Small business owners say they need the most help with social media marketing.
Main area of needed help
Surveyed small business owners report that social media marketing is the marketing activity where they most often feel underprepared and in need of support. This is attributed both to a lack of time and to gaps in marketing knowledge, which lead many owners to avoid or delay these efforts.
Why social media is challenging
Effective social media marketing requires a consistent posting schedule and ongoing engagement to keep followers interested, which many small business owners struggle to maintain alongside day‑to‑day operations. Although automated tools exist to help schedule and manage posts, many owners are either unaware of them or unsure how to use them strategically.
Related marketing pain points
Beyond social media, small businesses also identify content creation, strategic planning, and measuring marketing results as especially time‑consuming or difficult tasks. Owners often understand that marketing is critical for attracting new customers, but they feel uncertain about which channels to use and how to build effective campaigns.
Quick ways to get help
To ease these pressures, small business owners can:
- Use scheduling tools to batch-create and auto-publish social posts, reducing daily workload.
Outsource specific tasks such as social media management or content writing to freelancers or agencies, allowing them to focus on core business activities. Follow simple, repeatable routines (for example, dedicating 30–60 minutes a few times a week to marketing) to build consistency over time.
What marketing tasks do small business owners say they need the most help with?
- Social media marketing—54%
- Email marketing—19%
- Contact management—13%
- Event management—8%
- SMS (text) marketing—6%
Where is your weakness?