Shaping customer interaction, creating a personal experience, developing a loyal fan base, and saving in advertising costs are just a few reasons why small businesses should be using social media. The Smokery‘s Facebook page allows them to engage and interact with more customers, outside of their normal interactions at various farmers markets throughout the Portland area. By posting updates, contests, and news releases, posts I wrote in a style that matched the owner’s humorous and playful tone helped them appear less like a company trying to sell products and more like a social network of “farmers market friends.”

Instagram puts visual content first. Even (or, “especially”) a business that deals in selling smoked salmon can benefit from visual storytelling. I created an Instagram page for The Smokery to engage customers with almost effortless visual content. Special and custom orders are often highlighted, getting more views and more engagement that translates into real-world likes and purchases. All photography done on site and edited to create a cohesive look and feel that complements The Smokery‘s website.