SAULT STE. MARIE – It's Small Business week across Canada.
According to the federal government, as of 2017, there were more than 400,000 small businesses in Ontario.
Business owners say it only takes a couple of seconds, but posting a picture online can mean the difference between business owners being in the red or black for the week when it comes to daily specials.
"If we didn't have that, people wouldn't be aware of it and because were a Queen Street location, we don't have the walk bye that we would normally get if we are in the mall. So that is kind of like walking by the store on social media from your own home," explained Jennifer Kotyk, Sweet Greeting owners.
For the past couple of years, Kotyk has been relaying on Instagram and Facebook as a way to promote her business.
"We get a lot more call in orders on our phone. They've seen us on social media and we often do promote that we do delivery. They can call from everywhere from the United States and Canada," she continued.
Jeremy Henderson owns a marketing company and says it is would be tough to succeed without an online presence.
"It's all about brand awareness and letting your community know, saying there's so many people on social media and all these platforms that even getting your brand recognized online and even if you don't sell product or service, hopefully they will reciprocate by coming into your business, and hopefully by buying one of your products," says Henderson.
He continued to explain that using social media doesn't cost a dime, but the benefits can result in dollar signs.
Henderson offers free courses to help local business learn how to 'Amazon Proof' themselves so the major online giant doesn't consume another local business.
