Social media is a well-known method of connecting with friends and family through the use of pictures, text and video, but it can also be used as an effective tool in marketing for small businesses.

According to Christina Williams, social media is effective in marketing a business, even more so than a traditional website because social media is widely used with up-to-date channels. Williams is a Microsoft Office specialist, educator and small business owner, who has taught computer classes for more than 10 years. She has now geared her trainings to small business owners across North Carolina and has presented workshops in North Carolina’s Small Business Center Network, according to Lentz Stowe, director for BCCC’s Small Business Center. Williams will be presenting a workshop about social media Thursday at Beaufort County Community College.

“It’s here, it’s in your face, it’s everywhere,” Williams said. “Even if you don’t know much about computers, you’ve still heard about social media. I think it’s really helped people, especially Facebook. Small businesses that take advantage of (social media), they’ve grown and their name is out there more.”

Williams said for people like herself who don’t read newspapers and don’t watch the news, a heavy dependence relies on social media to hear about things going on, including the advertisements that are included in those forums. While many business owners are more comfortable with using traditional forms of marketing and advertising, utilizing social media for the same purpose is something Williams says is part of the changing times.

“If you’re using other outlets to market your business, why not use social media because you’ll reach so many more people in the social media world than you could find standing on the corner handing out fliers. We use it, and it’s a different generation, different time; we just have to keep up with what’s going on. In life, you have to change to get better, and you have to change with the times. And social media is not going away.”

Laura Scoble, owner of Backwater Jack’s Tiki Bar in Washington, uses social media frequently to get valuable information out to the public, like the bands that will perform live music there each month. And though Backwater Jacks has around 8,000 followers, regular posts only reach a percentage of that audience. But Scoble also uses an application through Facebook that allows her to boost posts on Facebook for a few dollars per month. For example, a recent visit to Washington by Jimmy Buffet compelled Scoble to post on Facebook jokingly about her disappointment that Buffet didn’t stop by her restaurant. Scoble said in the post that maybe if enough people share the post, Buffet will get the message and visit next times he comes to town.

“(The post) reached 29,000 people,” Scoble said. “We were just being funny, but it did, in fact, boost (our exposure). If I boost some posts with a few dollars, and it’s an interesting enough piece of information, people will share it with their friend and that growth becomes exponential. In spending a little bit of money, I can get the message out there.”

The Demystifying Social Media workshop, presented by Williams through partnership with the BCCC Small Business Center, will be held Thursday in Building 8, Room 828 at the college, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Williams said the workshop is about discovering social media and figuring out how to use it to market small business. During the workshop, participants will learn about the different platforms of social media available, how to use it to reach intended audiences and the benefits of using social media.

“If you don’t use (social media), you’re missing a whole audience,” Williams said.

“It’s so relevant and important for small business,” Stowe said. “It’s a good resource for small businesses in getting themselves out there.”

To pre-register for the workshop, call 252-940-6375.