--- title: Why Your Community Bank Needs Social Media description: Why Your Community Bank Needs Social Media image: https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/rsz_1social_media.jpg --- [CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-323-3281](https://www.plansmith.reachproductions.net/project/call-toll-free-1-800-323-3281/) [![Plansmith](https://blog.plansmith.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Plansmith-Logo.png?width=764&height=135&name=Plansmith-Logo.png "Plansmith")](https://www4.plansmith.com) - Solutions - [Budgeting](https://www4.plansmith.com/budgeting/) - [ALM](https://www4.plansmith.com/alm) - [ALM Advisory Services](https://www4.plansmith.com/alm/advisory-services/) - [CECL](https://www4.plansmith.com/cecl/) - [Strategy](https://www4.plansmith.com/strategy/) - [Market Intelligence](https://www4.plansmith.com/market-intelligence/) - Products - [StrategyGPS](https://www4.plansmith.com/strategygps/) - [Compass](https://www4.plansmith.com/compass/) - [BankersGPS](https://www4.plansmith.com/bankersgps/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.plansmith.com/) - [Videos](https://plansmith.wistia.com/projects/7qemazkqii) - [Compass Tutorials](https://info.plansmith.com/compass-tutorials) - [Lunch N’ Learn](https://info.plansmith.com/lunch-n-learns) - [Webinars](https://www4.plansmith.com/webinars/) - [About](https://www4.plansmith.com/about/) - [Schedule A Discovery Call](https://www4.plansmith.com/contact-us/) - [CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-323-3281](tel:8003233281) # Plansmith Blog # Why Your Community Bank Needs Social Media Posted by [Megan Plis](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/megan-plis) on 5/25/17 10:00 AM Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganplis/) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I can talk about social media all day long. And all night, for that matter. I've been involved in social media marketing for small businesses for the last 10-12 years. Yes, since I was 12-14 years old. I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true! Remember when Facebook Fan Pages came out? I do, I was one of the early adopters. I created a page for my dad's bar as soon as that technology was available. Shortly thereafter, I created another page for a local skate shop. Then once I got my first job, you guessed it, I made their Facebook page. Are you sensing a theme? Great, because there are actually a few: Back in the early 2000s, being relevant (or even advanced) in social media was as simple as being on Facebook or having your own business website. Fast forward a decade: if your business is only visible on Facebook or its own website, you are drastically falling behind, and are likely losing opportunities left and right. [![Subscribe to Our Blog!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2363460/57ccbd8d-d6d1-4da4-b546-9f0f9a968dd5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2363460/57ccbd8d-d6d1-4da4-b546-9f0f9a968dd5) However, this article isn't about how to get started with social media. In case you're curious, there are tons of those articles out there, including a few helpful ones on our [blog](https://www1.plansmith.com/blog/category/social%20media). Otherwise, I'm sure you've heard the basics: get a Facebook account, start with Twitter, go for it with LinkedIn, dabble in Instagram... But at the end of the day, by saying that, all I'm doing is name-dropping. There is a heck of a lot more to social media than that, and it all starts with defining what social media is: a form of communication. ## **I Hate the Term "Social Media"** As soon as we pigeonhole communications into classifications based on their channel(s), we begin to lose sense of the actual exchange. Think about it. Every interaction that occurs between *yourself*,* your brand*,* your business *and *your clients*, *your potential clients*, *the general public *is a meaningful, thought-provoking experience. Whether this interaction occurs digitally, in person or over the phone, the interaction is real. Every interaction is a relationship-builder or a relationship-destroyer. Like many other business terms, social media has lost much of its vitality due to a multitude of things: overuse, incorrect use, ironic use, sarcastic use, etc. ## **What your community bank must ask itself is this:** 1. How are we using social media to *engage* in quality interactions? 2. How does our use of social media *improve* our bank's relationships with the individuals with whom we use it to communicate? 3. How *effective* is our use of social media to get in touch with the individuals with whom we wish to communicate? 4. **Why did we answer the last 3 questions in the way we did?** The answer to the last question will determine how your use of social media is affecting your business. It will also point you in the right direction to: - Identify gaps in your community bank's social media strategy, as well as your overall Communications/CRM Strategy; - Improve your image within your target demographic; - And narrow your reach to those who are directly interesting to your goals.   [![Subscribe to Our Blog!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2363460/57ccbd8d-d6d1-4da4-b546-9f0f9a968dd5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2363460/57ccbd8d-d6d1-4da4-b546-9f0f9a968dd5)   Topics: [community bank](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank), [social media for community banks](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/social-media-for-community-banks), [social media](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/social-media), [community bank marketing strategy](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-marketing-strategy) ### Subscribe Now! ### Posts by Tag - [community bank planning (52)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-planning) - [community bank strategy (52)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-strategy) - 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