Marketing a small business in Memphis, the Midsouth, or anywhere in Tennessee is no small task. With competition on the rise, you need an online strategy that helps you attract new customers and keep them engaged. But should you focus more on Local SEO or Social Media Marketing?

The short answer: You need both.

Local SEO helps customers find your business when they’re searching for what you offer. Social media builds brand awareness and keeps your audience engaged. Understanding how these two strategies complement each other can maximize your visibility, attract more customers, and drive long-term growth. The Profit Link specializes in helping small businesses balance SEO and Social Media for maximum impact.

Let’s break down the benefits of each and how to invest in them wisely.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) improves your visibility on Google when people search for businesses like yours in their area. If someone types “best coffee shop in Memphis” into Google, the businesses that appear in the Local Pack or on Google Maps are there because of SEO.

Why Local SEO Matters for Small Businesses

• • More Visibility – Higher rankings mean more potential customers finding you.
  • Increased Website Traffic – Optimized sites attract more local visitors.
  • Long-Term Investment – Unlike other marketing efforts, SEO continues to bring results over time.
  • Stronger Local Credibility – A well-managed Google Business Profile builds trust.
  • More Walk-In Customers – Many people searching online visit businesses in person.

How Local SEO Works

Optimizing your online presence helps Google understand, rank, and display your business in search results. Key factors include:

• • Google Business Profile – Keep your business hours, location, and details up to date.
  • Keyword Optimization – Use search terms customers are actually typing.
  • Online Reviews – More positive reviews can improve your rankings.
  • Consistent Business Listings – Your name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be the same across all directories.
  • Mobile-Friendly Website – A fast, responsive site improves both user experience and search rankings.

If your business isn’t ranking well on Google, you’re missing out on potential customers who are ready to buy.

What Is Social Media Marketing?

While Local SEO helps customers discover your business, social media keeps them engaged. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow you to showcase your brand, build relationships, and encourage repeat business.

Why Small Businesses Need Social Media

• • Brand Awareness – Keeps your business top of mind.
  • Customer Engagement – Encourages interaction through likes, comments, and shares.
  • Showcasing Products & Services – Great for visual businesses like restaurants, boutiques, and salons.
  • Direct Customer Communication – Allows businesses to respond to questions and feedback instantly.

How to Make Social Media Work for You

• • Consistent Posting – Regular updates keep your audience engaged.
  • High-Quality Content – Clear images and videos perform best.
  • Engaging Captions – Writing in a conversational, relatable tone helps posts resonate.
  • Customer Interaction – Responding to comments and messages builds loyalty.

Ignoring social media can make your business less relevant. Even if customers find you through SEO, they often check social media before making a purchase.

SEO vs. Social Media: Which One Does Your Business Need More?

Each strategy serves a different purpose.

SEO is best for:

• • Businesses with a physical location (restaurants, retail stores, home services).
  • Capturing high-intent customers actively searching for your products or services.
  • Long-term visibility and brand credibility.

Social Media is best for:

• • Building brand awareness and staying top-of-mind.
  • Engaging with customers and encouraging repeat business.
  • Promoting short-term sales, product launches, and special events.

If you only focus on SEO, you may attract new customers but struggle to keep them engaged. If you only focus on social media, you might build a community but miss out on search traffic from potential new customers.

The best approach is a balanced mix of both, and The Profit Link is your expert partner in achieving this balance.

How to Invest in SEO & Social Media for Maximum Impact

1. Prioritize Local SEO First

Before investing heavily in social media, ensure your business can be easily found on Google. Start with:

• • Optimizing your Google Business Profile.
  • Improving website speed and mobile-friendliness.
  • Encouraging and managing customer reviews.

If your business isn’t ranking, you’re losing customers to competitors who are more visible.

2. Use Social Media to Strengthen Customer Relationships

Once SEO brings in new customers, social media keeps them engaged. Build trust by:

• • Posting regularly about promotions, behind-the-scenes content, and customer testimonials.
  • Engaging with followers through comments and messages.
  • Creating valuable content that resonates with your audience

Social media is not just about posting—it’s about building a connection with your customers.

3. Track Results & Adjust Your Strategy

Marketing isn’t set-it-and-forget-it. Constant monitoring and adjustments are necessary.

• • For SEO: Track Google rankings, website traffic, and keyword performance.
  • For Social Media: Measure engagement rates, follower growth.

The Profit Link can help you analyze the data and refine your strategy for better results.

The Profit Link: Your One-Stop Solution for SEO & Social Media in Memphis

At The Profit Link, we specialize in helping small businesses grow their online presence. Our services include:

• • Local SEO – Get ranked higher on Google to attract more customers.
  • Social Media Management – Create, schedule, and optimize engaging content.
  • Comprehensive Digital Marketing Strategies – A balanced approach tailored to your business needs.

Why Work with The Profit Link?

1. Local Expertise – We know what works for businesses in Memphis and the Midsouth.

2. Time-Saving Solutions – Focus on running your business while we handle the marketing.

3. Affordable Pricing – Get expert-level results without overspending.

Final Thoughts: Where Should You Focus in 2025?

SEO and social media are both essential for small business success.

• • SEO ensures people find you on Google.
  • Social media keeps customers engaged and encourages repeat business.

Instead of choosing one or the other, a strategic mix of both will give you the best results.

Unmatched Reach and Community Connection

Facebook continues to dominate in 2025 with over 3 billion daily-active-users worldwide. For local businesses, this vast audience translates into unparalleled opportunities for brand visibility and customer engagement. In communities like Memphis, Facebook is often the first stop for local recommendations after Google—whether it’s finding the best barbecue joint or discovering a new boutique.

Local groups, Marketplace, and business pages foster direct connections with the community. In these spaces, businesses can build meaningful relationships and cultivate customer loyalty. This is increasingly important as technological advances drive people online and out of traditional community groups in person. Facebook is one of the best places to get word-of-mouth recommendations for your business in the digital age.

Facebook Business Manager: The Small Business Advantage

Facebook Business Manager simplifies the process of managing a digital presence. This powerful suite of tools allows businesses to:

• • Run Targeted Ads: Reach specific demographics based on location, age, interests, and behaviors. Perfect for targeting neighborhoods in Memphis or broader Midsouth areas.
  • Schedule Content: Plan and automate posts, ensuring consistent engagement without daily effort.
  • Analyze Audience Insights: Understand what content resonates most and adjust strategies accordingly.
  • Integrate Instagram: Seamlessly manage Facebook and Instagram campaigns in one place for cohesive branding.

These features empower small business owners to streamline their marketing efforts and focus on serving their customers. Large companies have long had the advantage of hiring more (and more qualified) marketing professionals in-house, leaving local independent businesses out in the cold. 

With tools like Facebook Business Manager and your local marketing experts at the Profit Link, you can enjoy those same advantages at a fraction of the cost. For less than the salary of one full-time employee, our team can facilitate growth and manage your social media with the best practices for local SEO and community management built-in!

Overcoming Common Challenges

Maintaining an engaging Facebook presence requires effort—consistent posting, timely responses, and smart budgeting for ads. However, Facebook Business Manager makes these tasks more manageable. Its ad targeting ensures every marketing dollar is spent effectively, and its scheduling tools free up valuable time.

Your time is your most valuable asset as a business owner, so let our team..

• • • Optimize your business page with accurate information

    • Engage with customers on your posts

    • And help get positive reviews, which boosts local SEO, improving visibility on both Facebook and Google!

Your time is your most valuable asset as a business owner, so let our team..

• • Optimize your business page with accurate information

  • Engage with customers on your posts

  • And help get positive reviews, which boosts local SEO, improving visibility on both Facebook and Google!

Facebook vs. Emerging Platforms: Why Not Both?

While visual-focused platforms like YouTube and Instagram are great for viral content, Facebook offers a more comprehensive suite of tools for long-term business growth. It’s not about choosing one platform over another—it’s about using each strategically. Facebook excels in community building and fostering lasting customer relationships, while newer platforms help with trend-based visibility.

Both are important, and our team at the Profit Link understands that. We’ll help you tailor content to showcase the very best of your hard work and bring people to your door from all kinds of platforms.

The Future of Facebook for Small Businesses

Facebook’s continuous evolution keeps it relevant in 2025. Features like Marketplace, community groups, and local recommendations make it indispensable for small businesses. Combined with the robust capabilities of Facebook Business Manager, the platform offers everything a business needs to thrive—from detailed analytics to streamlined ad management.

For small businesses in Memphis, Facebook is more than just another social media fad—it’s a vital marketing tool. Its massive user base, powerful business tools, and deep community integration make it essential for sustained growth. By leveraging Facebook Business Manager and local expertise, the Profit Link will simplify your marketing efforts, engage with your community, and achieve sustained success for your business.

In today’s digital marketplace, trust is everything—and Facebook Reviews are a key driver of that trust. With over 3 billion daily active users in 2025, Facebook offers small and local businesses an unparalleled platform to build credibility, engage customers, and accelerate growth. Managed effectively through Facebook Business Manager, reviews can become a powerful asset.

The Power of Social Proof

Consumers instinctively turn to reviews when making purchasing decisions. A 2024 BrightLocal report found that 97% of consumers read online reviews before buying. Facebook Reviews act as modern-day word-of-mouth, providing social proof that can sway potential customers toward your business.

Building Trust and Customer Loyalty

Positive reviews do more than attract new customers—they foster loyalty. Customers are more likely to return and refer others when they see consistent, positive experiences shared by others. Engaging with all reviews, even negative ones, shows professionalism and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Here’s how to handle reviews effectively:

• Respond Promptly: Timely replies show you value customer feedback.
• Stay Professional: Keep responses calm and constructive, even when addressing criticism.
• Offer Solutions: Propose actionable steps to resolve issues and improve customer experience.

Facebook Business Manager simplifies this process by centralizing review management. Real-time notifications and analytics help businesses respond promptly and track trends, turning feedback into opportunities for growth. 

If the digital marketing world tends to go over your head but you realize how important it is for modern businesses to succeed, we’re here to help! Our experienced team is ready to assist you in this process or take it off your hands entirely. If you want a bit more information on the technical benefits of review management, we’ll break down the SEO benefits and conversion opportunities here too!

Boosting Visibility and SEO

Reviews don’t just build trust—they enhance your online visibility. Facebook’s algorithms favor active pages with high engagement, pushing well-reviewed businesses higher in search results. Moreover, positive Facebook Reviews often appear in Google searches, boosting your SEO outside of the Meta ecosystem.

Facebook Business Manager provides valuable insights into review trends, average ratings, and response times. These metrics may seem overwhelming, but to the trained eye they signal significant opportunities for converting prospects to clients!

Turning Reviews into Business Growth

Effectively managing Facebook Reviews is more than just reputation management—it’s a growth strategy. By actively engaging with customers and leveraging positive feedback, small businesses can build a loyal customer base, attract new clients, and strengthen their market presence.

For small businesses, Facebook Reviews are vital for building trust, increasing visibility, and driving growth. This is especially true when independent founders have to jostle for search rankings against multi-billion-dollar corporations. 

With Facebook Business Manager and local experts at your disposal, managing and leveraging these reviews becomes simple and impactful. Investing time and effort into your Facebook Reviews strategy isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for long-term success.