I set up Altrincham HQ in 2009 to help businesses in my local area increase their sales and profits using social media.
Since then, we’ve worked internationally and have been called on by major brands such as the BBC, Manchester City, Selfridges, Robinsons Brewery, Manchester Arndale, and the NHS, among many others.
Back in 2017, we published the blog “6 Business Types That Benefit The Most From Social Media,” focusing on Restaurants/Bars, Retailers, Health & Fitness, Professional Services, Tradesmen, and Charities.
Eight years is a long time in the social media world, so it’s time for an update as some of those sectors mentioned are failing at social media while others are still thriving.
Here are 6 Business Types That Could Do Better With Social Media Marketing:
Professional Services
Back in 2017, you would attend a networking event and find all the professional services firms (Solicitors, Financial Services, IT, Graphic Designers, Web Designers, Printers) active in networking and on social media.
Twitter was a major platform then; LinkedIn was used but not as prolifically as it has been post-pandemic.
So, what could Professional Services Firms do better with social media marketing?
- Introduce an employee advocacy programme: a training programme to get team members active on platforms like LinkedIn. Some companies with over 100 team members have non-active employees on LinkedIn, while the LinkedIn company page receives minimal engagement and results.
- Develop a social media strategy for attendees of networking events.
- Produce long-form content (blogs, videos, podcasts).
In short, take social media seriously and stop treating it as a tick-box exercise where profiles exist but are not maintained or yielding results.
Bars
There was a time when bars were shining examples of social media success.
Since 2020, a lot has changed with the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, and younger generations drinking less.
It’s rare for a day to pass without Sacha Lord or someone in hospitality discussing the alarming rate of pub and bar closures.
Yet, I can’t name a pub or bar within a 10-minute walk of my house that has produced a memorable social media post recently.
So, what could bars do better with social media marketing?
- Stop assigning social media responsibilities to a bar manager or staff member lacking experience, creativity, or time.
- Recognize that marketing can make a difference despite economic challenges.
- Stop believing that one post every two weeks will make a difference and develop a robust social media strategy.
Tradesmen
There are excellent examples of businesses achieving significant success with social media.
One such example is The Window Company in Stretford, which generates thousands of pounds in sales from social media and has over 600 Google reviews to support it.
However, many rely on spamming every local Facebook Group daily to drive their business.
So, what could Tradesmen do better with social media marketing?
- Publish high-quality images of your work daily.
- Inject personality into your social media presence.
- Implement a social media plan where only 10% revolves around Facebook Groups and 90% focuses on your own social media channels.
- Actively engage in the local community.
Personal Trainers
I’ve been a member of my local Puregym for 11 years now, which has around 19 Personal Trainers alone.
There are easily over 100 Personal Trainers across the broader Altrincham area.
However, I can only recall three who regularly post, one because they’re dating a friend’s niece, another because they’re the son of someone I went to school with, and one branded as the Jewish Fitness Coach (formerly the Jewish Joe Wicks), whose marketing stands out.
So, what could Personal Trainers do better with social media marketing?
- Start posting—many aren’t even doing that.
- Actively build an audience where everyone knows your name.
- Create content aimed at your ideal client rather than a broad audience.
- Highlight success stories with clients.
- Engage with the wider community beyond other Personal Trainers.
The Music Industry
I spent 14 years in the music industry.
Getting creatives to promote themselves on social media has always been a challenge.
However, there are always standout artists, like Yungblud, who excel at it.
You also have emerging artists like LeoStayTrill, DC3, and Dirtflirt making waves on TikTok.
So, what could the music industry do better with social media marketing?
- Music venues should share more than just gig posters.
- Post stage times.
- Showcase behind-the-scenes content and become music media.
- Artists should build a brand that stands for something beyond hard-sell posts.
- Support the local scene … everyone should have a local band they follow.
Cafes
Did you know that 70% of people in the UK eat the same lunch every day?
While restaurants excel at marketing, cafes often struggle to make a similar impact.
Personally, I would love if someone spent £5-7 with me daily, five days a week, for 52 weeks a year (minus holidays).
This repeat business is a big win for cafes, whereas a specific restaurant might only be a monthly or quarterly purchase.
So, what could Cafes do better with social media marketing?
= Commit to posting several times a week.
- Showcase staff and customers, in addition to food.
- Deeply engage with any business within a 10-minute walk.
- Expand options for meetings and outside catering through LinkedIn Marketing.
NEED HELP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Looking for authentic ways to grow your social media
Chat to us about Social Media Marketing for YOUR organisation , so we can better understand YOU and what will grow your organisation
We can only find out what is unique to your business by chatting with you
Look at our Social Media Training and Social Media Management services
We offer Social Media Training on
* LinkedIn
* Instagram
* Facebook
* Twitter
* TikTok
* Blogging
We can do this
* 121
* Corporate Workshops
* Group Workshops
* Face to Face or Via Zoom
Please call Alex on 07806774279 or email alex@altrinchamhq.co.uk
