on the page based on their location or changing content to reflect their interests, intent or past actions on the page. Whatever the case, being able to customize what visitors see and interact with creates a better user experience. This capacity for personalization also makes it more likely they’ll return to your site or take further action on it—increasing the potential for conversion. Greater functionality Static pages can be interactive, but when it comes to functionality, dynamic pages definitely lead the way. Dynamic pages have boundless functionality—limited only by the complexity of the logic and language needed to build them, and the instructions needed to deliver content. Netflix is just one example of a very large, complex and yet sophisticated dynamic website, both in terms of functionality and user experience. It’s able to deliver huge amounts of content to users based on their location and login credentials and can offer watch recommendations based on past viewing history. Potential for personalization Dynamic websites excel in their ability to create a personalized experience for users. By storing and analyzing user data, such as browsing history, preferences or location, dynamic pages can display tailored content that aligns with each visitor’s interests. This personalization not only enhances user engagement but also increases the likelihood of conversions. For example, eCommerce websites can recommend products based on a customer’s previous purchases, while blogs can suggest articles related to a reader’s past activity. Creating unique, targeted interactions with visitors builds trust and encourages them to return. Disadvantages of a dynamic website It takes more resources to create Because of the extra steps needed to organize and connect your database to the right pages, a dynamic website can be more complicated to set up and get running. it will take more time to go live and can be more costly, too. There are exceptions to this: using a website builder like Wix not only allows you to build dynamic pages when you need them, but it also allows you to do so without subscribing to a paid package. The CMS (Content Management System) is free to use for all Wix users. So while traditionally building a dynamic website used to require a larger budget, this is no longer the case, depending on where and how you choose to build your dynamic site. Looking to get started with the CMS ? Take a look at our online course to help you do just that. Performance issues Dynamic websites have more instructions to process than static websites do. They are also connected to a database or content collection and continually pull information from that in order to display it—which takes time to process and execute. This can impact the performance of a site, although many website creation tools are aware of this issue and make it their mission to prioritize performance across all pages. When building a dynamic website with a website builder such as Wix, concerns about performance are less likely. This is because everything necessary for website performance optimization (for example, automatic image optimization, a Content Delivery Network and defense against DDOS attacks) is integrated into your pages, making your dynamic website as fast and user-friendly as a static one. Subscribe to the Wix blog  for a weekly dose of fresh web design tips and trends. A hybrid approach: combining static and dynamic pages The reality is that many websites are complex—and becoming more so all the time. We have an increasing demand for more functionality from websites, but at the same time, we need them to perform well and load fast. As a result, many website creators are taking a hybrid approach to developing a website. The debate surrounding website building, in this case, is not necessarily static vs. dynamic, but when to implement static pages and when you should use dynamic pages, all within the same website. Let’s have a look at what creating a hybrid website entails: A hybrid website in action You may have started with a static website, but as the need for greater functionality (or just a larger, more content-focused website) arises, you might see the benefit of using dynamic pages. With a hybrid model, you’ll get a site that dynamically and automatically responds to your users' needs. Let’s go back to our real estate website again. Imagine you're a property owner with a handful of apartments to rent in two cities. You don’t have a lot of inventory to start, which means your website will be mainly an informative one, with some basic calls-to-action. Your site’s pages would include: An About page describing your company and what you offer. A location page or two, detailing the cities you have apartments in. A handful of landing pages for the actual properties, where people can learn about each apartment and contact you directly for bookings. None of these pages will require extensive functionality or real-time changes to information or content. In this scenario, a static website would work great. But over time, your business and property portfolio grows. Now, instead of a handful of properties across two cities, you have almost 100 apartments to rent in six or seven locations. You’ll now want a website with dynamic pages, capable of doing more in terms of the number of apartments you display and with the ability to update information for different users. In this example, you’ll need your site to update featured apartments according to those available at the precise time a user is looking for one. It should also display results according to parameters set by a user’s search request within the website. Ideally, a user who searches your site for a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, for three months, will be shown results that exactly match their request. These are where your dynamic pages come in. With a dynamic website, new pages can be added to keep pace with your new inventory and update content as extra search parameters are added. Depending on your search metrics, you’ll have the potential for hundreds of dynamically created pages, all of them generated by the user automatically. In turn, the user gets content they specifically want, making it easier for them to take action. When to choose a static or dynamic website Choosing between a static and a dynamic website depends on your specific needs and goals, making it essential to understand how each option serves different purposes in web development. When to choose a static website Static websites are ideal for simple informational websites that don't require frequent updates, such as portfolios or brochure sites. If you’re running a small business and need an online presence with basic details like contact information, services and a map, a static site can be cost-effective and efficient. They’re also perfect for landing pages created for marketing campaigns, where content remains consistent, and the focus is on driving conversions with a cohesive design. When to choose a dynamic website If your website needs user logins or provides personalized content, such as dashboards or customized recommendations, a dynamic site is the way to go. For businesses running an Commerce platform, dynamic functionality is essential to handle product listings, shopping carts and payment processing. Similarly, blogs that include user comment sections, search features or other interactive elements require a dynamic framework to manage and display content seamlessly. Building a hybrid site with Wix With a website builder like Wix, using the Wix Content Manager allows you to simplify the creation and editing of content-heavy sites, and turn default static pages into dynamic pages. These can then be managed and updated, all without having to touch the design. This in turn allows you to create a hybrid site that matches both your content and user needs. You can learn more about how to plan the website you need. Using free website templates can help you build exactly the kind of site you need. Tip: Need help finding a catchy name for your site's domain? Use a website name generator for inspiration and ideas. Looking to take your website to the next level? Check out Wix Studio or explore the difference between Wix vs. Wix Studio and Wix Studio vs. Elementor . Static vs. dynamic websites FAQ What does static vs. dynamic mean? In the context of website creation, static means something that doesn't change, while dynamic signals something that does. A static webpage remains the same or fixed, in terms of the content it displays. A dynamic webpage is the opposite, its content changes according to the location of the user, or based on actions a user has made on the page before. What are three examples of static websites? Personal websites:  Personal websites are typically static websites that are used to showcase an individual's portfolio, skills or experience. They often consist of a few pages of text and images, and they are typically updated infrequently. Brochure websites:  Brochure websites are static websites that are used to promote a company, product or service. They typically consist of a few pages of text and images, and they are designed to provide visitors with an overview of the company's offerings. Landing pages:  Landing pages are static websites that are designed to achieve a specific goal, such as generating leads or driving sales. They typically consist of a single page of text and images, and they are designed to be very persuasive. How do you know if a website is static or dynamic? There are a few ways to tell if a website is static or dynamic: URL structure:  Static websites typically have a simple URL structure, such as example.com/about  or example.com/products . Dynamic websites, on the other hand, often have more complex URL structures that include parameters, such as example.com/products?category=shoes . Interactivity:  Static websites are not interactive, which means that users cannot interact with the content on the page. Dynamic websites, on the other hand, can be interactive, which means that users can interact with the content on the page, such as by submitting forms or clicking on links. Content updates:  Static websites are typically updated infrequently, while dynamic websites are updated more frequently. This is because the content on a static website is pre-generated, while the content on a dynamic website is generated on-demand. What is better, a static or dynamic website? The best type of website for your needs will depend on your specific requirements. Static websites are a good option for websites that have simple content that doesn't need to be updated frequently. Dynamic websites are a good option for websites that have complex content that needs to be updated frequently or that need to interact with users.

Are you one of the 65 million people with a Facebook page for your business? The perfect counterpart to your business website , it’s clearly no secret that a strong social media presence is an essential part of your online marketing efforts. Unfortunately, for many small businesses, managing a social media page can feel like a daunting task. What do you post? When’s the best time to publish content? And worse of all, what if nobody “likes” you? Well, put those worries to rest – because we have a not-so-secret for you. Social media marketers everywhere use a handful of resources that help with everything from page monitoring, to staying on top of the latest internet trends. And the best part? Most of them are totally free and easy to use. Read on to find out which social media tools seasoned community managers can’t live without, and which can help build engagement and make it easier for you to monetize your platform - from making money on TikTok to others. Tools to find trending topics: You know what we love about social media? The fact that it’s like one big water cooler for everyone to share their thoughts on the most popular conversations of the day. In marketing terms, a subject that many people are talking about at the same time is called a “trending topic.” Trending topics can range from anything such as political banter, pop culture, to national holidays and even fun made-up internet holidays . Finding trending hashtags on Twitter and Instagram is as easy as taking advantage of the tools already built-in within the platform. For example, on Twitter, you can clearly see trending topics (often shown as Hashtags) listed on the left side of your screen, and Instagram displays much of its trending content in the search page. But there are also a ton of external programs to help you find fresh new content to cover. Here are just some of our favorites: Twitter Map An interactive map that shows you what topics are trending in any given location in real time. Google Trends See what people are looking up on the world’s most popular search engine in real time. If something is being searched on Google, odds are it’s reached the social-sphere too. Muzli A favorite for finding design inspiration, this website serves fresh content about the latest in technology and design daily. Reddit The self-proclaimed front page of the Internet, every social media manager knows that the best memes and online content are posted here before anywhere else. Tools to schedule your content: Having a well-kept social media account doesn’t mean that you need to spend all day posting content. In fact, much of the content for your social media page can be set and scheduled ahead of time using a social media calendar ! Facebook, for example, has a built-in scheduler within your business page account. If you have a business profile on Twitter , you can schedule any tweet that includes an image, video or GIF in your Media Studio. Naturally, not every social media site is so savvy when it comes to scheduling. For social media pages that don’t have a scheduling function, or if you’re looking to organize all of your content in one convenient spot, a tool called Buffer is a big help! Buffer is a social media scheduling app that can connect to all major social media platforms (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and G+) to set and publish your content while you’re off doing other things. One of our favorite features on Buffer is that it analyzes your page audience and suggests the best time of day to post your content based on when your fans will likely see it. Tools to analyze your success: As a small business owner, you have a number of ways to track your success. Whether it’s the amount of stock sold or the number of people that stepped through your store’s front door – every business has their own metrics. When it comes to your social media marketing, there’s no shortage of metrics that you can use to analyze your content’s performance. Every major social platform has an integrated social media analytics tool. Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest are equipped with built-in insights right within the business account. In each case, you’ll find metrics on everything from the reach of your posts, to how many people viewed and engaged with your page. Of course, the Internet is filled with external programs that allow you to truly dig deep into your social media insights, here are just a few of our favorites: Buzzsumo Buzzsumo is a powerhouse tool that’s used to analyze the success of the content you share. One of our favorite features of this website is that it looks into key components of your publications, like headlines or source and suggests new content topics that your audience might be interested in. Commun.it Communit.it is an expert tool to help grow your Twitter page. One of our favorite things about this platform? It analyzes the quality of your Twitter followers to highlight your brand’s newest online evangelists. Google Analytics The holy grail for looking into your website’s traffic, Google Analytics is most commonly used to analyze traffic from your websites and blog. While not a typical social analytics tool, using Google Analytics to assess the traffic to your website from social media sites is one of its most crucial functions. Don’t know a thing about the platform? Here’s a full guide for beginners on Google Analytics. Tools to monitor your pages: Social media is anything but static. A successful social media manager relishes in the back and forth on any content that they publish, however, replying to users can be a bit confusing and overwhelming on some platforms. Thankfully, there are a ton of social media monitoring tools to help simplify the process. Hootsuite (free and paid plans) and Sprout social (free for the first 30 days only) amalgamate any chatter directed at your social media pages into a much more manageable set-up. Take advantage of these sites to ensure that you don’t miss a beat when communicating with your audience online. With Hopp , creating breathtaking and lightning-fast bio pages has never been easier. Its unparalleled customization options allow you to personalize your page to your heart's content, and its innovative search feature makes it simple for your followers to quickly and effortlessly find your links like never before. Tools to design beautiful social images: Most people know that social media channels come with their own rule book when it comes to posting images. With specific size requirements set in place, social media managers need to be sure that they post the correct image on each platform. There they go saving our social lives once again, these tools are totally devoted to creating beautiful images in the exact pixel-perfect size needed, depending on the channel. Here are some of our favorites: Relay This design asset for dummies gives social media managers the ability to create professional looking images without the Photoshop skills you thought you needed. With social sizes in mind, this platform will auto-resize any of your creations for the specific channel you’ll be posting on. Animoto A recent survey suggests that this year, video content will make up 74% of all internet traffic. For those of us who skipped out on film school, Animoto is an easy tool to create video content with photo and images that we already have at our disposal. However, unlike many of the other platforms we mention above, Animoto comes with a small price tag after the free trial. Of course, there are a ton of other social media tools out there depending on your needs. Did we miss your favorite? Tell us about it in the comments! NB: https://www.medianama.com/2017/02/223-facebook-earnings-december-2016/ https://vivipins.com/internet-trends/

Build your website in minutes, try Wix for free today → According to the latest social media statistics from Datareportal , there were around 5.24 billion social media users worldwide as of January 2025. That means nearly two-thirds (63.9%) of the global population now engages with social media in some form. This marks a 4% increase from the previous year’s 5.04 billion users—an average growth rate of 6.5 new users every second. But what does the social media landscape actually look like in 2025? Which platforms are seeing the most activity? Who’s using them—and how does this tie into a long-term strategy for social media marketing ? To answer these questions, Wix has compiled the latest social media statistics and facts for 2025. You’ll find a breakdown of global usage trends, user demographics and growth patterns—insights that are especially valuable whether you're refining your social media design , exploring how to make a website from scratch or choosing the right website builder to support your online goals. When choosing a website builder, you want one that’s flexible, powerful and easy-to-use. Wix is the go-to platform for millions of users looking to create a stunning website effortlessly. See what makes Wix stand out from the crowd and why it’s the right fit for you.  Top 10 must-read social media statistics for 2025 As of March 2025, Facebook had the largest market share at 69.71% across all social media platforms . ( Statcounter ) Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world, with an estimated value of $104 billion when it entered the public market in May 2012. ( Statista ) The most downloaded social media apps are Facebook and WhatsApp, with an estimated 10-50 billion total downloads. ( Sensor Tower ) Facebook is the largest social media platform in terms of wealth, with an estimated revenue of $80.7 billion. ( Soax ) By 2029, India is expected to overtake China as the country with the most social media users (projected 1.31 billion vs. 2.72 billion). ( Statista ) The UAE has the highest social media penetration rate across all countries at 115%, compared to Nigeria, which has the lowest at 17%. ( Statista ) More than nine in 10 (94.2%) global internet users access social media at least once per month. ( Datareportal ) Facebook has an average of 3.07 billion users per month—the most of any social media platform. ( Kepios via Datareportal ) The average person spends 34 hours per month on TikTok. ( Soax ) The average global internet user spent 143 minutes per day on social media in 2024. ( Statista ) The social media usage statistics shared here might not represent unique individuals. This is because things like duplicate or fake accounts can skew the numbers. So, in reality, the actual stats could be higher or even lower than what’s shown—especially since most platforms have age restrictions for users under 13. These numbers only scratch the surface. Below, we’ve rounded up the top must-read social media statistics for 2025—click any stat to jump straight to the insights that matter most to you. Social media statistics Social media usage statistics Social media post statistics Social media marketing statistics Social media market statistics Before diving into individual platforms and social media trends, it’s worth taking a step back to understand the size and scope of the social media industry as a whole. These statistics offer a high-level view of the market—including user growth, platform dominance and reach—highlighting how essential a strong social media presence  has become for individuals and brands alike. Whether you’re focused on boosting social media engagement  or refining your social media branding , understanding the broader landscape is key to making smarter, more strategic decisions. “When you understand the bigger picture of the social media landscape, it’s easier to spot real opportunities. It’s not just about chasing trends—it’s about aligning your strategy with where the industry is headed.” - Lilach Goldis, social media manager at Wix How big is the social media industry?   According to estimates from Spherical Insights , the global social media market size was valued at $218.03 billion in 2023. With a forecast compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.09% between 2023-33, this means the social media industry could be worth more than $815 billion by 2033.  Social media market share statistics  As of March 2025, Facebook’s market share stood at more than two-thirds (69.71%). According to social media stats from Statcounter , this was around seven times greater than Instagram in second place, which occupied almost a tenth (9.24%) of the social media market for that month. Social media stats worldwide across all devices (March 2025) Pinterest’s social media market share stood at around one-fourteenth (7.32%) at the end of Q1 2025, making it the third-biggest social media platform in the world for this variable. How many social media platforms are there? There is no precise figure for the number of social media platforms in the world. The social media market is dominated by household names such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, but many other smaller, niche platforms exist , with new ones emerging on an almost daily basis, making it hard to track the exact number.  Social media stats worldwide across different devices (March 2025) Social media platform Percentage market share across desktop devices (%) Percentage market share across mobile devices (%) Percentage market share across tablet devices (%) Facebook 40.49% 73.06% 84.09% Instagram - 10.45% 2.73% X/Twitter 11.84% 6.35% 3.00% Pinterest 26.81% 4.80% 6.94% YouTube 9.80% 4.03% 2.41% Reddit 5.31% 0.83% 0.45% LinkedIn 2.48% - - Other 3.27% 0.48% 0.38% (Source: Statcounter) When broken down by device, Facebook’s market share of the social media industry tends to be greater than all other platforms combined. This is certainly the case for mobiles and tablets, where Facebook occupies more than three-quarters (73.06%) and more than four-fifths (83.09%), respectively, of the overall market. This is contrasted by around two-fifths (40.49%) for desktop devices.  As of March 2025, Pinterest’s social media market share stood at more than a quarter (26.81%) for global desktop devices—around 2.5 times the size of X's (formerly Twitter) proportion at just over a tenth (11.84%). Incidentally, this is approximately the same as Instagram’s market share of mobiles around the world (10.45%—the second largest social media platform on these devices based on market share data.  Understanding where each platform stands in terms of market share is only part of the picture. To take full advantage of these insights, it’s worth exploring tailored strategies for each major network. Check out our in-depth guides on: Facebook marketing Instagram marketing Twitter marketing YouTube marketing TikTok marketing Pinterest marketing LinkedIn markteting Social media stats worldwide—percentage market share over time across all devices (2009-25) According to social media stats from Statcounter , Facebook has the highest average social media market share in 2025, occupying more than two-thirds (67.32%) of all devices. This was followed by Instagram, with a market share of just over a tenth (10.7%).  Facebook’s market share of the global social media industry has dominated since 2009, when it accounted for just under half (48.14%). Its market share grew year-on-year (YoY) between 2009-16, when it reached a peak of 86.16%—nearly four-fifths greater (+78.98%) than seven years earlier.  Between 2009-25, other noticeable marketing trends in this data on social media include:  Pinterest’s market share rose to almost a seventh (13.86%) in 2019, before virtually halving by 2025 to 7.8%.  X/Twitter reached a peak market share of just over a tenth (10.73%) in 2020 across all devices, despite occupying less than half the market (4.2%) just four years earlier. YouTube’s market share fluctuated from 0.11% in 2015 to 8.27% in 2024.  Instagram’s share of the social media market grew rapidly from 2016, when it accounted for just 0.09% of the overall market, up to a high of 11.8% in 2023.  Social media stats worldwide - percentage market share over time across desktop devices (2009-25) “A few elements I would recommend to those who desire to grow their Instagram account include high-quality visual content, a consistent aesthetic, engaging and witty captions, strategic use of hashtags, regular posting schedule, interacting with followers and comments and a strong use of features like Reels and Stories to diversify your content and reach a wider audience.” - Marissa Nicole Brower, social media manager–TikTok at Wix As of 2025, Facebook accounted for around two-fifths (41.21%) of the social media market share for desktop devices around the world. This was almost 16 percentage points more than Pinterest in second.  Facebook’s dominance in the world of desktop devices has almost halved since 2015, when its respective market share stood at just over four-fifths (81.8%). This downward trend is also mirrored by StumbleUpon, which held over a fifth (22.51%) of the social media market for desktops in 2009, yet accounted for 0% in 2025.  Conversely, Pinterest’s market share of the global social media market for desktops more than quadrupled between 2012 and 2025, from just over a twentieth (5.48%) to around a quarter (25.23%).  Social media stats worldwide - percentage market share over time across mobile devices (2009-25) Facebook’s market share for social media across global mobile devices in 2025 stood at around seven-tenths (70.35%)—almost six times that of Instagram in second (12.14%).  Back in 2009, just over two-fifths (41.89%) of users accessed Facebook on their mobiles. By 2016, this figure had more than doubled to approximately nine in 10 (89.73%).  Pinterest’s social media market share fluctuated between 2012-25, from a low of 4.43% in 2022 up to a high of 17.05% in 2013. This is contrasted by X/Twitter, which dropped from almost a quarter (23.22%) in 2009 to 3.66% in 2016.  Instagram’s share of social media on mobiles increased dramatically from 2016, when it occupied just 0.13% of the overall market. By 2023, it had reached a peak of almost a seventh (13.18%).  Learn more about Instagram: Instagram business acount Instagram reels Instagram tools Best time to post on Instagram Instagram post template Instagram stories Social media stats worldwide - percentage market share over time across tablet devices (2009-25) Date Facebook Pinterest X/Twitter Tumblr StumbleUpon 2012 32.13% 54.33% 6.07% 0.00% 3.56% 2013 37.07% 44.06% 11.15% 0.91% 4.54% 2014 63.34% 25.45% 5.78% 2.42% 1.63% 2015 76.74% 16.74% 3.54% 1.37% 0.77% 2016 76.40% 17.41% 3.25% 1.56% 0.61% 2017 75.78% 17.73% 3.75% 0.91% 0.39% 2018 53.63% 34.98% 5.69% 0.76% 0.28% 2019 47.81% 41.84% 6.51% 0.67% 0.00% 2020 66.68% 22.57% 5.95% 0.54% 0.00% 2021 72.79% 15.47% 5.07% 1.21% 0.00% 2022 81.07% 8.73% 4.38% 0.44% 0.00% 2023 80.22% 9.06% 4.87% 0.31% 0.02% 2024 60.36% 31.28% 2.91% 0.37% 0.00% 2025 73.98% 17.83% 2.84% 0.36% 0.00% (Source: Statcounter) As of 2025, Facebook’s market share of social media platforms across tablets stood at almost three-quarters (73.98%), further exerting its dominance across the social media industry.  More than a sixth (17.83%) of tablets around the world were being used to access Pinterest, giving these two a combined market share of more than nine-tenths (91.81%). Before 2014, Pinterest occupied the largest market share across the social media platform industry, at more than half (54.33%) as of 2012. This figure dropped to less than a tenth (8.73%) in 2022, its lowest recorded market share percentage during this period.  Incidentally, X/Twitter’s market share also dropped by more than half between 2012-25, from 6.07% to 2.84%.  Learn how to use Twitter to build your brand and create a Facebook ad for website traffic that drives real results. What is the biggest social media platform? According to social media analysis from Statista , Facebook entered the public market in May 2012 with an estimated value of $104 billion. This was around four times greater than Snapchat’s estimated worth almost five years later, when it became part of the public market.  Estimated value of the biggest social media platforms (upon entrance to the public market) X (formerly Twitter) was the third-biggest social media platform as of March 2024, with an estimated value of $18 billion in 2013. This was almost double the approximate worth of Pinterest in fourth at $10 billion as of April 2019.  Most popular social media apps  Instagram and WhatsApp (both owned by Meta) are among the most popular social media apps in the world, according to research by GWI   in their social media report.  Around one in six people claim that either Instagram (16.6%) or WhatsApp (16.0%) is their preferred choice when it comes to using social media. This was followed by almost one in seven (13.1%) who selected Facebook as their most popular social media platform.  Top 10 social media platforms in terms of popularity Social media platform Percentage of respondents (%) Instagram 16.6% WhatsApp 16.0% Facebook 13.1% WeChat 12.0% TikTok 8.1% Douyin 7.3% X/Twitter 3.2% Telegram 2.6% Messenger 2.4% Line 1.8% (Source: GWI via Datareportal)  Incidentally, almost one-eighth (12.0%) of those surveyed by GWI  would pick WeChat as their number one social media platform, with less than one in 10 (8.7%) opting for TikTok.  WeChat is a Chinese “super app” that combines messaging, social networking and online transactions/mobile payments into one platform.  Most common social media platforms used by marketers worldwide (January 2024) A 2024 survey by Statista  found that almost six in seven (86%) marketers worldwide use Facebook for marketing purposes, with just under four in five (79%) opting for Instagram.  Less than two-thirds (65%) of those surveyed claim to use LinkedIn for marketing in some capacity, with just over half (51%) choosing to implement YouTube as another form of marketing tools .  Most downloaded social media apps In terms of the estimated number of downloads, Facebook and WhatsApp continue to dominate as the most popular social media apps, with between 10 and 50 billion downloads each.  According to social media st ats from Sensor Tower , this mak es them up to five times more popular than fellow Meta-owned apps Messenger and Instagram, in joint-second, with an estimated five to 10 billion downloads each.  Year YouTube Facebook Instagram Pinterest TikTok 2012 - 57% 11% 10% - 2013 - 57% 15% 15% - 2014 - 58% 21% 16% - 2015 - 62% 24% 26% - 2016 - 68% 28% 26% - 2018 73% 68% 35% 29% - 2019 73% 69% 37% 28% - 2021 81% 69% 40% 31% 21% 2023 83% 68% 47% 35% 33% 2024 85% 70% 50% 36% 33% (Source: Pew Research) Social media statistics from Pew Research  show that as of 2024, YouTube was one of the most popular social media platforms in terms of usage, with around six in seven (85%) US adults claiming to have used it. This represented a 12-percentage-point increase from 2018, when the figure stood at just under three-quarters (73%).  This was followed by around seven in 10 (70%) who had used Facebook at some point in their life—a figure that had risen 13 percentage points in the space of 12 years.  Other trends from the survey were that, as of 2024:  Half (50%) of adults in the US had used Instagram (more than four times the proportion compared to 2012). More than a third (36%) had used Pinterest (3.5 times the amount compared to 2012). One in three (33%) US adults had used TikTok (a 12-percentage-point increase from two years earlier).  Learn more about Facebook: How to advertise on Facebook Best Facebook ads Facebook business page Facebook retargeting What is Facebook pixel? How to create a Facebook page? Social media revenue statistics  According to an analysis of social media revenue by Statista , the social networking market was estimated to be worth around $122.6 billion in 2022. This resulted in an average revenue per download of around $10.96.  With an expected CAGR of 7.56% between 2022-29, its projected market value could reach $206.76 billion by 2029.  Top social media platforms by estimated revenue Social media stats from Soax  indicate that as of 2024, Facebook had estimated revenue of $80.7 billion—the most across all social platforms and almost half (47.8%) more than Instagram in second at $49.8 billion.  YouTube’s estimated social media revenue in 2024 was thought to be around $31.5 billion, almost the same combined amount as that of WeChat in fourth ($16.3 billion) and TikTok in fifth ($16.1 billion).  Social media advertising statistics  According to Statista , the global social media advertising market is expected to be worth $276.72 billion by the end of 2025. With an anticipated CAGR of 9.38% between 2025-30, this could result in a projected market value of $433.28 billion by the end of the decade.  Forecasts suggest that more than four-fifths (83%) of total ad spending across the world in 2030 will be via mobile devices, with an expected 6.6 billion users worldwide by 2030.  Potential advertising reach of social media advertisements Statistics on social media advertising by Kepios  suggest that YouTube ads reach around 2.53 billion users per month, the most of any social media platform, and around 10% more than Facebook in second (2.28 billion).  Instagram ranks third in terms of potential advertising reach. With an estimated audience of 1.74 billion, this equates to roughly 9% (or 150 million people) more than TikTok in fourth and almost two-fifths more (37%) than LinkedIn in fifth.  Explore powerful advertisement examples , learn about different types of advertising and discover how online advertising can help you reach your target audience . Websites and social media arguably both have their place when it comes to effective marketing efforts. Check out our blog on website vs. social media  and why you’ll likely need both to run a successful business.   Social media usage statistics  If you’re looking to boost your online presence, understanding the latest social media usage statistics is a great place to start. These numbers can inform everything from your content strategy to which social media management tools  you choose. Plus, staying on top of user trends can help you apply the most effective social media marketing tips  to grow your brand across platforms. What is content marketing ? Discover how it works and explore content marketing examples to inspire your own strategy. How many people use social media? As of January 2023, Asia was the continent with the highest social media usage, with just over 2.9 billion users. This meant more than one in three (36.3%) of the global population at the time were social media users located in Asia.  Based on research by Statista , around two-fifths (42.4%) of these were situated in Eastern Asia, with just under a third (32.7%) in Southern Asia. Number of global social network users by region (2023) By contrast, the Americas had approximately 819 million social media users in 2023, with just over half (54%) of these based in North America and just under two-fifths (38.7%) in South America.  According to these statistics on social media usage, Europe had 682 million social media users in 2023. This represented almost a fifth (18.3%) fewer than the Americas and around four times less than Asia.  Number of social network users by country (2023 vs. 2029) According to social media stats from Statista , China had the largest number of social network users as of 2023 across all countries (1.07 billion people). This was around a fifth (21.5%) more than India in second (862 million) and almost three times the amount compared to the US in third (308 million).  By 2029, India is expected to overtake China in terms of the number of social network users, with roughly 1.3 billion nationwide. This would represent an increase of more than half (51.7%) from 2023 figures and should put it 2.8% ahead of China in second place.  The US is anticipated to hold onto third spot in 2029 for the number of social media users by country, with an estimated 336 million users—a 9.1% rise in the space of six years.  "Identify the social media platforms your audience is most active on gain an in-depth understanding of what it takes to rank on them. For example, converting your Instagram carousel posts into a Reel can capture attention more effectively and boost your content's impact, ultimately leading people to visit your site."- Lilach Goldis, social media manager at Wix Highest active social network penetration rate by country (April 2024) The social network penetration rate measures how many people actively use social media in a given area. It highlights adoption rates and platform popularity, offering valuable insights for businesses using Wix marketing tools or analyzing affiliate marketing statistics . As of April 2024, the UAE had the highest social network penetration rate across all countries at 115%, according to social media usage statistics from Statista . A penetration rate of more than 100% suggests that there are more social network accounts in that country than there are people. Whilst this is normally unlikely, it is possible and could be due to a significant number of individuals owning more than one social media profile, for example. This was followed by Saudi Arabia (96.2%) and South Korea (93.4%), and indicates that on average, more than nine in 10 of its population actively engage with social media in some capacity.  By contrast, the UK’s social network penetration rate stood at 82% in April 2024, followed by Canada at 80.7%. This means more than four in five of its citizens, on average, were using social media platforms at that moment in time.  Lowest active social network penetration rate by country (April 2024) At the other end of the scale, Nigeria had the lowest social network penetration rate in April 2024, based on social media usage statistics from Statista. As of 2024, less than one in five (17%) Nigerians were active on social networks, followed by Ghana (22.2%) and Kenya (24.5%).  By contrast, the USA’s social network penetration rate stands at around 69.7%, meaning almost seven in 10 people from the US are active users when it comes to social media.  How often do people use social media?  Recent facts about social media from Datareportal  indicate that more than nine in 10 (94.2%) global internet users now use social media every month. Facebook leads the way with 3.07 billion monthly average users, around a billion more per month compared to Instagram and WhatsApp.  Social media platforms by the average number of monthly users In terms of social media monthly active users, WeChat and Telegram round off the top five, with 1.38 billion and 0.95 billion, respectively.  This means that Facebook users are more than doubled monthly compared to WeChat users, and Telegram more than tripled.   WeChat and Telegram rank in the top five with 1.38B and 0.95B monthly users According to the latest facts about social media from Soax , the average person spends almost a day and a half (34 hours) per month on TikTok, the most across all social media platforms in their study.  This is almost six hours more per month than YouTube in second place, with a typical user spending just over one day per month (28 hours and five minutes) accessing its content.  On average, TikTok users spend almost twice as long on this platform as those who use WhatsApp (34 hours vs 17 hours and six minutes).  Want to turn your content into income? Learn how to make money on TikTok , find the best time to post on TikTok and discover how to use TikTok for business to grow your brand. How many people use social media daily? Social media statistics from Statista  indicate that the average internet user spent almost 2.5 hours (or 143 minutes) per day on social media networks throughout 2024. This was a 5.3% decrease from the previous year, which represented a peak of 151 minutes a day for the period 2012-24. Average daily time spent on social networks worldwide by internet users (2012-24) Between 2012-24, the average daily time spent on social media generally rose year-on-year from 90 to 143 minutes per day—an increase of almost three-fifths (58.9%) in the space of 12 years.  How many people use social media in the US? According to Datareportal’s latest social media report , approximately 253 million people in the US currently use social media as of January 2025. This represents almost four-fifths (78.5%) of the country’s internet population and almost three-quarters (73%) of its total inhabitants.  Their analysis of social media statistics reveals that:  The number of social media user identities grew by around 14 million (or 5.9%) between 2024-25.  There were 223 million social media users aged 18 and above (equivalent to more than four-fifths (81.5%) of the US adult population).  The gender split between females and males was fairly even (50.2% vs. 49.8%).  Selected social network usage rate per minute (December 2024) Social network activity Amount per minute Reels played on Facebook and Instagram 138,900,000 YouTube videos watched 3,472,222 Snaps sent on Snapchat 3,300,000 TikTok videos uploaded 16,000 Members applying for jobs on LinkedIn 9,000 (Source: Domo)  Social media research by Domo  indicates that almost 139 million reels were played on Facebook and Instagram in the US as of December 2024, making it the most popular form of social media usage in their study. This represented almost 40 times the average number of YouTube videos watched and snaps sent on Snapchat in the same month (3.47 million vs. 3.3 million, respectively).  Learn more about YouTube: How to become a YouTuber How to start a YouTube channel How to advertise on YouTube How to make money on YouTube How to live stream on YouTube Main reasons for using social media  According to the latest data about social media usage, just over half (50.8%) of those surveyed by GWI  claim to use social media as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family.  Most common reasons for using social media This was followed by just under two-fifths (39%) who use social media to fill their spare time and more than a third (34%) who access it to read news stories.  Looking to grow your Instagram game? Learn how to make money on Instagram and discover how to get Instagram followers who are truly engaged with your content. Most popular activities by social media platform  Social media platform Looking for content  Following or researching brands or products Keeping up to date with news & current events Messaging friends & family Posting or sharing photos or videos  Facebook 55.3% 52.5% 57.3% 73.1% 62.6% Instagram 66.7% 62.3% 54.7% 60.4% 70.2% TikTok 79.6% 51.5% 43.7% 21.7% 42.3% LinkedIn 11.6% 24.9% 28.7% 13.0% 15.9% Snapchat 36.7% 25.8% 24.3% 40.9% 44.4% X/Twitter 35.8% 37.8% 60.5% 18.1% 28.2% Reddit 29.7% 30.9% 30.7% 7.7% 12.4% Pinterest 20.8% 36.4% 14.1% 6.9% 15.3% (Source: GWI via Datareportal)  Recent statistics on social media reveal that almost four in five (79.6%) people surveyed by GWI use TikTok when looking for social media content , the most common response for this category, followed by two-thirds (66.7%) who go to Instagram and just over half (55.3%) who opt for Facebook.  GWI’s social media report  also reve als:  Instagram is the most popular social media platform when following or researching brands/products, used by more than three-fifths (62.3%) of respondents, making it a powerful tool for product marketing . Around three in five (60.5%) social media users turn to X for news updates and information on current affairs, making it around twice as popular as Reddit (30.7%).  Almost three-quarters (73.1%) of those wanting to stay in touch with family and friends do so via Facebook.  Seven in 10 (70.2%) choose Instagram when posting or sharing photos/videos compared to around six in 10 (62.6%) for Facebook.  Check out the latest video marketing statistics to see how video can drive engagement and conversions for your business. Social media growth statistics According to stats about social media usage, there were approximately 5.24 billion people in the world who engaged with social media as of Q1 2025. This represented a rise of +0.38% from the previous quarter and +3.97% from 12 months earlier.  Social media usage over time (Q1 2023 - Q1 2025) The number of global social media users in Q1 2023 was estimated to be around 4.76 billion. In the space of two years, Datareportal figures via DemandSage  suggest that this number has increased by more than a tenth (+10.08%) or roughly 480 million people.  Did you know?  Learn ing how to grow social media followers  starts with understanding where your audience is—and just how quickly it’s expandi ng. Year-on-year audience growth of selected social media platforms worldwide (January 2024) Social network Percentage YoY growth (%) Instagram +25.3% Pinterest +23.2% LinkedIn +13.9% X/Twitter +11.3% Snapchat +6.8% Facebook +3.1% YouTube +0.9% (Source: Statista)  Social media stats from Statista  reveal that, as of January 2024, Instagram had the largest year-on-year percentage growth across different social media platforms throughout the world at just over a quarter (+25.3%). This was followed closely by Pinterest at +23.2%.  Comparatively, LinkedIn’s YoY percentage growth for this period stood at almost a seventh (+13.9%), followed by X at just over a tenth (+11.3%) compared to the previous year.  Most used social media platforms As of February 2025, Facebook was estimated to have more than three billio n users worldwide, making it the most used social media platform across the globe. Most popular social networks worldwide (February 2025) According to social media statistics from Statista , this was around half a million more than YouTube in second place and over a billion more than Instagram and WhatsApp in joint third.  TikTok and WeChat round off the top five most-used social media platforms of 2025 with a respective 1.59 billion and 1.38 billion estimated users.  Active user index for various social media platforms Based on Android activity in November 2024, Data AI’s social media index report  suggests that YouTube is the most-used social media platform and implies an active user base roughly a sixth (16.1%) larger than that of WhatsApp in second place and almost a fifth (18.8%) greater than Facebook in third.  Note:  The index score approximates the number of smartphone handsets using each platform’s app in November 2024. The data is based on Android activity due to difficulties in tracking iPhone behaviors. According to Statcounter , Android occupied around seven-tenths (71.85%) of the world operating systems market in November 2024, so this presumes the data on Android activity is fairly representative of global social media usage.  Statistics on social media demographics  When analyzing social media platforms by users, the vast majority tend to have more males than females. According to social media stats from Statista , this gender gap is smallest when it comes to Snapchat users (50.7% males vs. 48.4% females). Percentage of social network users by gender (February 2025) Conversely, X had the largest gender gap in its user population as of February 2025, with almost two-thirds (63.7%) of its users identifying as male and more than a third (36.3%) as female.  In the US, research suggests that females tend to use social media platforms more than their male counterparts. This is apparent when analyzing several social media usage statistics between the two genders, including:  More than three-quarters (78%) of women have used Facebook compared to just over three-fifths (61%) of men.  Around half (51%) of the females surveyed by Pew Research  had previously used Pinterest compared to under a fifth (19%) of males. Virtually two in five (39%) US females were users of TikTok compared to roughly one in four (26%) males.  The results of this social media report by Pew Research  highlight that this is not the case for all social media platforms, with males tending to use Facebook, LinkedIn and Reddit more than females.  Why is Reddit so popular ? Discover how you can tap into its community for your brand. Most popular social media platforms among age groups and genders  Datareportal’s analysis of social media  usage statistics suggests that younger people tend to prefer social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok more than the older generation. For example, around one in four males (26.6%) and females (24.8%) aged 16-24 claim Instagram is their favorite social media platform, compared to 6.1% and 10.2% for respective males and females aged 55-64.  This is, however, not the case for social media platforms such as Facebook and WeChat, where the opposite is apparent. Datareportal’s research indicates that more than a sixth of males (17.5%) and females (17.1%) surveyed between the ages of 55 and 64 prefer to use Facebook over other social media apps, compared to 7.8% of males and 5.9% of females aged 16-24.  Social network 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Facebook 68% 78% 70% 59% Instagram 76% 66% 36% 19% LinkedIn 40% 41% 30% 15% X/Twitter 38% 25% 15% 8% Pinterest 43% 43% 33% 22% Snapchat 65% 32% 14% 4% YouTube 93% 94% 86% 65% WhatsApp 30% 40% 28% 18% Reddit 46% 35% 11% 4% TikTok 59% 40% 26% 10% BeReal 10% 2% 1% 1% (Source: Pew Research)  According to data from Pew Research  on people’s social media usage, around three-quarters (76%) of those surveyed aged 18-29 have used Instagram at some point. This is contrasted by less than a fifth (19%) of those aged 65 and above.  Based on their survey, YouTube was the most used social media platform in 2024, having been accessed by more than nine in 10 US adults aged 18-29 and 30-49 (93% vs. 94%). This figure drops to around six in seven (86%) for the 50-64 age group and just under two-thirds (65%) for those 65 and above, but remains the highest percentage across all ages for different social media platforms.  The biggest disparity in social media usage across age groups comes with Snapchat, which was used by almost two-thirds (65%) of 16-29-year-olds surveyed in 2024, yet less than one in 20 (4%) of the 65+ population.  Main reasons for using social media among age groups  When analyzing social media stats between age groups in the US, ‘staying connected with friends and family’ alongside ‘filling up spare time’ remain the two most common reasons for using social media.  Almost three in five (58.1%) of those aged 65 and above claim to use social media primarily for communicating with others (i.e., friends and family). This figure gradually drops with age down to just under half of 16-24 and 25-34-year-olds (48.3% and 48.1%, respectively).  Conversely, younger people tend to use social media more to fill their spare time than their older counterparts. This is the case for more than two-fifths (44.2%) of those aged 16-24 compared to just over a quarter (25.8%) of those aged 65+.  Incidentally, just over a third (33.9%) of those surveyed aged 16-24 admit to using social media as a way of finding content (such as articles and types of videos ). This reason did not feature in the top three for all other age groups, instead occupied by ‘reading news stories’. This ranged from more than a quarter (27.1%) of the 65+ population up to more than two-fifths (40.6%) of those aged 55-64.  Percentage of US adults who have used different social media platforms by race and ethnic group Social network White Black Hispanic Asian Facebook 70% 73% 69% 65% Instagram 45% 52% 59% 62% LinkedIn 33% 34% 24% 50% X/Twitter 19% 24% 22% 26% Pinterest 37% 36% 35% 25% Snapchat 25% 28% 33% 26% YouTube 82% 88% 89% 93% WhatsApp 22% 36% 56% 39% Reddit 24% 18% 22% 42% TikTok 26% 50% 48% 31% BeReal 3% 2% 2% 5% (Source: Pew Research)  When analyzing who uses social media in the US across different races and ethnic groups, those from the Asian community tend to have a higher social media consumption rate than any other.  More than nine in 10 (93%) US Asians surveyed by Pew Research  in 2024 had used YouTube before, the highest percentage across all ethnic groups and races in the study. This figure dropped to approximately four in five (82%) of those who identify as White.  Those from the US Black community tend to use Facebook more than any other, at just under three-quarters (73%), compared to almost two-thirds (65%) of Asian US citizens.  Generally speaking, the US White population tends to use social media platforms less than other ethnic groups. This is particularly apparent in Instagram usage statistics, which suggest less than half (45%) of those surveyed who are White have accessed Instagram before, compared to 52% (Black), 59% (Hispanic) and 62% (Asian).  By contrast, the Hispanic community tends to dominate in terms of WhatsApp usage statistics, where more than half (56%) claim to have used it before, compared to just over a fifth (22%) of the US White population.  Percentage of US adults who have used different social media platforms by income Social network <$30,000 $30,000-$69,999 $70,000-$99,999 >$100,000 Facebook 65% 73% 73% 70% Instagram 41% 47% 54% 58% LinkedIn 16% 22% 34% 53% X/Twitter 15% 18% 24% 27% Pinterest 29% 34% 39% 40% Snapchat 28% 32% 26% 24% YouTube 78% 84% 87% 90% WhatsApp 26% 26% 30% 37% Reddit 15% 22% 22% 34% TikTok 37% 39% 36% 26% BeReal 3% 2% 3% 3% (Source: Pew Research)  Social media usage stats by income level suggest that as your wealth increases, so does your consumption of social media across different platforms.  According to a 2024 study by Pew Research , this is the case for most social media apps, notably LinkedIn where approximately a sixth (16%) of US adults earning less than $30,000 a year have used it before, rising to more than half (53%) of those with an annual salary above $100,000.  Similarly, the proportion of people using Reddit from each of these income brackets also more than doubles (16% vs. 34%).  However, this is not the case for all social media platforms. TikTok bucks this trend, having been used by almost two-fifths (37%) of US adults earning less than $30,000 in 2024, yet only just over a quarter (26%) of the highest earners surveyed.  Percentage of US adults who have used different social media platforms by level of education Social media statistics from Pew Research  indicate that generally, as education levels rise, so does people’s engagement and use of social media.  Based on their 2024 survey, the largest gap between US adults from different educational backgrounds was for users of LinkedIn, where around one in eight (12%) adults with a high school education or less had used the platform, rising to more than half (54%) of college graduates or higher.  The difference between these two groups was also: 19 percentage points higher for users of WhatsApp. 18 percentage points higher for adults who had used Reddit. 16 percentage points higher for Instagram users. 11 percentage points higher for those using YouTube. However, this social media trend was reversed for TikTok and Snapchat, which were favored by those with lower educational qualifications. For example, almost two-fifths (37%) of US adults surveyed with a high school education or less had used TikTok, while more than a quarter (28%) had engaged with Snapchat before.  The corresponding figures for those who had graduated from college were around a quarter (26%) for TikTok and a little over a fifth (22%) for Snapchat.  Social media post statistics How many social media posts are there per day? According to social media post statistics from Neil Patel  (Co-founder of NP Digital), there are an estimated half a billion daily posts on X. This represents more than a third (35.3%), or around 150 million, extra social media posts per day than Facebook in second.  Average number of social media posts each day across different platforms On average, YouTube has approximately 216 million posts per day—more than twice the amount compared to Instagram in fourth (95 million).  "The frequency of posting on social media can vary based on platform and your audience's preferences, but it's essential to maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them." - Marissa Nicole Brower, social media manager–TikTok at Wix Social media posts are a great way to engage with your audience and get them excited about your brand. If you’re looking to expand your reach even further, it might be time to start a blog . Check out our guide on how to start a blog and create social media posts that drive even more engagement. Social media marketing statistics Based on their Social Media Market Industry Report 2024 , research by Social Media Examiner via Statista  found that around five in six (83%) marketers worldwide believe the main benefit of social media marketing is increased exposure, according to recent marketing statistics . This allows them to get their brand in front of their target audience and position themselves as the leading authority in their field.  "Our primary focus has always been social media—we use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The main thing for us, across social media, our website and even the experience in the shop, is to be as inclusive as possible, keeping the language of our spirits as simple as we can. We aim to be transparent with our barrel routine and how our products are aged. Using unnecessary terms or overcomplicating things excludes people, and we would never want to do that. Our spirits are for everyone. On social media, I typically do some teaser posts, and then we run an email marketing campaign. Whenever we do a new release, we first send out a teaser email and then follow up with an email announcing that our new whisky is now available, with a link to purchase it. I like to send out that email campaign about an hour before we actually post about it on social media so that customers who’ve asked us to let them know when a certain release is coming have a chance to order it, as some of our smaller batch releases have sold out in just a few days." - Andrea Shubert, co-founder of Strathcona Spirits Main benefits of social media marketing according to marketers worldwide (January 2024) Almost three-quarters (73%) of those surveyed feel social media marketing allows them to increase their traffic potential, with around two-thirds (65%) claiming it helps generate leads.  Learn how to make a social media website and get inspired by social media portfolio examples that show what’s possible. Social media platforms with the highest return on investment (ROI) (October 2024) Social media research by Hubspot via Statista  found that more than a quarter (28%) of marketers surveyed in 2024 felt that Facebook offered the highest return on investment (ROI) when it came to their social media marketing strategy.  This was followed by just over a fifth (22%) who felt Instagram provided the best ROI, with approximately one in eight (12%) selecting YouTube.  Social media platforms that marketers are most likely to invest in during 2025 When asked by Hubspot as part of their State of Marketing Report 2025 , almost a fifth of B2B marketers (18%) and B2C marketers (19%) claimed they would be increasing levels of investment throughout the year when it came to marketing via Facebook. A similar proportion (18%) of B2C professionals said this would also be the case for their Instagram marketing efforts, but the respective figure was slightly lower (15%) for B2B marketers. When it comes to social media management , TikTok appears to be the social media platform that marketers are least likely to invest in during 2025, with around one in ten (10%) of those working in the B2C industry and just 8% of those from B2B companies claiming they would increase their investment in 2025 in marketing via TikTok.  Editor’s note:  This blog post is based on the most recent data available as of April 28, 2025. Social media statistics FAQ What is social media? Social media is a form of communication that takes place over the internet through various platforms and apps. These enable users to have conversations, share information and create content (mostly with the hopes to create viral content ). Whether you're planning to engage with followers or track your progress, tools like social media audit and social media analytics can help you measure success. You can also stay organized with a social media calendar to plan and schedule posts, while getting creative with fresh social media ideas. When was social media invented? Social networking was first invented in the 1980s and 1990s through the introduction of online communication services such as Compuserve, America Online and Prodigy, which allowed users to digitally communicate through email, bulletin board messages and real-time chat. These early platforms laid the groundwork for the rise of digital marketing , which now plays a key role in brand marketing strategies. The earliest social media network arrived in 1997 with the creation of Six Degrees—a profile uploading service. This was followed by Friendster in 2001, which enabled basic online networking and LinkedIn in 2002 as a networking site for career-driven professionals, all of which influenced the evolution of outbound marketing tactics. What was the first social media platform? The first social media platform was Six Degrees, launched in 1997. It allowed users to create profiles and connect with friends, marking the beginning of social networking online. Since then, social media has evolved, with features like hashtags, memes and GIFs becoming central to online culture. Learn more about: What are hashtags? What are memes? What is a GIF? How many people use social media? As of January 2025, there were an estimated 5.24 billion social media users around the world.  How many teens use social media? According to a study by Pew Research, more than nine in 10 (95%) teens aged 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third claiming they are “almost constantly” using social media.  How much time do people spend on social media? As of 2024, the average person was using social media for around 143 minutes (or 2.5 hours) per day.  When did social media become popular? Social media became popular in the 2000s after the introduction of MySpace, which became the first social media site to reach a million active users in 2004.  The popularity of social media grew further after 2006 when Facebook became available to anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address. Its exponential growth carried into the 2010s and beyond, exceeding two billion monthly active users during 2016.  Around this time, YouTube and WhatsApp were fast becoming established platforms in the social media market, along with the introduction of new social media apps such as TikTok and Snapchat, creating even more opportunities for various types of marketing . What is the largest social media platform? Facebook leads the way as the largest social media platform in terms of estimated value, revenue, and average number of monthly active users. Having entered the public market in May 2012 with an estimated value of $104 billion, Facebook generates approximately $80.7 billion per year in revenue and attracts an average of 3.07 billion users per month—the most of any social media platform.  How has social media impacted society? Social media has transformed society—connecting people, amplifying important causes, and opening new opportunities for businesses and creators. But it’s also sparked concerns around misinformation, censorship, and the impact of heavy screen time on mental health, especially for younger audiences. Like any powerful tool, it comes down to how we use it. Learn more about: Real estate marketing automation Real estate marketing Salon marketing Non-profit marketing Plumbing marketing Landscaping marketing Cleaning marketing Trucking marketing Catering marketing Construction marketing Handyman marketing Laundromat marketing Painting marketing Rental property marketing Nail salon marketing Interior design marketing Tutor marketing Contractor marketing Coaching marketing Farming marketing Gaming marketing Beauty marketing Healthcare marketing Gym marketing Food marketing Jewlery marketing Restaurant marketing Offline marketing Service marketing What are 5 facts about social media? Here are five quick facts about social media: Over half the world’s population—more than 5 billion people—now use social media. Facebook remains the most-used platform globally, but TikTok is the fastest-growing. The average person spends about 2.5 hours a day scrolling, posting and engaging. Short-form video is the most popular type of content across almost every major platform. Social media is now a major driver of eCommerce, with platforms like Instagram and Pinterest doubling as shopping hubs. What are the positive statistics about social media? Social media has a lot of good news behind the numbers: 71% of consumers who have a positive experience with a brand on social media are likely to recommend it to others. Nearly 80% of job seekers say they use social media to search for new opportunities and connect with employers. Nonprofits and social causes report higher engagement and donation rates thanks to social media campaigns. Small businesses that are active on social media grow their customer base up to 3x faster than those that aren’t. Mental health support groups and awareness initiatives are reaching millions worldwide through social platforms.

Improving your social media presence comes with plenty of benefits. If you’re going to make a website for your business, you’ll want to optimize your social media channels to drive traffic to your site. Not only that, but an increased social presence helps create brand awareness and reach new clients. Instead of posting randomly on your social channels, look for specific ways to improve your social media presence. Here, we’ll introduce you to 13 different methods that any business can use to start increasing its presence. What is social media presence? Social media presence refers to how present your brand is on social media platforms. Beyond just how visible your brand is on social media channels, it also refers to how a company portrays itself through social media. This type of presence is important to the growth of your brand since it helps you establish your company’s identity and makes your brand appear more trustworthy and credible. It's an integral part of your social networking efforts . With more trust, you can better develop a lasting relationship with your audience as a social media influencer or business owner. Why is social media presence important? Social media presence is crucial for businesses, organizations, and individuals in today's digital landscape. It offers a powerful platform for connecting with audiences, building brand awareness, and achieving marketing goals. Here are some key reasons why social media presence matters: Brand awareness: Social media provides a direct channel to reach a wide audience, increasing brand visibility and recognition. Consistent engagement helps establish a strong brand identity and keeps your brand top-of-mind among potential customers. Customer engagement: Social media allows for direct interaction with customers, fostering relationships, addressing concerns and gathering valuable feedback. It creates a two-way communication channel that strengthens customer loyalty and builds a sense of community. Targeted marketing: Social media platforms offer sophisticated targeting options, enabling businesses to reach specific demographics, interests and behaviors. This allows for personalized messaging and effective ad campaigns that drive conversions. Content marketing: Social media provides a platform for sharing engaging content, including blog posts, videos, images and infographics. It's an opportunity to tell your brand's story, showcase expertise and attract a wider audience. Reputation management: Social media plays a significant role in reputation management. It allows for proactive communication, addressing issues promptly and responding to feedback. Positive interactions enhance brand reputation and build trust. Competitor analysis: Social media provides a wealth of information about competitors, industry trends and consumer preferences. Monitoring social conversations offers valuable insights for strategic decision-making and product development. Lead generation: Social media can be a powerful tool for generating leads and driving sales. Targeted campaigns, engaging content and strategic partnerships can convert followers into customers. Customer service: Social media offers an additional channel for providing customer service and support. Addressing inquiries, resolving issues and offering assistance can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Community building: Social media fosters a sense of community among customers and brand advocates. Building relationships with influencers can amplify brand messaging and reach new audiences. Real-time communication: Social media allows for real-time communication, responding to trends and engaging with current events. It's an opportunity to demonstrate brand relevance and connect with audiences on a timely basis. Social media presence is essential for businesses and individuals to thrive in today's connected world. By leveraging social media effectively, you can build a strong brand, engage with customers, achieve marketing goals and gain a competitive edge. 13 ways to build your social media presence Identify your social media goals Get to know your audience Learn how to engage your audience Stay on brand Be authentic Create a social media posting calendar Branch out to new platforms Stay relevant with current events Make sure not all posts are promotional Strive for relationships, not followers Highlight user-generated content Take advantage of new features Post consistently 01. Identify your social media goals Before you begin putting any of your social media marketing plans into action, it’s important that you establish your goals. A good way to do this is to set SMART goals for specific milestones you’d like to accomplish. Let’s take a look at how you might apply SMART goals to increasing your social media presence. As an example of a goal you might have, you might say you want to drive 20% more traffic to your website through your social channels. Setting your goal will look something like this: Specific: Increase traffic to our website with targeted ads on Instagram. Measurable: We’ll monitor metrics on Google Analytics to see the sources of traffic coming to our website. Achievable: Our goal of 20% is realistic based on our budget and timeline. Relevant: This goal will not only bring more traffic to our site but make our brand more visible on social media. Time-bound: We’re setting ourselves a deadline to reach this goal by the end of the next quarter. Setting your goals early on in your social media strategy will help guide you moving forward and gives purpose to each post that you upload. 02. Get to know your audience As a brand, one of your objectives should be getting to know your audience well since this will allow you to create tailored content that’s more likely to grab their attention and gain their trust. You want to know your end user’s interests, what social platforms they use most regularly and what problems they’re facing that your brand can help solve. An excellent way to start getting to know your clients is to create a buyer persona, which is a profile of your ideal target customer that encompasses all of these elements. To help you get audience insights, pay attention to the metrics provided by social media channels as well as social media analytics dashboards, such as Google Analytics. Look at demographics, age, interests, and the platforms they use to see if there are any trends you can pick up on to fine-tune your target audience. You can also deploy social listening , buzz monitoring and online reputation management , which will help you understand how users are talking about and engaging with your brand on social media. 03. Learn how to engage your audience Pay attention to your audience’s reactions, or lack thereof, anytime you post something on social media. Regardless of the platform it’s on, every post should have a goal of engaging your audience by having them take action. Whether that’s liking an image, watching a video, leaving a comment, or clicking on a link, you want your audience to be as engaged as possible. Pay attention to the type of content your audience finds most engaging and the content that elicits less of a response so that you learn where to focus your efforts. A good way to increase social media engagement is to provide your audience with an easy action to complete. That could be responding to a poll in an Instagram story or leaving their questions for a Q&A session. Here’s how home design brand, Modsy, gets its audience to comment on its Instagram posts by asking them to leave a comment on which design they like best. This engagement method is easy to recreate and it’s a great way to get your audience used to commenting on your social media posts. As a bonus, by analyzing their responses to a question like “Which do you like best,” you’re learning more about your audience’s tastes and preferences, which helps you create social media content and products they’ll love in the future. Learn more: What is Brat? 04. Stay on brand We’ve talked a lot about catering to your audience’s preferences on social media, but the key is finding a way to do this while still being true to your brand. Your brand’s voice and aesthetic are very important on social media, so you want to ensure that each piece of content you release is in line with your branding. Make sure that your social media branding , such as your writing voice, aesthetic, image, and messaging, is uniform across all of your channels. Learn more about social media image sizes to get started. 05. Be authentic Your followers want to interact with a brand that’s human and authentic. There are a lot of ways you can come across as authentic on social media. You can speak to your clients like they’re friends, you can present your employees on your social pages to give a face to your brand, talk about your brand’s beginnings and history, and admit when your company did something wrong or apologize for mistakes. A mix of these things will allow your customers to see you as human instead of just a brand, allowing them to deepen their connection with your company. Skylar Grace, a clothing brand built on Wix, exemplifies this on its Instagram profile. The opening line, “Hey bestie! So glad ur here,” is anything but dry and stuffy and makes customers feel like they’re friends with the brand. The company’s owner, Skylar, also appears in a lot of the company’s posts in the clothes, which helps customers put a face to the brand. 06. Create a social media posting calendar Create a social media calendar that encompasses posts across all the social platforms that you’re using. This will help you stay consistent with your posts, pre-plan any content in advance that’s seasonal or holiday-themed, and it will help you avoid posting repetitive or last-minute content. Having a posting schedule is also a good way to map out your strategy and create and schedule content that’s aligned with your goals. Especially if you’re posting to multiple social channels, you want to make sure your content is coordinated on each platform and that you don’t have any large posting gaps. 07. Branch out to new platforms You might start with the usual suspects like Facebook and Instagram marketing because they’re the most popular social media platforms, but once you get going, you should consider branching out to other social networks. Once you know your audience better, you might find out they prefer long-form video content over images, so it would be in your best interest to start creating content on YouTube. Or, maybe your audience is made up of more business professionals that aren’t on apps like Tik Tok or Instagram, so you want to reach them on LinkedIn. There are a number of social media networks you might consider using, like: Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn (learn more about LinkedIn marketing ) Snapchat Tik Tok YouTube Instagram Facebook Depending on your industry, the type of content you create and your audience’s preferences, try and choose a few new platforms to test out engagement. Pro tip: You can use a link in bio tool like Hopp by Wix to generate engagement towards all of your social media channels by linking to them from one designated URL. 08. Stay relevant with current events Audiences want to know that brands are aware of the world around them. In a study, 66% of respondents said that they want brands to take a public stand on social issues. Many brands are hesitant to take a stance when it comes to controversial political and social issues as they don’t want to alienate any portion of their customers. Sometimes, staying relevant with current events has nothing to do with promoting your own brand but rather showing solidarity with a movement. Nike’s “For Once, Just Don’t Do It” anti-racism video is a good example of this and shows how a brand can still stay authentic to its voice, engage its audience, and partake in a social conversation. You can also post on social media about any commitments you’ve made to external organizations or within your own company when it comes to things like becoming more sustainable, hiring more diverse employees, or donating to a cause that’s important to your company. 09. Make sure not all posts are promotional To help you come across more authentic, mix your promotional posts with other types of content. You want to intersperse more “salesy” posts with other social media ideas such as user-generated content or light-hearted videos or photos that don’t have a promotional angle. Additionally, you want to create posts or engage with customers on social media in a way that focuses on helping them, not necessarily selling to them. This can look like answering their comments on social media, showing how to use your product or service in a specific way, or encouraging your audience to reach out on social media with their questions. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . 10. Strive for relationships, not followers Having a lot of followers might get you access to extra features on platforms like clickable links on Instagram Stories, but getting more Instagram followers shouldn’t be your only goal. Instead, double down on fostering relationships with the followers you have and creating new ones. Social media is your venue to communicate with your customers. This is where you’ll convert followers into brand ambassadors, connect with your audience in a way that instills trust, and talk to them directly. It’s better to have a smaller following with highly engaged followers than to have a larger number of followers that don’t interact with you. So, by focusing on growing your relationship with your audience, you’ll be able to increase your brand’s engagement on social media. 11. Highlight user-generated content Whether it’s through influencers or just clients who were happy with their purchase and shared it online, these are the types of posts you should be highlighting to the rest of your audience. As we saw earlier, user-generated content helps you change the pace from self promotional content, but aside from that, it also makes your brand look more trustworthy and authentic. When other clients see positive experiences from your customers on social media, they’ll be more likely to trust your brand. Since this is also very engaging for your followers and helps you make connections with clients who have posted about your brand online, they’ll also become more loyal. Wix user Timber & Jack , regularly reposts photos on its Instagram feed that were posted or taken by customers or influencers. These photos are still aesthetically fitting to the brand’s page. They also showcase how real customers wear the brand’s products in a way that fits with the company’s image. 12. Take advantage of new features Social media platforms are always evolving in order to stay fresh and exciting. A best practice is to embrace new features on each platform and stay ahead of the curb. Sometimes, the new features may be tricky to get comfortable with, but you can make your brand stand out online if you find creative ways to use them. Instagram is a great example of a channel that constantly releases new features. To most, this platform is viewed as a photo-sharing app, but recently, the app has added many new tools, like Instagram Reels and Shopping, that make it more of a video-sharing app. When it comes to new features, social channels algorithms often favor accounts using them over older ones, so it’s in your best interest to get on board with the trends as early as possible. Dogs of Charm City , a community for pet owners, has embraced many of Instagram’s newer features on its profile. By using a mix of post types like images, carousels, Reels, IGTV videos, and even shoppable items, the company is staying relevant to both the platform and its audience. More than that, it also breaks up the monotony of posting the same type of content all the time. 13. Post consistently Finally, for any of these social media marketing tips to work and help you improve your social media presence, you need to be posting consistently on any platform your brand is active on. Find a posting frequency that you and your audience are both happy with and make sure you release new content according to that schedule. That might mean posting every day around the same time or even having specialized posts for different days of the week, such as posting user-generated content on Fridays or new product launches on Mondays. Reaching your goals for increasing your social media presence won’t happen overnight, but if you’re consistent with your posting and remain active on all your channels, you’ll find that you’ll steadily inch closer to your objectives. Companies with the best social media presence Numerous companies have established a remarkable social media presence, captivating audiences and achieving impressive results. Here are a few examples of brands excelling in the social media realm: Nike: Nike has mastered the art of storytelling and emotional connection through social media. Their campaigns celebrate athletes, promote inclusivity and inspire people to push their limits. Their consistent engagement and powerful messaging have earned them a massive following and brand loyalty. Spotify: Spotify has revolutionized music streaming and leveraged social media to connect with music lovers worldwide. Their personalized playlists, curated content and interactive campaigns have made them a cultural phenomenon. They effectively engage with fans, artists and influencers, fostering a vibrant community. National Geographic: National Geographic has harnessed social media to showcase breathtaking photography, captivating stories and thought-provoking content about our planet. Their stunning visuals and educational posts have captivated millions of followers, inspiring curiosity and environmental awareness. Wendy's: Wendy's has become a social media sensation with its witty humor, sassy comebacks and playful interactions with customers. Their unconventional approach has garnered them a loyal fan base and earned them a reputation for being a fun and relatable brand. Airbnb: Airbnb has embraced social media to promote unique travel experiences and foster a sense of community among hosts and travelers. Their inspiring stories, stunning visuals and user-generated content have positioned them as a leader in the travel industry. These examples demonstrate the power of social media when used strategically and creatively. By understanding their audience, producing engaging content and building meaningful connections, companies can elevate their brand and achieve remarkable success in the digital landscape.

An influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. Social media influencers have access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Since the rise of social media marketing , influencers have become a major trend. These are ‘ordinary’ people who have earned a substantial following due to their expertise and transparency. They are being used more and more by companies to grab the attention of millennials as this group is less receptive to traditional marketing techniques . Brands purposely seek out up and coming influencers who create content that subtly pushes a product or service. The partnership between the brand and influencer is mutually beneficial. The company successfully reaches their target audience while the influencer is paid and continues to grow their following. Now, trying to become a social media influencer is an even more onerous venture. Creating a website is an important part of validating your online presence, but you still have some work to do before you’ll be able to get 9.2 million views on a video of you reading mean comments about your dog like the aforementioned Miss Marbles or even the 11 million views on how to make “galaxy slime” from DIY channel, Threadbanger. The road to those number of views is a long one, but it’s not impossible to be an influencer in your industry with the right approach. Using the steps below, you’ll be on your way to growing your following, attracting the attention of brands and successfully becoming a social media influencer. How to become a social media influencer Find your topic (and get obsessed) Make a plan Get social Remember: content is king Build your community Don’t buy your followers Network IRL (In real life) Further your reach with a stunning website Get active on forums Collaborate with other influencers and brands 01. Find your topic (and get obsessed) The first thing you want to do is find the subject that you’ll be covering across your social channels. The more specific, the better, as there will be less competition. However, try not to choose a subject that is too niche, as you may end up tweeting yourself into a corner. Find something that you’re genuinely interested in that has a following of its own and dive into it. It can be a passion from childhood, a hobby in which you’ve developed outstanding skills, or your professional expertise: the important factor is to be passionate about what you’re going to talk about. Bringing the passion has two major benefits: first, you won’t get bored, and it will tell in your videos, tweets or other outlets. Secondly, passion is a strong engine for quality: the more adamant you are about your topic, the more convincing you are. If you need a little help to get started, you can always check out these social media ideas. Once you know what you’re going to cover, consume everything about the subject you possibly can. Stay on top of your chosen topic by following related news and blogs as much as you’re able to. If there’s something new in the industry, you want to know about it and you want to be able to give your two cents on your social channels. Assess your perspective by getting the story from many outlets and see how your opinion or view differs. Highlighting this difference allows you to stand out and provide valuable information to your audience. 02. Make a plan Once you’ve chosen a topic and are well seasoned in the subject, it’s time to strategize. This includes making a plan with your content strategy and answering questions like: what is your persona? Your message? The tone that resonates with your target audience? This is also the time to get all of your ducks in a row to organize how and when you will produce, edit, and publish your content. Making a schedule, or a social media calendar at least a month into the future will allow you to easily maneuver choppy waters if you run into hiccups at the beginning of your journey. Do your research on what’s the acceptable number of times to post per day on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Dig even further to find out what days and times are most popular (for your audience) to post as well. Knowing these things ahead of time will help you define your schedule going forward. 03. Get social If you really go all-in to become a social media influencer, you will need to find the networks that fit within your industry and target audience in order to get your influencer marketing off on the right foot. It may be best to start with one or two major channels (like YouTube and Instagram) in the beginning. The idea is to stay consistent, so it’s important to not take on more than you can bear. Still, it’s recommended to sign up to all networks in order to secure your user handle. For each network that you sign up for, write up a solid biography with relevant links to your other social channels or website so your audience can easily find you. It should feel like you are EVERYWHERE. Keep the same tone and description across all the platforms that you open. Also, when signing up to social networks be sure to go for the “business” account if available. These types of accounts provide much better metrics to track your posts and allow you to create paid promotions when you’re ready. 04. Remember: content is king Hope you like creating content, because that’s really what being a social media influencer is all about, and it will be around 90% of what you’re doing. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when planning your content: Consistently produce content : Social media moves fast and if you think you can go a week or two without posting and expect the same following when you return, you might want to reassess your goals. Your content should also remain fresh and relevant. This means identifying trends you see on social media with others in your industry and responding accordingly with content of your own. It will likely take some time, but you’ll need to find a balance of trending content and content that is uniquely yours to share on your channel. Keeping up with trends is one thing, but your biggest challenge may actually be to know the trends before they are labeled as “trends”. Mind your hashtags : Hashtags (represented by the symbol #) allow you to further your reach to people also following that hashtag – they’re essentially a universal language that allow you to pop up in places you might not, normally. Researching trending and relevant hashtags is important, which will require you to do some digging within posts that cover your chosen subject. Hashtags on both Twitter and Instagram are very much worth your time to get right, but surprisingly, they don’t matter on Facebook and YouTube for the success of your posts. Also, note that depending on the network you’re posting to, the number of hashtags is also important. Experiment with all types of formats : Social networks are always evolving, coming up with new revolutionary ways to post your content. Instagram is no longer just for photos but also for posting Stories – which are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours but have amazing exposure potential. Another example: almost all social networks have some sort of “live” option that will stream what you’re doing in real-time (something you should be taking advantage of). The “live” craze looks like it won’t be stopping anytime soon and for good reason. Influencers can use live streams to give their audience a glimpse of what goes on “behind the scenes,” which can help build trust between them and their customers. For a budding social media influencer or micro-influencer like yourself, a live video can show your followers a more personal, off the cuff presentation. Even if hosting live streams or other less traditional posting methods don’t become your primary method, a social media influencer should be well rehearsed with the tools they are given. Meaning, you should at least know what they do and how to use them. Knowing the tools of the social media landscape is what sets you apart from an everyday user and an influencer. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . 05. Build your community An important part of building a following is engaging with them. There are a couple of ways to do this, for example: responding every time someone comments on one of your posts is simple but shows your audience that you’re a “real person.” You’ll also want to invite your audience to engage with you and let them know that you would like to hear from them by telling them to leave a comment or ask a question. Going back to the “live” way of doing things, it provides an opportunity for your audience to reach out to you in the most direct way possible. Host a Q&A or even ask your audience for advice on something to let them know they are being heard. If you’re producing video content, end a video by posing a question and start your next video with some of the answers you received. A community heard is a community that feels loved. 06. Don’t buy your followers Hey, you know what’s a terrible idea? Buying your followers, that’s what! The road to whatever success you’re seeking is likely a long one, but buying followers to give the illusion that people like what you’re doing not only sets you up for failure, but it’s also just lame. Don’t do it, as it will only hurt you in the long run. It’s important to stay open and honest with your following. Even if that means starting small, it will only be a matter of time till your following grows and blossoms into a loyal and trusting community. 07. Network IRL (In real life) A long time ago, there was this old-fashioned concept where people would gather in the same location and talk to each other face to face. On purpose. In fact, if you look for them, you can still find these “analog” social gatherings. Attending networking events is a great way to get to know others in your industry, which could help spawn a future collaboration. 08. Further your reach with a stunning website Just because you’re aiming to be an influencer in social media doesn’t mean your presence should stop there. Having a website or blog (or a website with a blog) gives you yet another place for people to find you. Having a blog dedicated to the happenings in your industry will only further solidify your place as an influencer. Plus, you can easily share your blog posts to your social channels. Creating a website is easier than ever thanks to all the available ready-made templates . If you have unique content shared across multiple social channels, your website can be a great place to showcase it all together. For example, take food blogger and Instagram influencer, Jeremy Jacobowitz from Brunch Boys – his website is home to his blog posts, YouTube feed, links to his social media and press coverage. Now that’s the way to do it! Rhett & Link 09. Get active on forums If there’s a dedicated forum(s) to the industry or subject you cover, make your presence known there. Not only can you help share your knowledge (and links to your social channels), you may end up learning a thing or two from other industry experts while you’re at it. While being active on other forums is great don’t let that stop you from creating your own. You can keep the conversation going by adding Wix Community to your website. 10. Collaborate with other influencers and brands While your primary focus, in the beginning, should be to create and release great content and slowly but surely bud out your community, you will eventually want to look into collaborating with others. Whether it’s another influencer in the same (or different) industry, or a business looking to tackle your target audience’s demographics, partnering up can be a fun and mutually beneficial endeavor. If you already have an idea of who you’d like to collaborate with, be sure that they align with your values and have a similar following (you want to appeal to their audience and vice versa). Before jumping off the deep end, be sure you’ve waded the water first. Follow them on their social channels and engage accordingly. Be tactful and not tacky. Don’t come off as super “extra” to your potential collab partner. You’re trying to show genuine interest and respect, so don’t go overboard with comments and emojis. Pitch them with a proper email or DM. Be upfront, state your intentions, show enthusiasm, and be as personable as possible. Did you know that Wix has it’s own partnership program? For more info and how to apply check out how to become a Wix influencer , you can also read up on up and coming influencers in the industry.

Social media marketing is a key element in the workflow of every professional nowadays – whether small business owner, service provider, freelance creative or artist. No online presence is complete without it. Just as it is crucial to create a website , learn SEO skills and collect email subscribers, it is absolutely necessary to establish a dynamic social media presence and to devise a social marketing strategy. Part and parcel of a successful social marketing strategy is maintaining a powerful social media schedule. This calendar combines big holidays, interesting cultural events and internet holidays. But why do you need a social media content calendar? Because it can be challenging to create original social content on a regular basis, and special events offer a great opportunity to post excellent content and keep your social channels active. Because these time-sensitive events have a strong sharable effect on social media, and tapping into that can help extend your reach to larger interested audiences. Now that the advantages are all clear, let’s move on to the practical aspect and explore how to create a powerful social media calendar with massive viral potential. It only requires some strategizing, a solid organizational skill and following these steps. Understand what makes your target audience tick Different events matter for different audiences. You won’t find the same level of enthusiasm for the World Series finals among a community of graphic designers as you would among a community of sports fans. Make a list of people your brand wants to engage and chart their interests, passions and subcultures: They could be techies, working moms, foodies or fashionistas. Find out what they do: are they into spending their free time going to movies, clubbing, gardening or exercising? Are they college-aged youngsters, Gen Xers with nostalgia for the 90s, or did they experience the disco era in real-time? Figuring out the answers to such questions helps you define your target audience better, which will, in turn, help you choose the most appropriate and effective dates to include in your social media calendar. Determine your social media strategy goals Generally speaking, every social media action you take on behalf of your brand should be guided by a clear objective. When you know what the desired outcome is, you strategize better, and a social media calendar is no exception. Before you start building your social calendar, clarify what are the broad goals that you hope to achieve in posting this social content: Are you hoping to energize your followers in a lively discussion? Do you want them to share your content with their own communities? Are you building a brand identity by associating yourself with specific events? Are you selling products directly through social media and want to see sales go up? Once you have the larger goals in mind, you can break them down into smaller tasks, like increasing social media followers , generate more leads or creating viral posts. After you have the social calendar more or less ready, and you’re starting to create specific content for individual events, we recommend that you go through this process once again. Ask yourself: What is the goal of this Earth Day post (for example)? Do you want followers to share it, or to comment on it? Are they supposed to click on a link to continue to your online store, or subscribe to your newsletter? Are you promoting some kind of time-sensitive deal? When you know the answer to this, you’ll be able to create a much better post. Tip: Choose from one of these url shorteners to get your links just right for your viral content. Go find those dates! Now, this is the fun part: Put on your research hat and get to work on finding useful, fun and quirky dates to add to your social media calendar. To streamline this process, you can do it in phases: Start with the basics and make a list of important national and local holidays you’d like to include. Do you represent a particular community? Make sure you include meaningful dates that your audience would appreciate: Pride Week, Black History Month, Ramadan or Chinese New Year’s are all great examples. Following the strategizing you completed in steps 1 and 2, think about major cultural events, entertainment happenings or significant dates you can add: The annual Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl, the release of a new Star Wars film, or any similar event that you believe will both be the focus of public attention and is of interest to your audience. Go over lists of online holidays and choose the ones that work best for your brand identity. These things can be silly but also very charming. If you find ones that really resonate with your target audience, you’ll do great. You can also maximize the time around a holiday. For example, posting in anticipation of a holiday or doing a round up post after the holiday has passed. Sample social media pages of brands, organizations and public figures and see what sort of dates they find worthy of mention on their feed (Wix’s Twitter , Facebook and Instagram pages are always a good place to start :) ) Check out the Google Doodle archive for excellent ideas for unique dates. Stay organized! Prepare an actual calendar Unless you have supernatural memory capabilities, you’ll need an actual calendar to keep track of all the dates you gathered. Trust us, the slight effort of entering the dates into a calendar is actually saving you a lot of time and effort in the long run. Plus, working with an actual calendar has multiple advantages: It allows you to make sure that your chosen dates are not too densely centered around the same timeframe. You want your “event” posts to mixed with your regular social content, not focused all at once. It gives you the opportunity to schedule alerts and reminders and set your mind at ease. Seeing the social media calendar in conjunction with your other day-to-day tasks will give you a good idea of how long in advance you need to prepare and work on your posts’ content (we’ll get to that in a minute). In technical terms, creating the calendar should be a breeze. You can either enter the dates into whatever digital calendar you already work with, or you could use a social media calendar template. Plan ahead with copywriting and images You went through all the research and prep work – excellent job! At the end of the day, it’s the content of your social posts that will determine just how successful your social media calendar is. Planning ahead can give you the time and the creative space for generating spectacular social media ideas (another good reason to stay organized and keep track of dates in advance). Take every detail into consideration which can include researching popular hashtags ahead of time, and making sure you're aware of social media image sizes to optimize all your content. Some posts require more real-time response than others. You probably don’t want to create posts about the World Cup Finals before you know which teams advanced to that stage, but you can definitely work on your Mother’s Day post a few of weeks in advance. One of your responsibilities is to determine which posts can be prepared ahead of time, and which require more spontaneity. Match the social content to the event As you create your posts, it’s important that you find the right angle to approach specific dates. A post celebrating Thanksgiving Day should look and sound different from one that celebrates “May the Fourth.” You want to take the essence of each event and find a way to talk about it that will excite your followers and benefit your brand. A helpful step in finding the right content is considering the genre of content that would be the most appropriate. You have many options to choose from: Images, videos, live broadcasts, blog posts, polls, gifs, posts that encourage users to share their own content, games (like image captions or sentence completion posts), and more. While posting photos from your office on Wear Pajamas to Work Day is an awesome idea, for an event like Human Rights Day you may prefer a video or a blog post, explaining in greater detail what this day means to you. Use scheduling tools to never miss a date After all this hard work, the last thing you want is to forget a date and miss out on an opportunity to post terrific content. Fortunately, technology is more reliable than our human capacity to remember everything and multitask perfectly. Scheduling tools, like Buffer , are your friendly little helpers that publish your posts for you. All you need to do is insert the content in advance and pick the exact time you want your posts to go live.

Branding is crucial, no doubt. But when it's time to navigate the digital landscape, social media branding can elevate your game to a whole new level. Whether you're running an online startup or a well-established brick-and-mortar business, building your social brand is not just optional—it's essential. However, social media branding is not just about posting content or snagging likes. It's a multi-faceted endeavor that involves strategic planning, targeted engagement and a dash of creativity. In this guide, you'll find actionable strategies and tips for establishing your brand on key social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X. Ready to supercharge your branding? Take Wix’s logo maker for a spin. What is social media branding? Social media branding is the practice of shaping your business identity on social platforms to create brand recognition and nurture relationships with your target audience. It's an extension of your overall brand strategy, just fine-tuned to take advantage of the unique features of social media. This can lead to better engagement and customer loyalty. In other words, social media branding is about building and maintaining a lasting relationship with your audience. It's distinct from social media marketing , which is more focused on achieving specific short-term goals. Both are crucial for business success, but they serve different purposes. Nail your social media branding strategy in 13 steps Dial in your target audience Choose the appropriate platforms Create business accounts to access advanced tools Craft your brand persona Set brand guidelines Create high-quality content Implement a content calendar Engage with your community Leverage user-generated content Work with influencers Use paid advertising wisely Keep tabs on your competitors Monitor and adapt 01. Dial in your target audience The first step to strong branding is understanding who’s actually in your audience. What are their demographics, psychographics and needs? What do they actually talk about online, and how can your brand add a unique perspective? Who, exactly, would benefit from knowing your brand? For example, let's say you're selling premium coffee subscriptions delivered to your customer's door. Your target audience might look something like the following: Age: 23-45 years Income: $40,000-$150,000 annually Education: college or higher Occupation: business professionals, freelancers and remote employees Location: urban and suburban areas in the U.S. Interests: enjoys quality coffee as a part of their daily routine but doesn't have the time or desire to visit a café daily Pain points: desires a consistent coffee experience without leaving home Communication channels: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube You can glean information about your target audience by closely monitoring your competitors’ social channels, reading reviews and complaints, speaking with top buyers, conducting surveys and monitoring the analytics on your business website . Knowing what analytics tools are available to you is a key consideration in understanding how to make a website . For example, Wix Analytics can give you in-depth insight into exactly who your customers are, where they’re coming from and how to leverage that into sales. By creating this type of profile, you can better narrow down your social media branding and marketing strategies right down to the type of content you’ll produce, the tone you’ll adopt and the platforms you'll use. Want advanced insights at your fingertips? Create your Wix website today. 02. Choose the appropriate platforms When it comes to selecting which social media platforms to focus on, quality is more important than quantity. Spreading yourself too thin across multiple channels can dilute your focus and impact. Instead, concentrate on one to three key platforms where you can post high-quality content and engage effectively with your target audience. Every social channel comes with its own metrics, demographics, tools and quirks, which may help you determine which platforms are best for your business. According to a report by Social Media Examiner , most marketers agree that Instagram is the best channel for increasing brand awareness and exposure, followed closely by YouTube, TikTok and others. The breakdown is as follows: Instagram: 76% YouTube: 73% TikTok: 73% X: 71% Facebook: 69% LinkedIn: 67% The same report shows, however, that nearly all business-to-consumer (B2C) businesses place their primary focus on Facebook and Instagram. By contrast, most business-to-business (B2B) businesses focus on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, respectively. YouTube, X and TikTok were a much lower priority for both B2B and B2C marketers. 03. Create business accounts to access advanced tools Some solopreneurs may choose to build their business brand off of their personal brand, opting to keep their personal social media handles. But for most businesses, it makes sense to create unique business accounts for each social media channel, even if you don’t have any social media content to share just yet. A business account gives you access to invaluable tools, such as the ability to promote posts and track engagement. In creating your business accounts, you’ll want to upload a business logo or professional profile picture, insert a branded link back to your business website and write a brief bio or description that encapsulates what your business is about. As you flesh out your business accounts, keep these elements in mind: Consistency: Check that your branding, like logos, social profile name and color schemes, are consistent across all platforms to help with brand recognition. Contact info: Make sure to include all relevant contact details. Many customers will seek this information through your social profiles. Pinned posts: Use pinned posts to highlight key messages or promotions. Pinned posts are the first thing visitors will see when visiting your profile. Platform-specific features: Take advantage of unique features on different platforms. For instance, you can thoughtfully organize themed boards on Pinterest or curate a series of Story Highlights on Instagram. Across platforms, use a link in bio tool like Hopp by Wix to direct followers back to your website. 04. Craft your brand persona A well-defined brand persona guides the tone, style and content you share with your audience. More importantly, a brand persona humanizes your business, making it more relatable and memorable. To create your brand persona, start by writing down adjectives that describe your brand. You can also scope out your competitors to see what has been resonating well with their social audiences. Key components of a brand persona include: Tone of voice: Decide whether your brand is formal, friendly, sarcastic or any other tone that aligns with your target audience. Visual style: Choose colors, fonts and types of imagery that represent your brand's personality. Core values: Identify two or three values that your brand stands for. Make sure your social media content reflects these values. Authenticity: Always keep it real. Respond to your followers in a way that ensures them that a genuine, caring and authentic human being is on the other end of the conversation. 05. Set your brand guidelines Brand guidelines are a set of rules and standards that define how your company presents itself to the world, ensuring a consistent identity across all channels. To set effective brand guidelines, you’ll want to first identify your target voice, tone and messaging to ensure that your brand's communication aligns with its personality. Then, set rules for all design components your brand should use to keep visual elements cohesive and professional. Be inspired by these gestalt principles  too. Create a comprehensive yet easy-to-follow document where all this information is accessible. Some key components to include are: Logo usage: Specify how and where the logo should appear, including size constraints (learn more about social media image sizes ), color variations and what background it can be placed on. Color palette: Define the primary and secondary colors that represent your brand. Provide the exact hex codes so there is no variation. Learn more: What is a color code . Typography: Choose fonts for headings, subheadings and body text, making sure they are readable and reflect your brand persona. Imagery: Establish rules for the types of images that can be used. This includes the style of photography, iconography and whether or not certain types of images are off-limits. Tone and voice: Describe the tone your brand should adopt. Are you authoritative, casual or inspiring? This will influence not just what you say but how you say it. Messaging: Set some key phrases, slogans or taglines that can be used universally across your branding on social media. Keep your value proposition in mind. Hashtags: Create a list of unique hashtags that represent your brand and incorporate a few popular hashtags that align with your business. Consistently used hashtags become a recognizable part of your brand and make your content more discoverable. Legal and compliance: Make sure to include any legal disclaimers or guidelines for usage to protect your brand. This is particularly important if you're in a regulated industry. See it in action: Wix user Revival Coffee is a prime example of mastering cohesive branding across online and social channels. Texas-based restaurateur Gabriela Bucio refers to her local coffee shop as “unapologetically pink,” and the eye-catching color is consistent across her website, Instagram page and TikTok account in abundance. Her iconic pink hue has even made its way onto her menu in the form of pink fried donuts and pink glitter conchas. Learn more: What are dopamine colors ? 06. Create high-quality content Branding on social media doesn't always have to be about your business. Instead, focus on offering value to your audience, whether it's informative, entertaining or resolves a particular problem they have. Quality content helps position your brand as an authority in your field. It can also drive engagement and sharing, expanding your reach and customer base. Most importantly, it reflects your brand's standards and values. Your content strategy should take the following points into consideration: Relevance: Cater to your target audience's interests, needs, questions or pain points. Originality: Offer fresh perspectives, data or insights. Well-researched: Cite reputable sources, use accurate data and make sure your content is factual. Good visuals: Use eye-catching images, videos or infographics to break up text and make your content more engaging. Read more about infographic colors . Search engine optimization (SEO): Use keywords naturally within your content to improve its visibility online, but don't keyword-stuff. Tone and style: Make sure your content aligns with your brand's voice and guidelines for consistency across all platforms. Learn more: How to design social media graphics . 07. Implement a content calendar A content calendar outlines the what, when and where of the content you'll post. It keeps you consistent, ensures you're hitting your target audience at the ideal times and saves you from last-minute scrambles. Below are a few tips for fleshing out your content calendar: Identify content types: Start by identifying different types of content that align with your brand and audience needs. Examples may include how-to guides, industry news, product announcements and user testimonials. Repurpose existing content: Maybe you had a viral Facebook post or a popular Instagram Story. You can take that content and spin it off into a blog post, YouTube video or TikTok to capitalize on an existing social media success. Plan for seasonal campaigns: Plan special campaigns around holidays, seasons or special events relevant to your business. This creates a sense of urgency and can boost engagement and sales for a limited period. Create content series: Brainstorm easily repeatable series you could share across your social channels. For example, a clothing boutique may post an “outfit of the day” on Instagram featuring items sold in their shop. Plan a month at a time: There are several free social media content calendars available online to help you visualize and schedule your content weeks at a time. For example, HubSpot offers a downloadable spreadsheet , or you can use AirTable's social media calendar template online. Manage asset creation: Write your content and build your graphics in weekly or monthly batches so that all the pieces are ready to go. If you need inspiration, try an AI content generator like ChatGPT to help you brainstorm post ideas based on the information you provide about your business and your goals. Schedule your posts: Social media management tools , like Wix’s built-in social post scheduler , make it easier to schedule posts to all of your social media accounts from one place. 08. Engage with your community Reply to comments, answer queries and even hop on trending topics if relevant to your business. Try posting activities like polls, quizzes or Q&A sessions to boost engagement. Keep in mind that posts with higher engagement boost your visibility and build a community around your brand. You don’t have to sit parked at a computer or on your smartphone replying to comments all day long, but responsiveness should be a priority to foster a better customer experience. “Most reasonable customers don’t expect a response within two minutes,” says Drew Balis, social media manager at Wix. “But if you can carve out an hour or two per day to ensure you’re getting back to customers within 24 or so hours, they’ll feel heard, acknowledged and appreciated.” You shouldn’t just stick to your own social channels, either. Balis notes that it’s important to keep tabs on what may be being said about your business in third-party circles. “In addition to responding to your notifications and mentions on platforms like [X], Instagram and LinkedIn, you can proactively search for any additional conversations taking place about your business and jump in appropriately,” Balis says. Remember that engagement is a two-way street. Irrelevant content or inconsistent posting will alienate your audience, no matter how much you try to engage. So, balance quality content with meaningful interactions, treating your social media branding efforts as an integral part of your business strategy. 09. Leverage user-generated content User-generated content (UGC) is a virtual goldmine for your business. Because consumers make the content, it's often more authentic and relatable. UGC boosts your brand's credibility through social proof and enriches your content without extra effort. “Oftentimes, the most powerful marketing comes from people and not brands,” Balis states. “If we take an extreme example, Coca-Cola could film a commercial for a new flavor telling you how great it is and tout elements like taste, [how refreshing it is], etc, but you’re much more likely to go try a new Coke flavor if your best friend—or an everyday person—recommends it.” The data confirms it. A recent study by Entribe reveals that 83% of customers are more likely to purchase from brands sharing real consumer content. Here are some ways to encourage social media engagement for UGC: Reviews and testimonials: Make it easy for satisfied customers to share their experiences and then feature their reviews on your social platforms, always giving credit and thanking them for their input. Hashtag campaigns: Ask customers to share their experience or how they use your product by posting and tagging with a unique, brand-specific hashtag. Contests: Who doesn't love free stuff? Organize a social media contest where users have to share your product or make a post related to your brand to enter the content. This generates buzz and a wealth of UGC. Customer spotlights: Reach out to customers with unique or compelling stories about your product and feature them on your social media channels. Repurposed content: When you find high-quality UGC related to your brand, ask permission to feature it in your marketing or website. 10. Work with influencers Working with social media influencers can boost your brand visibility in a way that feels more organic to potential clients. Influencers come equipped with their own positive brand and well-established audience, which your business can “inherit” as part of its own. The key to effective results is forming a natural partnership between your business, your community and the influencer. When you’re looking for collaborators, there are a few key steps you should take: Identify your goals: Decide if you're aiming for increased brand awareness, more sales, increased engagement, etc. Research and vet influencers: Look for influencers who align with your brand values and have a genuine audience (not bots) that overlaps your target market. Don't get swayed by popularity; even micro-influencers with smaller followings can make a significant impact if their niche resonates with your brand. Just make sure that they post consistent, high-quality content. Do outreach: Contact influencers through email or direct messages. Start by introducing your brand and explaining why you think a partnership would benefit both parties. Discuss the partnership: Once an influencer shows interest, take some time to get to know them on a more personal level and evaluate their fit with your brand. Some influencers may serve better as short-term arrangements, while others may become long-term partnerships as the relationship grows. You’ll want to discuss compensation, timeline and the content you expect for each partnership. Track your results: Use analytics tools to measure key performance indicators like engagement, reach and ROI to determine the campaign's success. According to Sarah Adam, Head of Marketing Partnerships and Influencer Marketing at Wix Studio , "Influencers know their followers best and content creation is at the heart of what they do. Brands want to work with them because of their unique voice and style, and that’s why it’s important to give them creative freedom." 11. Use paid advertising wisely Paid ads can amplify your reach if well-targeted. To be cost effective, you’ll want to ensure that your messaging and branding are actually driving a healthy click-through rate (CTR) and conversion rate, not just boosting vanity metrics. These rates can vary depending on the industry you're in, what social channel you're using and even the time of year. It’s helpful to go in with a plan of attack, like the following: Define your goals: Know what you aim for, such as brand awareness, increased engagement, etc. Choose a platform: Pick the social platform where your target audience is most active. Budget wisely: Use the platform's tools to set appropriate spending limits. Create targeted ads: Reach ideal customers using demographic targeting such as age, location, interests and behaviors. Craft quality content: Use compelling visuals and content aligned with your brand and voice, along with a clear call to action (CTA). A/B test: Run different versions to find what works best. Monitor and tweak: Regularly check the performance of your ad campaigns and tweak them as needed for better results. You can create, monitor and modify Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns directly through your Wix dashboard. Having all of these tools in one place ensures an organized and stress-free workflow, leaving you with one less thing to worry about. 12. Keep tabs on your competitors It’s important to monitor your competition to understand how you measure up, and to identify opportunities or weaknesses that you can capitalize on. For example, let's pretend you sell custom water bottles focusing on sustainability. You might find competitors that offer custom water bottles, but hardly mention sustainability. On the other hand, smaller eco-friendly shops might highlight their sustainability, but not offer customization. That's a gap you can squeeze into. Now, fine-tune your strategy by observing when your competitors post to social media and when their followers are most active. Look for high-engagement threads and use these posts to brainstorm similar but unique posts as part of your own social media optimization strategy. 13. Monitor and adapt Maintaining a well-oiled social media branding strategy is an ongoing task. Regularly check analytics and periodically perform a social media audit to ensure brand consistency and optimal performance, plus identify what's working and what needs adjustment. Balis notes that while insights are highly valuable, they usually don’t require complicated tools or studies. “You could set up simple A/B tests to measure content that your followers like and dislike,” he advises. A few examples: red backgrounds vs. blue background (or whatever your primary brand colors happen to be), posting in the morning vs. the afternoon, short copy vs. longer copy, etc. “From there, you can begin to optimize your content and double down on what you believe to be working best.” Some additional insights you can use to refine your strategies include: Engagement metrics: Look at likes, shares, comments and click-through rates to understand what content resonates with your audience. Audience demographics: Most social platforms have built-in analytics so you can monitor your audience's age, location and interests. Adapt your branding message accordingly. Posting times: Check when your audience is most active and adjust your social calendar to match those peak times. Return on investment (ROI): Track conversions or leads generated through social media to ensure your branding efforts translate into business outcomes. Keywords: Track which keywords related to your brand are trending, and use this to create or adapt content. Benefits of social media branding Nailing your social media branding strategy offers you many benefits, including: Long-term relationship building: By consistently engaging online, participating in meaningful conversations and keeping your brand top of mind, you can strike up more authentic relationships, which can lead to higher sales. Consistent brand identity: You can create a unified brand voice, aesthetic and message across all platforms. This consistency can make your brand instantly recognizable and trusted. Reputation management: Effective branding gives you more control over your business' public image. You can use social media platforms to communicate your values, mission and vision, which can help minimize misunderstandings or miscommunications if they occur. Customer engagement: Branding encourages more meaningful interactions with your audience. This engagement goes beyond likes and shares to creating dialogues that help you understand customer needs and preferences. Social media branding FAQ What is social media branding? Social media branding is the process of using social media platforms to build and promote your brand’s identity, voice and values. It’s about creating a consistent look, feel and message across all your social channels to make your brand recognizable and memorable, using color psychology practices to do so. This includes your logo, color palette, tone of voice and the type of content you share. Effective social media branding helps grow your audience, build trust and strengthen your brand’s reputation. What is the 50/30/20 rule for social media? The 50/30/20 rule is a simple content strategy to keep your social media balanced and engaging: 50% Value-driven content:  Share helpful, informative or entertaining content that adds value to your audience. 30% Personal or brand-building content:  Post content that shows your brand’s personality, values or behind-the-scenes moments to build stronger connections. 20% Promotional content:  Reserve a smaller portion of your posts for direct promotions, such as sales, product launches, etc. This rule helps you avoid being overly promotional while still growing your brand and engaging your audience. How do I brand myself on social media? Branding yourself on social media is all about consistency and authenticity. Here’s how to do it: Define Your brand identity:  Choose a clear niche, decide on your brand voice and pick consistent colors, fonts and visuals. Create consistent profiles:  Use the same profile picture, bio tone and cover images across all platforms for easy recognition. Post valuable content:  Share content that aligns with your brand’s message and connects with your target audience. Engage with your audience:  Respond to comments, participate in conversations and show your human side to build trust and loyalty. Stay consistent:  Post regularly and maintain a cohesive aesthetic and tone so your audience always knows what to expect from you. What is branded social media? Branded social media refers to social media profiles, posts and strategies that are intentionally designed to reflect a brand’s identity. This includes using consistent logos, colors, messaging and voice across all social platforms. Branded social media isn’t just about promoting products or services—it’s about creating a recognizable presence that tells your brand’s story, connects with your audience and strengthens brand loyalty.

A straightforward financial offering just doesn't cut it anymore in the small business banking and payments space. SMBs are increasingly looking toward financial institutions like acquiring banks and merchant acquirers to provide them with digital tools for online commerce and operations—everything from transactions, accounting, payroll and service scheduling to website design, marketing and analytics. According to a McKinsey survey  of 1,200+ small businesses in the US, less than 50% of SMBs get their commercial enablement tools through their primary bank, but the majority said they’d prefer to get these solutions from a single provider. Explore online commerce for SMBs with an eCommerce website builder . The future of financial offerings Many SMBs are choosing to launch and run their business with all-in-one fintech platforms in lieu of traditional acquiring banks and merchant acquirers, as they provide omnichannel commerce, operational tools and financial services in a combined offering. Not only does this streamline the business formation process but it centralizes the SMB’s operations to one platform, allowing them to focus on growing their business and driving revenue off the bat.  In response, forward-thinking acquiring banks and merchant acquirers are expanding their offerings to embrace online commerce. And it doesn’t just keep them afloat—it can bring a major lift in revenue as well. According to The Value of FI Merchant Services , an eReport by TSG, FIs generate an average of 94% more revenue from merchant services customers than non-merchant services customers. And research by Boston Consulting Group finds that eCommerce is predicted to capture 41% of global retail sales  by 2027, signifying a large opportunity for businesses that provide digital commerce services. Acquiring banks and merchant acquirers that want to succeed in the SMB space will need to think beyond the usual service offering and expand into an offering of complete online business solutions. Digital commerce solutions can include online selling, reviews, social promotions and more. Boosting small business with online commerce In the typical small business formation flow , merchants create their financial plan and look for the right financial institution to open an account with, followed by the right platform to build their online presence. Acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can seize this opportunity by bundling web creation and online commerce services with their current offering, capturing brick-and-mortar SMBs just before they open their doors online. This saves SMBs time researching and choosing eCommerce tools , and it keeps banks from missing out on prime patronage. It also differentiates the acquirer from others, which tend to stick to traditional financial offerings like accounts and credit cards. Most importantly, acquiring banks and merchant acquirers that provide small merchants with the technologies they need to create a complete professional online presence can contribute directly to their customers’ business growth. With the right combination of eCommerce, digital marketing and SEO tools, SMBs can increase sales and boost revenue. For example, Wix users with eCommerce business  websites saw a 24% increase  in monthly revenue across online and instore channels after using Wix’s Google Search Console integration . This can translate directly into an increase in GPV for the merchant services provider.  There are many online commerce solutions acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can consider offering to their SMB customers today, according to SMB industry needs. These range from:  Retail eCommerce for online stores Online bookings  Online scheduling   Events for service businesses Recurring online payment processing General invoicing with an invoice generator . One example of a fundamental capability with great potential impact on SMB revenue is to enable retail merchants to set up shop online. In addition to direct selling, merchants can also increase abandoned cart recovery  rate by sending automated popups, personalized emails and more. Offering scheduling capabilities can also result in a significant boost to business, allowing merchants’ customers to seamlessly take bookings for services like fitness classes, home improvement, consulting and any other professional services. Targeted popups can encourage abandoned cart recovery, boosting sales. Increasing your customer retention and adoption Offering embedded online commerce solutions can also help acquiring banks and merchant acquirers boost loyalty and even increase adoption of merchant services amongst existing SMB customers. Adding this crucial service to an offering shows an understanding of merchant needs. And once the merchant has launched their business presence online, they’re much more likely to continue the relationship with the institution. For the acquiring bank, the merchant is more likely to purchase or use additional products including merchant services. Even more so if the acquiring bank provides website management services. This creates an extra channel for acquiring banks to upsell on business management solutions, generating new revenue streams. Take for example Moneris, Canada’s largest merchant acquirer and online payment provider, backed by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Bank of Montreal (BMO). Moneris was looking to provide a total business solution for their merchant customers that included both in store payment acceptance (POS)  and online payment acceptance. They partnered with Wix to give customers powerful eCommerce website development  abilities that are embedded directly into Moneris’s platform, dubbed “Moneris Online”. In only the first period, the company saw a 71% lift in net new web builder sales compared to the previous offering. As part of the tailored Wix partnership, Moneris customers receive a fully-enabled online shop with Moneris connected as the payment processor, fueling online transactions. Moneris is able to leverage both the complementary offering and the brand partnership with Wix to drive adoption, retain SMB customers and attract new ones. Moneris offers total online business solutions to their merchant customers. Working with a B2B partner to offer online commerce By partnering with the right web tech company, acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can add embedded online commerce directly into the SMB customer experience. Through Wix’s B2B channel partnerships , for example, acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can offer Wix’s web creation platform and online business solutions directly to merchants, providing them with omnichannel commerce. The Wix platform is custom-integrated into the acquiring bank/merchant acquirer’s marketing and product funnels by expert solution engineers to create a seamless customer journey and onboarding experience. Acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can promote and distribute Wix’s web creation platform and tools as a co-branded offering, while remaining the sole merchant services gateway. And with the option to provide Wix’s drag-and-drop website builder  directly to customers or to offer professional designer services, acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can choose the best model or combination of models for their needs. The right B2B partnership can enable acquiring banks and merchant acquirers to give customers access to a trusted cloud-based platform, without needing to develop and sell in-house solutions. Building solutions from the ground up is expensive and time-consuming, and keeping up maintenance and innovation can be equally as capital-intensive. Partnering can mean saving on major tech and HR spend, with peace of mind in the product’s capabilities. A B2B partner should have a powerful technical platform infrastructure with a strong reputation to match. Wix for example has been honing its 100s of digital solutions for small businesses for nearly 20 years, and currently serves hundreds of millions of users across the globe. Plus, Wix is engineered to enable websites to keep on scaling with business growth, providing all sites with built-in enterprise-grade security, top-notch reliability and comprehensive SEO tools. Learn more: B2B partnerships for online directories Channel partnerships at Wix involve seamless platform integration. Going forward, it's table stakes for acquiring banks and merchant acquirers to expand their SMB offering and begin providing the tools to drive omnichannel commerce and payment acceptance. Embedded online commerce is the next logical step. Not only does it support SMB customer growth, but it helps acquiring banks and merchant acquirers keep up in a competitive landscape with the potential to increase revenue, retention and adoption. Fortunately, web creation platforms like Wix offer trusted partnerships, allowing acquiring banks and merchant acquirers to directly provide ready-made solutions tailored for their SMB customers’ industries. Through channel partnerships, acquiring banks and merchant acquirers can find a win-win opportunity: supporting small business while driving overall revenue. Learn how a   channel partnership  with Wix can drive growth for your business and your SMB customers.

Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher →  Starting a business  in your town is a great way to stay close to your roots and give back to your community. Your journey towards being a successful entrepreneur starts with a significant step - choosing the right business idea .  Becoming an entrepreneur is a way to earn money, but it’s also an outlet to showcase your talents and engage with your community. So, be ready to factor in your interests, experience and values. In this article, explore a wide range of small-town business ideas  and learn the best way to pick a business idea that succeeds. Prepared to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true? Discover how to come up with a business idea that aligns with your interests and meets local market needs. Still not sure which business idea is best for you? Weigh your options with the Wix Business Launcher, which uses AI to match you with the right business idea based on your skills and goals. The Wix Business Launcher equips you with market research, earnings strategies and a launch kit for every idea, so you can get started with confidence.  41 small-town business ideas Coffee shop or cafe Bakery or baking business Farmer’s stand Grocery store Arts and crafts business Bookstore General store Technology repair service store Family restaurant Boutique clothing business Pet grooming and boarding Barbershop Lawn care, gardening and landscaping Fitness studio or gym Bed and breakfast Food truck Ice cream parlor Home cleaning Art gallery Laundromat and dry cleaning services Auto repair shop Hardware store Event planning Co-working space Tutoring and other educational services Kids' toys and games store Salon and spa services Antique and second-hand selling Homecare Liquor store or winery/brewery Flower shop Tattoo and piercing shop Daycare Music store Handyman services Gas station or car wash Drugstore or pharmacy Pet grooming and boarding Fitness studio or gym Real estate agency Veterinary office 01. Coffee shop or cafe A good cup of coffee is always in demand; roughly three out of four Americans  drink coffee every day. Plus, your shop can become a beloved social space, which makes a cafe a great small-town business idea. How to make a small-town coffee shop profitable? Start a drive-through cafe Host comedians, musicians and artists Obtain a liquor license and serve coffee-based liqueur Target several types of customers, such as commuters, remote workers and couples Here’s an inspiration for you: Yiayia's Coffee  started by selling gourmet coffee at a farmer’s market in Frisco, Texas.  Learn more: How to create a coffee shop business plan 02. Bakery or baking business Starting your own bakery or baking business  is an excellent small-town business idea to showcase unique recipes and local produce. Open a cozy space or run your baking business from home. Either way, a good donut, croissant or pretzel does more than satisfy hunger; it comforts people. How to make a small-town bakery successful?  Develop signature dishes unique to your bakery Serve vegan and gluten-free baked goods Cater to birthday parties, baby showers and local events If you’re looking for an exemplary small-town bakery business, check out Hanna Stone Pastry . Their portfolio website showcases beautiful baked goods.  Learn more: How to create a bakery business plan 03. Farmer’s stand If you aren’t ready to open a store, running a farmers’ stand at your local market is a great alternative. You don’t need to be a farmer to have a farmer’s stand; you could buy local produce, homemade jams and artisanal cheese, then resell them. Why is a farmer’s stand a great small-town business idea?  Your initial investment in capital will be low It supports local farmers and artisans Farmer’s markets often attract tourists and people passing through town  Learn more:  How to start a farming business 04. Grocery store A small town’s grocery store helps the community access fresh produce without having to travel. If your town already has a grocery store, make yours stand out by offering curated items for different cultures and lifestyles. Tips to make your small-town grocery store a success Rent a prominent, easily accessible store space Explore niche markets like ethnic cuisines and gluten-free staples Plan your inventory around items in high demand For a model grocery store, check out Fox & West , a successful small-town business in Totterdown, England. 05. Arts and crafts business Selling arts and crafts is a great small-town business idea to monetize your hobby. You can open a physical store or sell your crafts online . Either way, try selling original paintings, home decor, ceramic pots or jewelry. How to make money from your arts and crafts store? Start online stores in established eCommerce marketplaces Offer craft workshops and art exhibitions Commission local artists to create unique pieces  Learn more:  9 steps to start selling online , Hobbies that can make money from home   06. Bookstore You’re probably wondering whether it’s a good idea to start a bookstore, considering the rise of online books. Yes, people still find pleasure in browsing through the bookshelves. A bookstore can also become the town’s hub for readers and writers.  How to make money from a small-town bookstore?  Curate books to cater to a specific target audience Double as a venue for club meetings and book readings Run a small cafe alongside your bookstore Open an online bookstore by building an eCommerce website For inspiration, check out the charming Luminary  bookshop, which serves the small town of Gardnerville, Nevada.  07. General store Opening a general store in your town will help people buy impromptu essentials like milk, tampons, stationery and snacks. Even if your town has a supermarket and grocery store, a general store in a highly frequented area can become successful. Plus, you could start loyalty programs for your regular customers. 08. Technology repair service store 90% of Americans own a smartphone —but unlike in big cities, small towns may not have service shops owned by popular brands. In those cases, starting a repair and service store is an excellent small-town business idea.  How to run a successful repair and service store? Offer phone or computer services at the doorstep Handle software updates and installations Sell cyber security products like antivirus software 09. Family restaurant Food is a basic necessity, and providing new local options is sure to attract the curiosity of residents. Small towns often have charming restaurants that serve family recipes passed down through generations. Naturally, offering both dine-in and home delivery services will improve your profits.  To make a splash, you could start your food business  by bringing a foreign cuisine to your town.  Learn more:  How to create a restaurant business plan 10. Boutique clothing business If you’re a fashion designer—or just interested in clothes— starting a boutique clothing store  is a good idea, especially if your town lacks a wide variety of clothing stores and designer boutiques. How to make a clothing boutique profitable?  Sell clothing inspired by local designs, cultures and textiles Promote sustainable or preloved clothes and accessories Open an eCommerce store to supplement the physical store Offer styling services or sell matching jewelry and accessories Specialize based on demand, such as a kids' clothing store 11. Pet grooming and boarding If you love animals, pet grooming and boarding is a great small-town business idea. There’s little upfront cost and you can diversify your business in many ways: Start a pet salon. Open a pet toys and food store. Offer pet sitting and pet walking. Caring for animals is a fulfilling business, and you can even run it from home. For example, take Melba’s Pawsitive Pet Sitting  and its cage-free services.  12. Barbershop A barbershop is essential for every small town. People prefer their hair cut by a trusted barber, so if you can consistently deliver outstanding service, you’ll have a loyal customer base. Start small and expand your business. Here are a few services to add later: Coloring and texture changes Beard and moustache grooming Hair care product sales 13. Lawn care, gardening and landscaping Do you enjoy spending time in your garden? Your hobby is also a business opportunity. With their daily hustle, people often find it difficult to groom their lawns. Start a landscaping business  or open up a gardening service  to help people make their yards beautiful.  Later on, expand your gardening services. Design new gardens and obtain contracts to maintain them—or to build a nursery and sell plants. For inspiration, check out Wicked Green Lawn Consulting . 14. Fitness studio or gym Are you a fitness enthusiast? Do you often advise your friends on diets and exercises? Starting a fitness studio  could be the perfect business idea for you. Charge for gym subscriptions, cater to people who prioritize their health and inspire them to exercise.  Granted, starting a gym  requires a high initial investment for capital, including equipment. Alternatively, make money as a personal trainer .  Here’s a great example of a successful small-town fitness business. WellnessByBB —based in Nashville, Tennessee—offers online and offline fitness training and nutritional advice.  15. Bed and breakfast A bed and breakfast greatly helps passersby and vacationers in a small town. It could boost your town’s tourism by becoming a popular weekend getaway for people from nearby cities.  Either set up a separate property or set aside a few rooms in your home. It’s a good idea to market your bed and breakfast by listing it on Airbnb and creating a website. Check out Wix for stunning website templates for B&Bs .  16. Food truck If you are a chef or passionate about food, this is an ideal small-town business idea. A food truck isn’t limited to a specific area—go where the crowd is.  How to make a food truck profitable? Create a food truck route with multiple stops across town Serve specialty food featuring local produce Expand your business to nearby towns Take your food truck to festivals and events You can start a food truck business  with low capital and expand when business picks up. Check out West Virginia Food Trucks  for proof this is a lucrative business idea. Learn more: How to create a food truck business plan 17. Ice cream parlor Ice cream parlors are a favorite hang-out spot for kids and families. There are many ways to turn your ice cream shop into a success: Create signature ice cream flavors with fun visuals Offer some low-calorie and dairy-free ice creams Cater to local events and birthday parties Expand your business by adding cakes and pastries You could start a franchise  or focus on making your desserts groundbreaking. For a successful small-town ice cream parlor that stands out in creativity, see Ice Cream Roll Up  in Gardner, Kansas. 18. Home cleaning Officegoers, young parents and senior citizens typically need cleaning services. Why not help them out? Why is home cleaning a profitable business idea? Weekly or monthly cleaning services will bring you recurring income. You can expand into decluttering, cooking or house-sitting. In rural areas, it’s easier to get jobs through referrals. The cherry on top: You don’t need to rent a shop or buy industrial equipment to start a home cleaning business . Learn more: How to create a cleaning business plan 19. Art gallery If you are an artist or art enthusiast, opening a gallery is a unique opportunity to make money through your passion. In addition to displaying and selling art, your gallery could become the cultural center of your town. Tips to make money from an art gallery Conduct art workshops, themed exhibitions and sales Offer space for cultural gatherings Host open mic sessions to feature local artists 20. Laundromat and dry cleaning services People need clean clothes no matter what, so opening a laundromat  is a safe bet in any economy. Granted, you’ll need an initial investment to buy washing machines and dryers. You’ll also have significant operating costs, namely the electricity and water bill. However, if you have less competition and a long-term customer base, you’ll quickly outpace the expenses. As an example, check out this laundromat based in Albany, New York ; it’s a successful business offering both self-service and drop-off services. Learn more:  Making a laundromat business plan 21. Auto repair shop Imagine having a flat tire and waiting for a mechanic to arrive from two towns over. Establishing a repair shop in your small town is a great business idea that can earn you consistent income.  Here are a few add-ons that’ll bring your repair shop more revenue: Car washes Vehicle care products  Towing Routine vehicle servicing  Vehicles need maintenance all the time, which makes an auto repair shop a fairly recession-proof business idea .  To get inspired, check out S&M Auto Repairs , which provides collision repair, full-body car check-ups and more. 22. Hardware store Home improvement and maintenance are never-ending projects. That’s why a well-stocked hardware store is a great small-town business idea—you’d be the go-to for specialized tools and supplies.  A hardware shop has a high startup cost, namely renting a storefront and purchasing inventory. However, hardware supplies are always in demand, so you’ll make quick sales. Alternatively, you could offer handyperson services. 23. Event planning If you’re good at throwing a party, starting an event planning business  could be lucrative. In a small town, you’ll find many opportunities to offer your services, such as birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries and weddings.  As an event planner, partner with other local businesses to offer: Venues for rent Catering services Photography and videography  Return gifts  Here’s some inspiration: Pop Tier  is a local event planner in Pineville, North Carolina, offering party services. Learn more: Making a party planning business plan 24. Co-working space A co-working space offers freelancers and remote workers a place to tackle their to-do lists. The nationwide number of remote workers has increased since the pandemic, and many prefer working from a professional space. To set up a profitable coworking space, include comfortable seating, high-speed wifi and conference rooms. Try offering snacks and beverages at an additional cost.  25. Tutoring and other educational services Most students benefit from academic help outside their classrooms. If you’re a teacher or passionate about education, tutoring can bring money as well as satisfaction. You could conduct in-person classes or teach online. Plus, this small-town business idea requires almost zero upfront cost.  For example, see BTR Tutoring —they offer math lessons for kids from 5th to 7th grade. Alternatively, you could coach students for specific competitions like olympiads, spelling bees and standardized tests. Keep in mind that you don’t need to pick an academic discipline to start a tutoring service ; why not teach an art form, sport or craft? Learn more: How to create a tutoring business plan 26. Kids' toy and game store Toys and games play an essential role in a child’s development. Small towns often have some kids’ toys in supermarkets, but the selection is limited. Opening a dedicated toy and game store is an opportunity to improve people’s childhoods and make money doing it. How to make a toy store profitable? Curate toys for children of different age groups Offer a wide range of developmental and educational toys Host educational events and workshops for children Alternatively, start an online toy store. For instance, Cier's Learning Box  offers toys and games that teach English.  27. Salon and spa services There’s always a high demand for grooming services like salons and spas. If you’ve completed a beauty course, try starting a hair salon or nail spa in your town. Consider offering multiple services under one umbrella, such as: Hair and nails Spa and massage center Makeup and grooming Facials and body care treatments Learn more:   How to create a hair salon business plan How to start a nail business 28. Antique and second-hand selling Small towns often hold their heritage close to heart. Starting an antique shop showcasing objects from your town’s bygone era would definitely attract attention. An antique shop also attracts tourists and travelers, unlocking a wider audience.  Consider combining your antique shop with a thrift store to sell pre-loved items at an affordable price.  Regardless, you’ll need to rent physical store space, make an eCommerce website , set up a booth during fairs or all of the above. 29. Home care Caring for older people is a noble pursuit. If your town lacks the facilities for it, starting a home care service  is a great small-town business idea. To make it a successful business, lease a lovely property and hire professional nurses. 30. Liquor store, winery or brewery  Liquor is typically a lucrative business with high margins. If your town doesn’t allow grocery stores to sell liquor, opening a dedicated liquor store or brewery is a solid idea to make money. Alternatively, make wine or beer using local ingredients. A signature drink attracts people from far and wide. Getting a liquor license takes a bit, so look into that process before investing in your store. 31. Flower shop Your town will benefit from a flower shop that delivers affordable and unique bouquets. After all, flowers are an essential part of any special occasion. If you love gardening and enjoy arrangements, opening a flower shop will bring you both joy and cash. Starting a garden or partnering with a local nursery will get you fresh flowers at a lower cost. Later on, expand your business with chocolates and gifts. Or, sell bouquets online with quick delivery options. 32. Tattoo and piercing shop There’s a good chance your small town doesn’t have a tattoo and piercing shop, so you can capitalize on low competition. To make this small-town business idea work, cater to the aesthetic of the locals who are most likely to need tattoos and piercings. Notably, you’ll need an initial investment to purchase equipment, hire experienced professionals and obtain licenses. 33. Daycare If your community has many working parents, opening a daycare is a great small-town business idea. Parents would love to have their children meet other kids and be supervised by a pro. If you have qualifications in child development or a sixth sense for watching kids, you could turn a daycare into a lucrative business. 34. Music store There’s hardly any community without music enthusiasts. Yet, small towns often lack stores that sell musical instruments; you might enjoy zero competition for your music store.  Along with instruments and equipment, you could sell vintage music albums, conduct classes and bring your town’s audiophiles together. 35. Handyman services Some businesses may require physical presence, but you don’t necessarily need skills or qualifications for them. For instance, starting a handyman service is one of many business ideas that don’t require any expertise. Offering services like lawn care, snow removal, cleaning and repairs is a great way to make money in your small town. Spread the word through local advertising and social media to attract customers. You can also partner with other businesses in your community to offer bundled services for added convenience and value. 36. Gas station or car wash If your town is located along a major highway or sees significant traffic, opening a gas station or car wash can be a profitable business. With minimal overhead costs and steady demand, these businesses can generate steady income in small towns. Consider adding additional services such as a convenience store, mechanic shop, or auto detailing to expand your customer base and increase profits. 37. Drugstore or pharmacy Small towns often lack access to essential medical supplies and medications. Opening a drugstore or pharmacy in your community can fill this gap while also providing a valuable service. Consider offering home delivery services for those who are unable to visit your store, and partner with local healthcare providers to expand your reach and customer base. 38. Pet grooming and boarding With more people adopting pets, there is a growing demand for pet grooming and boarding services. If you have experience working with animals, consider opening a pet grooming and boarding business in your small town. Offer specialized services such as doggie daycare, overnight stays, training classes, or even a pet spa to stand out from competitors. Partnering with local veterinarians and pet stores can also help bring in more customers. 39. Fitness studio or gym With health and wellness becoming increasingly popular, opening a fitness studio or gym in your small town can be a profitable business venture. Offer a variety of fitness classes, personal training sessions and equipment for both beginners and advanced clients. Consider partnering with local businesses to offer corporate wellness programs or hosting community events to attract more customers. And don't forget to utilize social media and digital marketing to reach potential clients in your area. 40. Real estate agency Small towns often have a close-knit community, making it easier to build relationships and connections. If you have experience in real estate, consider starting a real estate agency in your small town. Market yourself as the go-to agent for local properties and utilize online platforms and social media to reach potential buyers outside of your town. You can also offer additional services such as property management or vacation rental bookings for added income potential. 41. Veterinary office If your small town has a large pet population, opening a veterinary office can be a profitable business. Partner with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to offer discounted services to their pets, and build relationships with pet owners in your community. Consider offering specialized services such as acupuncture or laser therapy for pets and utilize social media and online platforms to reach potential clients in neighboring towns. What makes a business idea good for a small town? As you plan to start a business in a small town, consider the community’s needs, your skills and the idea’s profitability. Here’s a list of specific ideals to aim for: Local demand:  Thoroughly understanding your community's lifestyle and needs is essential to choosing a small-town business idea, since your pick should be something the residents want. Originality: Unique businesses have less competition—or no competition—and thus a clearer shot at success.  Learn more:  25 unique business ideas to inspire you Engagement:  Businesses that help the community come together will be successful in small towns. Consider your idea’s potential to captivate the residents. Affordability: Your business idea should match the spending power of a small town. Consider your town’s economic condition, especially local prices.  Personalization: In small towns, businesses often succeed by word-of-mouth approval. Deeply connecting with each client will create a strong customer base for your business. Adaptability: Your business idea should be able to change with the seasons and economic conditions of the town. Be creative: Your lawn care business can switch to a snow removal business during winter. Partnerships:  Choose business ideas that work well if you team up with established businesses to leverage their operations and customer base.  Learn more: Tips for finding niche products to sell Best businesses to start with little money Low-cost business ideas on a budget How to find the right business idea for your small town Now that you have your eye on some ideas, let’s determine which are most likely to work. Choosing your business idea  will be influenced by your experience, your passion for the niche and local demand for the product. 01. Analyze your skills and interests A business demands your attention, passion and time. With that in mind, consider each of the following aspects to evaluate your compatibility with each idea. Your interests: Is there anything you can do for hours and not get bored? Once you pinpoint several things you love to do, think about the necessary skills to turn it into a business. Your skills: You need a basic grasp of customer service to start a cafe. Likewise, for any successful business, you must consistently deliver quality products and services. Are you experienced enough in your niche to understand its nuances? Your goals:  Every entrepreneur has expectations from their business—beyond making a profit. It could be about work-life balance, creating a community, helping others or something else. If your goal is to take nights off, don’t open a bar. If you want to support education for children, start a bookstore. 02. Study your small town  A small-town business idea only works if the owner’s vision matches the community’s needs. Look for a business idea that’s in high demand but has less competition. There are several ways to figure this out: Talk to residents to understand their pressing needs. Find out what they’re missing and what problems they want to solve.  Take a walk around your town to understand what profitable businesses already exist in your area. Search Google or Yelp for online businesses catering to your town. 03. Explore potential businesses Once you’ve learned the community’s needs and explored the existing businesses, it’s time to thoroughly flesh out each of your small-town business ideas.  Map demand and supply: Do the residents have to travel to fulfill their wants? Is there an existing business that can solve their problems? Making a list of the town’s needs might give you a great business idea.  Explore emerging trends:  Figure out if your town could capitalize on a trend or expand on it. For example, if your community just started using electric vehicles, a repair shop and charging point would help them embrace their eco-friendly commuting.  04. Test and refine your idea Before starting a business, test whether the idea has the potential to become a success. You can test-drive your business idea by: Asking a few potential customers, preferably people outside your friends and family. Getting neutral or critical feedback will push you to improve your idea. Creating a business plan that outlines your target audience, marketing strategy and financial projections.  Conducting a test run. You don’t need to execute your business idea at full capacity at first. Start from home with a limited product selection and a small group of customers. How to start a business in a small town in 5 steps Whichever small-town business idea you land on, you’ll need a step-by-step plan to kick-start your business. Here’s the overall path to get started. 01. Market research and idea validation Since your success depends on the demand for your products or services, do market research that further reveals what your target audience needs. Here are a few ways to conduct market research: Ask your friends and neighbor. Conduct a door-to-door survey Observe comments on local social media groups 02. Create a business plan It’s time to develop a business plan , as every small business owner should. Ideally, this document will: Define your unique value proposition Determine products and services to offer Identify your business goals List out potential risks Explore financing options 03. Register your business As an entrepreneur, you need to complete a few legal formalities to start a new business. Go through the basic steps to register a company in the U.S. : Choose a business name:  It should be unique and reflect your small-town business idea.  Choose a business model: Decide whether you want to open a physical store, an eCommerce store or both. Pinpoint which products and services will make most of your profits. Decide your business’s legal structure:  Will your company be a sole proprietorship  or a limited liability company  (LLC)? Before choosing a structure, consult a lawyer and accountant to explain the tax and legal implications.  Register your company: Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to register your company with local, state and federal authorities.  Apply for necessary licenses and permits: Get business licenses  based on your state and industry. 04. Secure financing Many small business owners must pay rent in advance, decorate the store, purchase inventory and hire employees. You can raise money for your business  in several ways: Personal savings ( bootstrapping ) Bank loans Investments from friends and family Grants from the government or other organizations Crowdfunding It’s a good idea to create a budget so you don’t go overboard with the expenses. Set aside funds for the startup, equipment, products, hiring, initial operating expenses, marketing and unforeseen costs. 05. Market your small-town business At this point, you’re all set to open your store. The next step is to spread the word about your new business. In a small town, it’s easy to start with face-to-face marketing. Here are a few tips for that: Ask family and friends to spread the word about your business Attend social events in town and talk about your business Volunteer for local events as a brand sponsor Word-of-mouth publicity is great, but you should also market your business online; creating a business website  will attract more customers. Next, try using social media ads or posts. Getting your business listed on Google Local Pack  can also attract leads. Are you looking to build an online showcase for your small business ? Wix’s website builder will help you create stunning pages in a few clicks.  Small town business ideas in action What unconventional business could capitalize on a small town's slow pace of life? A Digital Detox Retreat could offer stressed urbanites a chance to unplug in a peaceful small-town setting. You can provide accommodation with no Wi-Fi, offer mindfulness activities, nature walks and workshops on living simply. This is a great way to leverage your town's tranquility as a unique selling point. How could a small town's historical buildings be repurposed for modern business use? Transforming old buildings into Time Capsule Co-working Spaces is one possible idea. Renovate the interiors for modern office needs while preserving the beauty of its historical exteriors. You can offer themed rooms, 1950s diner, Victorian parlor for unique meeting spaces. This blends nostalgia with practical business use, attracting both locals and visiting professionals. You could also expand into hosting events, industry conferences and trade shows. What innovative business could connect small town seniors with local youth? Creating a Wisdom Exchange program where seniors teach traditional skills (knitting, woodworking, cooking) to children and teenagers in the community, while young people offer tech lessons to seniors is a creative and worthwhile small business idea. You can charge a small fee for classes, sell handmade goods and host intergenerational events to foster community connections and generate extra income. Small-town business ideas FAQ What are some profitable small-town business ideas? Profitable small-town business ideas include starting a coffee shop , bed and breakfast, grocery store, salon or barbershop. What types of businesses are most sustainable in a small town? Essential needs like food, clothing, healthcare and education are good foundations for a sustainable business. With that in mind, try starting a coffee shop, restaurant, shoe store, home care service or laundromat to enjoy long-term success with your small business. What are the most relevant business loans or sources of funding for a small-town business? Explore small business loans facilitated by the government. For example, in the U.S., the Small Business Association offers the 7(a) loan program . Alternatively, look out for small business grants, crowdfunding opportunities and partnerships  with other businesses. How can I engage with my local community when starting a small-town business? Town festivals and fairs are good ways to engage with the local community. Celebrations like weddings, anniversaries and birthdays are opportunities to meet people. You could also volunteer at social events or charities. What are the biggest challenges of opening a business in a small town? Starting a business in a small town can be challenging due to the small customer base, lack of specialized personnel, logistics issues, competition from nearby businesses and online stores delivering to the town. Do I need a business plan for a small town business idea? Yes, a business plan is essential for a small-town business. It gives you a clear target, plan and budget to start with. Starting a business without a business plan is like building a house without a blueprint. What are some small-town business ideas that give back to a community? Community-oriented small businesses like a bookstore, fitness studio, coffee shop, tutoring center, organic grocery store and eco-friendly clothing store would uplift and improve your community.

“Small business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the brave, the patient, and the persistent. It’s for the overcomer.” This anonymous quote perfectly describes the character of a successful small business owner. It takes more work than most people realize and you have to be willing to plow through when the going gets tough. Whether you’re thinking about opening an ice cream shop or your own consulting firm, business owners need to be determined, open-minded thinkers willing to dive headfirst into the unknown. That said, owning a business also offers a unique career path that allows for creative flexibility and the ability to be your own boss. In order to venture out as a self-made entrepreneur, you need to develop a business plan, create a business website , and run it from the Wix mobile app . Think you have what it takes? Here’s what you need to know about becoming a small business owner. Who qualifies as a small business owner? First, let’s discuss exactly what a small business owner is. The lines between a small and medium-sized business are sometimes blurry, and the official definition can vary based on your country. In general, whether or not your company is considered a small business is based on different factors, including the average revenue of your company and the number of employees you hire, whether you work together in an office or manage remote employees . In the United States, businesses that earn less than $7 million in revenue or that have fewer than 500 employees fall into this category. In contrast, Europe defines a small business as having less than 250 employees and in Australia, it’s less than 15! But why are these definitions important? If you qualify as a small business owner in the US, you may be eligible to apply for government loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). These loans come with other benefits, too, like guidance and counseling, lower interest payments, and flexible overhead. The SBA also offers funding for grants to philanthropic organizations as well as businesses in specific industries, such as exporting, science and research. Small business owner vs. entrepreneur There are many ways to define small business owners versus entrepreneurs, and there is huge overlap between the two business innovators. Generally small business owners start and manage established business ideas , with a small team and revenue. Entrepreneurs are often credited with taking a new product or service and using that to build a business. Small business owners and entrepreneurs both have profitability in mind but generally small business owners aim to do this through their small business, while entrepreneurs always have the goal of scaling their business to a medium sized or enterprise sized company. Small business owners can become entrepreneurs, if their business scales and grows enough. This means that entrepreneurship inherently includes greater levels of risk taking. How small business owners succeed: 10 key qualities and skills That leads us to the next point: small business owners require a unique combination of certain soft skills to keep their companies up and running. Being comfortable with taking risks, managing a budget, communicating effectively through business writing and dealing with internet trolls are skills that are essential for business management. With that in mind, here are 10 essential qualities of successful small business owners: Be personable and approachable Be prepared to evolve Take risks Be independent Be confident Know when to take a break Dedication and persistence Stick to the budget Prioritize Look at the big picture 01. Be personable and approachable Being kind to others may sound trite, but making connections with your employees, customers, vendors and even competitors can actually bring you more business. It’s a known fact that the more employees like and respect their employers, the stronger their sense of team motivation. Additionally, consumers don’t make purchasing decisions based on a product alone; they are also swayed by what a brand represents . If you’re friendly to those around you, your customers will associate your friendly demeanor with your product. Building relationships with customers and important partners is an essential part of any brands business development. In fact, experts point out that kindness in itself is a powerful leadership strategy . You are more likely to have repeat customers who will tell their friends and family to buy from you instead of the guy down the street. In turn, your bottom line will increase and people will get the product they need (and let’s face it--yours is the best out there anyway). 02. Be prepared to evolve Small business owners need to be prepared to roll with the punches. The market will inevitably shift over time, and business owners need to adapt to new small business trends and keep their product relevant. Refusing to change your approach to what consumers want or need will only hurt you in the long run. An excellent example is the way some restaurants adapted to the changes brought about by Covid-19. The Chicago-based, three Michelin star restaurant, Alinea, is known for its lavish, avant garde tableside presentations. But after the pandemic hit, Alinea shifted gears immediately and began offering fine dining meals to go. Its ability to quickly adapt allowed it to stay afloat and let the public enjoy its cuisine - a win-win. 03. Take Risks Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, once noted that “the biggest risk is not taking any risk.” Starting a business always means taking a chance; there’s no way to know for certain whether it will work. While successful small business owners make educated decisions and use market research to drive their ideas forward, it’s impossible to know what the future holds. Investing your own time and money into a business is always a risk but goes hand in hand with being a business owner. Constantly update your business triage plan to stay ahead of the game. 04. Be independent The ability to think for yourself and make important decisions are both vital traits of entrepreneurship. Independence provides the drive to get where you want to go without the influence of others’ opinions or any outside noise. Perhaps you have a unique idea for a product or service that hasn’t been created before. Independence gives you the ability to put yourself out there and take the initiative to make it happen. 05. Be confident Confidence and independence often go hand-in-hand. Having confidence in your business and financial decisions is vital. Because your business lives and dies with you, you need to believe in yourself to move forward and weather the storm through difficult situations. On top of that, confidence instills respect and encourages others to see you as a leader. This can have a major impact on team management. Strong leaders are rewarded with increased productivity and creativity from their employees, making the business overall more efficient. 06. Know when to take a break While it’s true that small business owners work tirelessly, they also know when to take a break. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy, and can lead to feelings of overwhelm and decreased motivation. The best way to avoid it is by making sure to incorporate certain successful habits into your daily life, such as scheduling time away from your business. Even if all you get is thirty solid minutes to focus on yourself or spend time with loved ones, make sure to do it. And don’t let yourself look at financial reports or emails during this time. Successful business owners understand the value of having time away from their work, even if it’s only for a short time each day. 07. Dedication and persistence Ever hear the expression that success isn’t linear? This rings particularly true for business owners. It normally takes time for any business to be profitable and to work out all the kinks so things run smoothly. You may not get it right at the beginning. You’ll most likely have to make adjustments along the way, such as prices, your business model, or even your product itself. But not giving up and sticking to it is what’s going to get you through. 08. Stick to the budget Overspending can be the death of your business. In fact, according to a study conducted by US Bank , 82% of small businesses fail due to poor cash flow management. When creating your budget and business plan , a tip is to overestimate expenses and underestimate income. That way you’ll never be stretched too thin and always be prepared for unexpected costs. 09. Prioritize More often than not, the number of things you have to do is overwhelming. If you work alone and don’t have anyone to delegate tasks to, this trait is particularly important. As a business owner, you’ll need to hone your project management skills to determine which tasks have the most business value and which ones can fall lower on your priority list. A good way to start this process is by labeling your list of tasks as important or urgent. As a rule of thumb: Important tasks are those that are vital to the business’ long-term success but may not need to get done right away. Urgent ones are those that require immediate attention and are necessary to keep your business up and running. These should always be prioritized first. A handy tool to help determine which tasks to prioritize is Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix. This simple chart can help you easily break down your list of projects into four main categories: urgent/important, not urgent/important, urgent/not important and not urgent/not important. 10. Look at the big picture It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. Any difficulties that arise may cause you to question why you started your business in the first place. But remind yourself of those reasons, and look at your overall success instead of minor pitfalls - that’s what will keep you moving forward in the long run. How to become a small business owner Thinking about starting your own small business? We've broken down the key steps to help you go from idea to launch, covering everything from planning and funding to building your brand and getting your first customers. Come up with a small business idea : Start by identifying a problem you can solve or a passion you can turn into profit. Research market trends, check out successful businesses, and test demand before committing. The best small business ideas align with your skills, interests and what customers need. Name your business : Your business name should be memorable, easy to spell and reflect your brand. Check domain name availability and trademarks to avoid legal issues. A strong name builds credibility and makes marketing easier. Create your small business plan : A good business plan outlines your goals, target audience, pricing and marketing strategy. It keeps you focused and helps attract investors or loans. Keep it flexible so you can adjust as your business grows. Secure funding for your business : Decide if you’ll use personal savings, small business loans, crowdfunding or investors. Look into grants or startup programs for your industry. Even with minimal funds, you can start lean and scale up over time. Register and license your business : Make it official by registering your business name, getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and applying for necessary permits or licenses. This step protects you legally and ensures smooth operations. Come up with your company vision : Your vision defines what your business stands for and where it’s headed. It helps guide decisions and keeps your team aligned. A clear vision also attracts customers who share your values. Build your team : Even if you’re starting solo, think about who you’ll need—freelancers, employees or advisors. Hire people with skills that complement yours and focus on creating a positive, goal-driven work culture. Launch your small business website : A well-designed website builds trust and helps customers find you. Create the best business website  to showcase your brand and attract more clients. Combine it with business software  to manage everything from accounting to customer relationships. Market and promote your business : Even the best business idea won’t succeed without visibility. Create a marketing strategy with social media, SEO, email marketing and networking. Focus on reaching your target audience and building strong customer relationships from the start. Tip: Need help finding a business name for your new venture? Use the help of a small business name generator for inspiration. Small business and the economy Research shows that small business owners are the backbone of America, are a major force in driving the economy forward and can even help solve societal issues, such as bridging the digital divide . According to the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, there are 30.2 million small businesses in the US, comprising 99.9% of all businesses in America. Small businesses are also responsible for creating 1.5 million jobs every year and account for 64% of new jobs created in the United States . They have also been a factor in empowering people who have historically faced challenges entering the business world, such as women and minorities. Between 2014-2016, minority-owned businesses increased by 11%. And in 2019, 9.9 million small business owners were women, compared to 7.8 million in 2007. These numbers are telling and are a testament to the progress being made in today’s business world. Pros and cons of being a small business owner It's a common small business myth  that owners have full control over their schedule. According to a survey conducted by the digital marketing firm Constant Contact , 56% of small business owners feel they can never be away from their businesses, and 84% say that if they could, they would start their businesses all over again. Clearly, being a business owner has its perks and its downsides. But most agree that the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Pros Why does someone decide to start a business  anyway? One of the main reasons is independence and the autonomy to do things your own way. In fact, small business owners report that there are two driving factors behind their motivation: the ability to pursue their passions and professional flexibility. There’s nothing like getting to be your own boss and creating your own product or service. It’s an even better feeling when customers are willing to spend their hard-earned money to buy it. Other benefits include getting to hire your own employees (and who wouldn’t want to choose their own coworkers?) and setting the tone for your business’ company culture. Will you create an environment in which people are expected to wear suits everyday? Or will you allow your employees to bring their dogs to work and wear t-shirts and jeans? It’s your call. It’s also worth mentioning that because most small business owners register as sole proprietors , partnerships , or limited liability companies (LLCs) , filing taxes and business registration is simpler than it is for some other types of businesses, such as corporations. Cons The downsides of being a small business owner are overshadowed by the advantages. Still, it’s no secret that business ownership is not for everyone. Small business owners work exceedingly hard, spending their own time and money to operate and market their businesses. Because of this, they may not make a profit for quite some time. They often have to say goodbye to 40-hour work weeks, at least at the beginning. Often, they work 50-70 hours a week and handle every operation down to their own bookkeeping , which can sometimes make work-life balance nearly impossible. And even after putting in the hours, 56% claim they don’t have enough time to get everything done. Wearing multiple hats at once can also cause extra stress, anxiety and fear of failure. There can also be stress over things beyond your control, such as wondering how inflation can affect small businesses , and how a changing macro business cycle  could impact your business operating expenses . But don’t let these factors sway you from creating your own small business. Perseverance and determination are the secret sauce for success. Famous small business owners Most one time small business owners grew into enterprise level business owners, and some of the most well known include: Walt Disney who began his business career as the small business owner of an animation studio. Richard Branson who started his corporate empire, Virgin from one small record store. Sara Blakely started the global underwear conglomerate Spanx with just US$5,000 of her own funds. Small business owners' income and net worth Incomes and net worths for small business owners can vary widely across owners, industries and states. According to some reports , the average US based small business owner's salary was US$63,650 a year as of August 2022. Salaries in general ranged from US$30,000 - US$146,000 per year. The net worth of small business owners is harder to pin down, depending on their own personal income or worth as well.

Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher → Ever dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur without leaving your day job? With the power of the internet, anyone can harness their passions and supplement their income with a side hustle. While you may intend your side hustle to be a flexible companion to your nine-to-five, don’t be surprised if it turns into a full-time job in a few successful years. The first step after deciding what side hustle you’ll take on is establishing yourself online. Make sure to create an eCommerce website and open social media accounts for your new business. Other than that, we’ll detail what else it takes to start a flourishing side hustle below. (Don’t worry: If you need help picking what to do, we’ll give you 16 great other business ideas , too.) Read Also: How to start a business and online business ideas Not sure which business idea is best for you? Weigh your options with the Wix Business Launcher, which uses AI to match you with the right business idea based on your skills and goals. The Wix Business Launcher equips you with market research, earnings strategies and a launch kit for every idea, so you can get started with confidence.  16 side hustle ideas you can start immediately The following 16 side hustle ideas allow you to be your own boss and bring in some extra income. Become an influencer Create a YouTube channel Start your own podcast Start a dropshipping business Write a blog Become a tutor Create an online course Make your own products Do freelance graphic design Be a freelance writer Manage social media Become a driver for a rideshare app Be a delivery driver Walk dogs Become a local tour guide Become a personal trainer 01. Become an influencer Marketers increasingly look to partner with new influencers for their campaigns, so if you already have a prolific social media following, you can most likely profit from promoting various products. You don’t even need a massive following, these days. Depending on your niche, you can be considered a micro-influencer with just a few thousand followers on Instagram or Twitter. This is one of the most popular digital nomad jobs nowadays. 02. Create a YouTube channel YouTube is one of the only platforms with built-in monetization opportunities that can earn you significant income. If you want to learn how you can earn your way to success on YouTube, check out our article on how to make money on YouTube. One of the great things about creating on this platform is that almost every content type—from funny cat videos and in-depth tutorials to current events and small business tips—has a built-in following. 03. Start your own podcast Podcasts have become more popular over this past decade and make for a great weekend side hustle . In fact, over 40% of Americans listen to podcasts at least once a month–a stat advertisers have not ignored. While you’ll need to rent or purchase some good equipment, such as a microphone, computer and pop filter, hosting a podcast gives you the freedom to discuss whatever topic you want. And with the right marketing skills, you could quickly rise to the top of your chosen niche. Learn more: Marketing side hustles 04. Start a dropshipping business Print-on-demand and dropshipping let you sell products online without dealing with inventory or shipping. You can create your own online store and sell custom-designed T-shirts, posters and housewares worldwide with minimal financial risk. 05. Write a blog If you’d rather not deal with recording video or audio, you can always start creating a blog with a blog maker to get your ideas out into the world, build a fanbase and create an online presence. (See also how to make money using AI ). Once you have an up-and-running blog with significant traffic, you can incorporate ads or promotions that can earn you money. 06. Become a tutor Teaching is always an in-demand side hustle—and while tutoring for kids or teenagers can rake in excellent money, people of all ages want to learn new skills; whether becoming business savvy or learning how to create a business website . Tip: How to start a tutoring business 07. Create an online course By creating an entire online course , you can teach remotely, generate passive income and impart knowledge to those genuinely interested in learning. Online courses require you to create a curriculum, record the lessons and answer student questions. People will pay for high-quality educational content, so the more effort and production value you put into your course, the more you can charge. With enough clients, you can sell subscriptions to your content and courses. 08. Make your own products If you enjoy making your own crafts like t-shirts, soap, or jewelry, consider turning your hobby into a side business. You can share your craftsmanship with the world by selling your products from your own eCommerce website . Promote yourself on social media or even with email marketing services to gain customers and start earning income. Learn more about starting your own small business with these specific guides: How to start a jewelry business How to start a clothing business How to start a T-shirt business How to start a candle business How to sell vintage clothing How to start a makeup line How to sell crafts online 09. Do freelance graphic design Work as a freelance graphic designer and use your creativity to help companies—from large enterprises to solo entrepreneurs—mold their brand image. You can make connections and promote yourself on social media, or turn to platforms like the Wix Marketplace to directly offer your services. 10. Be a freelance writer If you have a unique way with words, consider taking on freelance writing assignments. You could ghostwrite for blogs, write copy for brochures, or tailor personalized content for marketing campaigns. If you don’t have experience writing professionally and want to break into this field, you can create your own blog to attract potential customers and build up a portfolio. 11. Manage social media Social media plays a vital role in modern-day marketing. If you love spending time on social media and engaging with followers, monetize your skills and help brands grow their presence on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. If you’ve honed your skills and expertise, create an online portfolio to offer your professional services. Tip: Learn how to start a marketing business . 12. Become a driver for a rideshare app If you have a car, drive for rideshare apps to start earning a little extra money. Even with a demanding schedule, you can always squeeze in a few hours in the evening or on the weekends. Plus, when driving for a rideshare app, you don’t need to market your own mobile business . You simply need the company’s approval to start driving. Learn more: Best businesses to start with little money Low-cost business ideas 13. Be a delivery driver Deliveries provide another dynamic option for side hustlers with a hectic schedule. You can deliver products for local businesses as an employee or contractor, or you can work for app-based delivery services like Postmates or GrubHub . Both options offer flexible hours and often allow you to use your own car or bike. 14. Walk dogs No side business ideas list would be complete without one of the ultimate urban outdoor business ideas : walking dogs. If you live in a large city, you know that dogs need walking while their humans are off at work or doing their own side hustles. This work can be extremely lucrative for dog lovers. You can either start your own business or register as a dog walker in your city with apps like Wag! or Rover . You’ll only need to complete a brief orientation before you can choose your own hours and decide which owners and dogs you want to work with. Tip: How to start a dog-walking business 15. Become a local tour guide If you live in a cool city or trendy neighborhood that attracts tourists, consider showing it off as a local tour guide. You’ll invest some time in learning the history and little known facts, and then, with the right marketing, people will come to you to learn it all. You can also conduct food tours, giving visitors the unique opportunity to taste your city or region’s authentic dishes. Who doesn’t love to eat? Speak with owners from local restaurants, bakeries and butcher shops to see if they’ll create a food tour experience with you. All parties walk away with a win. 16. Become a personal trainer Some people may need an extra push or some coaching to achieve their fitness goals. So, if you understand how to work out effectively and safely, you can become a personal trainer. If you want to work in a gym, you’ll most likely need to become a registered trainer. But you can also lead classes outdoors or even in your home for friends, family and coworkers. This training requires limited equipment, which is great for your bottom line. Tip: Learn how to start a gym business What you’ll need to start your side hustle Side hustling is a way to independently earn money, but let’s be clear: Every new business requires an initial investment to get started. While some side hustles require more resources and planning to start than others, taking a measured approach in setting up your business will give you a leg up when you expand into a full-fledged business. While every side hustle needs different equipment, everyone should know these basics before starting. Supplies and software First, consider what you’ll need to work. For example, if your side hustle will be online, you may need a new laptop or smartphone dedicated to your business. Many side hustles also require software or online tools, especially those in graphic design, writing or eCommerce. Consider all your needed materials, such as office or shipping supplies, and keep a running equipment list so you can set yourself up for success. Marketing and branding tools Many businesses struggle to stand out from competitors and attract customers. That means you will need to appropriately market your side hustle. Your online presence has an enormous impact on if and how people find your business. But before you can establish your business online, you’ll need to create a brand identity . This refers to all your business’s assets, including brand colors, typography, tone and voice. Tip: Use a logo maker to design a brand-encapsulating logo for your website and social media channels. With Wix, you can even create social media graphics to help drive traffic from your social media profiles to your website. Another key online marketing aspect is search engine optimization (SEO), or the practice of optimizing your content to appear higher within search results. Tip: Optimize your SEO workflow with Wix. All sites are backed by a solid infrastructure that meets the needs of search engines, giving you a strong SEO foundation to compete in organic search. Accounting When you start your new side hustle, you may want to neglect the more mundane tasks, such as accounting. But don’t ignore this area: You need organized finances to understand your cash flow and your business’s overall health. Invest in accounting software to secure your financials, prepare taxes and create customized reports. If you need additional help, consider hiring an accountant. Estimate your costs and potential income Even the best side hustle ideas can end up in the red without a properly planned operating budget. To get a complete picture of your budget, you’ll need to break down your expenses. This not only includes the cost of materials and equipment but also your overhead costs, such as gas, phone bills and service subscriptions. Then gauge your potential revenue. To calculate this, simply multiply the price you’ll charge for a product or service and multiply it by your expected number of transactions. Of course, you won’t know exactly how much work you’ll have. So come up with a realistic estimate to use as a starting point, then adjust when you have actual data. Considerations before starting a side hustle So, you’ve broken down more of the concrete tasks of starting a side hustle (e.g. supplies and expenses), but, you must still clear a few logistical matters before you start your new side hustle. Make sure your employer allows it Having a side hustle implies you’ll keep your day job. While some employers allow their employees to work other jobs or start a new business on their own time, others won’t allow it. Always check with human resources or your direct manager before starting your own side hustle—you don’t want to jeopardize your primary income source, after all. Consider your schedule Running a successful side hustle requires time. You’ll need to understand exactly how many hours you can invest. While some side hustles are incompatible with a 9-to-5 job, you can complete others in the evenings or on weekends. Plan your taxes Just like accounting, you don’t want tax planning to fall to the wayside. Make sure you track your expenses and properly document all transactions. Keep all receipts throughout the year as some expenses may also be tax-deductible. If you earn more than $400 from your side hustle, you must pay self-employment taxes—and it’s likely you’ll need to file quarterly taxes in addition to yearly taxes. Income from self-employed individuals is not subject to withholding, so you must make payments throughout the year. For this reason, set aside a portion of your profits for tax purposes. Independent contractors are considered self-employed individuals, however, the specific form you’ll need to file will vary depending on your business type. But if you run your side hustle on your own in addition to your regular job, you’ll most likely file as a sole proprietor. Side hustle FAQ How do I start a side hustle? First, you'll need to choose your idea, like what things to make and sell or what service will you offer. Chances are you'll need a website to market and promote your idea. As with starting any business, it's worth writing a business plan to outline your idea, how you plan to get it off the ground, and when you expect it to be profitable. What are the most profitable side hustle ideas? How profitable a side hustle is depends on a lot of factors, some of which you can control, others you may not be able to influence as much. However popular ideas with the potential of generating income include freelance writing, graphic design, online tutoring, dropshipping and eCommerce business ideas . Explore more business ideas Part-time business ideas Craft business ideas Beauty business ideas Reselling business ideas DIY business ideas Clothing business ideas Small-town business ideas Dropshipping business ideas Business ideas for couples Rental business ideas Family business ideas B2B business ideas Scalable business ideas Business ideas for teachers Recession-proof business ideas

Choosing the right business name  for your service business  is a crucial step in establishing a strong presence in the service industry. The name serves as the initial point of contact for potential clients and can significantly influence their decision to choose your services amongst others. A successful service business name should possess several key qualities. It should be memorable, easy to pronounce and relevant to the type of services you offer. Additionally, a catchy and distinctive service business name  can help you stand out in a competitive market. 70+ service business name ideas to spark your creativity Unique service business names Catchy service business names Professional service business names Location-based service business names Modern service business name ideas Timeless service business names Clever service business names Funny service business name ideas Unique service business names 1. Solution Sprints 2. Service Synergy 3. Versatile Ventures 4. Task Triumph 5. Problem Solvers Co. 6. Seamless Solutions 7. Resourceful Rendezvous 8. Swift Support Services 9. Skillful Solutions 10. Infinite Innovations Catchy service business names 11. Service Spark 12. Task Tacklers 13. QuickQuest Services 14. Handy Helix Helpers 15. Action Aces Co. 16. Service Symphony 17. Task Tango 18. BuzzBoost Services 19. Jiffy Junction 20. SwiftSwipe Solutions Professional service business names 21. Elite Efficiency Services 22. Precision Process Professionals 23. Pinnacle Performance Partners 24. ProVision Ventures 25. Service Gurus Co. 26. Expertise Edge 27. Crafted Consultancy 28. Professional Performance Partners 29. Executive Excellence Services 30. Peak Precision Partners Location-based service business names 31. [City/Neighborhood] Service Hub 32. [City/Region] Task Team 33. [City] Solutions Center 34. [City/State] Service Studio 35. [City/Neighborhood] Task Terrace 36. [City] Efficient Endeavors 37. [City/Region] Metro Mission 38. [City/State] Solutions Spot 39. [City/Neighborhood] Service Sanctuary 40. [City] Task Tribe Modern service business name ideas 41. Digital Dynamics Services 42. FuturaForms Solutions 43. TechTrend Task Team 44. SmartService Studio 45. CyberCraft Co. 46. Modern Mastery Services 47. Service Innovation Inc. 48. ByteBlend Solutions 49. Urban Upsurge Services 50. TechnoTask Team Timeless service business names 51. Classic Consultancy 52. Time-Honored Task Team 53. Heritage Help Hub 54. Eternal Efficiency Services 55. Vintage Ventures Co. 56. Nostalgic Niche Solutions 57. Traditional Task Treats 58. Service Legacy 59. Evergreen Endeavors 60. Ageless Assistance Clever service business names 61. Task Tactics 62. Service Strategem 63. Brainy Business Boosters 64. Solutions Sleuths 65. Crafty Consultancy 66. Clever Collaboration Co. 67. Tactical Task Team 68. Skillful Strategy Services 69. Service Synchrony 70. Ingenious Initiatives Funny service business name ideas 71. Chuckle Change Co. 72. Laughable Assistance 73. Witty Work Wizards 74. Hilarious Help Hub 75. Guffaw Gurus 76. Funny Functionality 77. Chuckle Consultants 78. Whimsical Work Warriors 79. Grin & Get It Services 80. Jestful Job Jockeys Examples of service business names Cloud nails & spa This service business, specializing in beauty treatments, highlights its expertise simply and effectively, reflecting its unique offerings. Pink Dot Moving This catchy and memorable name for a moving service business focuses on tackling the hassle of moving, in a fun and stress-free manner. Buildup Finishers This construction service business incorporates positive and building-related terms to highlight its expertise in contemporary construction solutions. How to choose the right service business name Choosing the perfect name for your service business involves thoughtful consideration. Follow these tips to make an innovative but professional decision that reflects your brand and business. 01. Consider your target audience Understand your target clientele and tailor your name to appeal to their needs and preferences. For example, if your service provides personal fitness training, consider incorporating relevant keywords or elements into your service business name. All of this should be included in your business plan .  02. Consider your brand identity Reflect your desired brand image in your service business name, whether it's high-end, casual, or a unique niche. Your name should align with the identity you want to portray. For example, if your service business caters to teenagers, incorporating this or something associated with teenagers in your name, could be a smart choice for branding purposes.  03. Be creative Embrace creativity to make your service business name stand out and be memorable. This might mean a lot of brainstorming, combining words and working with a business name generator  for further inspiration for your small business name idea .  04. Test your name ideas Gather feedback from friends, family and potential clients to refine and select the best name for your service business. What appeals to them, what doesn’t and what does this leave you to work with in terms of coming up with your service business name when starting your business .  Remember these additional tips: Avoid generic names. Keep the name easy to pronounce and remember. Check name availability for trademarks and domain registration . Looking for a business name for another business idea? Trucking business names Consulting business names   Real estate business names   Food truck business names   Marketing business names   Construction business name ideas   Boutique business name ideas   Photography business names   Craft business name ideas Service business names FAQ Why is choosing the right name so important for my service business? Choosing the right name for your service business is crucial because it serves as the first impression for potential clients. A well-crafted name sets the tone for your brand, aids in marketing efforts and significantly influences how clients perceive your services. A memorable and relevant name can contribute to the success and growth of your service business. Should I think of further expansion and scale when choosing my business name? Yes, it's advisable to consider future expansion and scalability when choosing your service business name. Select a name that can accommodate potential growth and diversification of services. Avoid overly restrictive or niche-specific names that may limit your business's adaptability as it evolves. Can I change my service business name in the future? While it's possible to change your service business name in the future, it's generally better to choose a name you can commit to for the long term. Changing a business name can be logistically challenging and may result in confusion among clients. If a name change is necessary, plan it carefully, communicate it effectively and update all relevant materials and platforms. Can I use my name for my service business? Using your own name for your service business is a personal choice. Some service providers opt for a personal touch, especially if their name is associated with their brand. However, consider the scalability and branding implications of using your name. If you plan to grow beyond a personal brand, a more versatile and descriptive name may be beneficial.