Only 24% of small businesses and 33% of medium-sized businesses use social media in a strategic way. That’s according to a new report from E-Marketer.

The low number isn’t all that startling considering the amount of time and energy required to launch strategic social media marketing efforts.

SMBs widely neglecting local

Facebook is the platform of choice by SMBs with 26% of small businesses and 38% of medium businesses leveraging the platform. What’s more alarming for SMBs the cover multiple locations, is a disregard for geo targetting or local social strategies with just 3% of small businesses and 7% of medium businesses using geo location in their social marketing efforts.

Local takes effort

The lack of local emphasis in social media marketing among SMBs however isn’t startling. Being strategic about a social strategy that incorporates multiple locations consumes even more time and resources for already strapped businesses. However as outlined in this localized social media e-book, the ROI impact of local in a social strategy makes the extra resources worthwhile.