Facebook helping small businesses in Salinas
Facebook, the world’s most popular social media site is helping small businesses in Salinas.
Today tech insiders showed business owners how they can boost their online presence. These so-called “boost your business” events have been happening around the world for years. They are now making a stop in Salinas, with a focus on Latino business owners during Hispanic Heritage month.
“I had a small business for 25 years,” says Assembly member Anna Caballero. “And when we started in Salinas, it was hard to get the message out.”
On Monday, Caballero, Facebook and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of commerce hosted ‘boost your business.’
“From the free tools that were available to them today like pages to creating ads on Facebook to find new customers and then we also dig into creative best practices so they create really compelling content that they can post on Facebook and Instagram,” says Facebook Small Business Manager Ciara McCoy.
Facebook says — the world is moving mobile, and if businesses want to succeed, they have to be where their customers are.
“There are more than four million Hispanic small businesses in this country that contribute $668 billion to the American economy and so there the ones creating jobs,” says Kevin Hernandez with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Small businesses create more than 2/3 of all new jobs. That’s something that a lot of people don’t realize.”
There are hundreds of small businesses on the Central Coast.
“In Salinas, the Latino businesses are really the backbone of our economy,” Caballero said. “The auto dealers provide sales tax revenue and then behind them is the small business sector in East Salinas.”
More than 100 people attended the event, including Salinas Council Member Kimbley Craig, who is also a small business owner.
“It’s interesting to me to look inside and see a room full of people who learned about this event from Facebook, on Facebook,” Craig said. “No other form of advertising other than Facebook gets a room full of people here to learn about how to boost their business.”
Facebook is also testing out a new tool which would allow users to shop online. It is testing with businesses to complete transactions through Facebook.
