Social Media Business

Whether you’re growing a small business, a nonprofit organization or a personal brand, Hope Davis Media and the Athens-Limestone Public Library want to help make sure you know how to make the best of what is perhaps the most effective advertising tool available — social media.

To that end, the pair have announced a partnership to bring monthly classes about social media for small businesses and the like.

“Starting a business is more than hanging an ‘open for business’ sign,” library director Paula Laurita said. “… Using social media helps build brand awareness, increase customer base and connect with current customers.”

It also helps grow the community, according to Hope Davis Media’s namesake, Hope Davis.

“There are so many hidden gems here in Athens and Limestone County that most people outside the area don’t even know about or that people inside the area don’t realize we have,” Davis said. “… I want to give them the tools to grow their businesses and their communities.”

With 25 years of experience in marketing and promotion, Davis is a West Limestone graduate who traveled for years to help country musicians, nonprofits and others grow their brand before coming back to live in Athens 10 years ago.

“When I got to where I could live anywhere I wanted, I moved home,” she said. “That was the goal all along.”

She said she started actively working with social media about 16 years ago, “in the MySpace days.” Now she hopes to share her knowledge with others in Athens and Limestone County.

“I research this all the time,” Davis said. “I want to be able to bring the information without everyone else having to spend that time.”

Each class will focus on a different social media platform or aspect and updates to the social media world as a whole. Students will also get the chance to network among each other, asking questions and sharing what they’ve learned along the way.

“I’m hoping someone can share their mistake or win and someone else can learn from it without going through it,” Davis said.

Saving time and hassle is just one of the benefits Davis hopes people will get from her class.

“One of our goals is to show you how to use social media without it taking your whole day,” she said. “You can sit down for one hour per week and knock out 75 percent of what you need to do, scheduling posts and getting things done. Past that, all they should need to do is answer questions and check comments.”

Anyone who wishes to grow their brand or business is encouraged to register for the class by visiting http://bit.ly/ALCPL_SmallBusiness.

“We’re asking people to register so we know who’s in the room,” Davis said. “By knowing who’s in the room, it helps me make the conversation more about what they need.”

The first class will begin 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the library, with future classes tentatively scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month to follow.

For more on Hope Davis or Hope Davis Media, visit http://fb.me/TheHopeDavisMedia or www.hopedavis.net.