One thing became very clear during the pandemic, the only way forward for some companies was to embrace virtual marketing. Even if you didn’t need to, a shift in attitudes and habits has made virtual connections essential. Meta Platforms, originally Facebook, Inc., has led the world in online connections through platforms and apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

Yet, some companies struggled. Think about it from your own perspective and think of your favorite restaurants. Some small business owners in the restaurant industry couldn’t make it work. They struggled to get current menus online and keep them updated with daily specials, and some couldn’t figure out online ordering at all. Some smaller retailers couldn’t easily transition to online ordering and gave up. The shift to digital and social media marketing was just too much for some, but Meta came up with an idea.

During 2021, Meta did what its team does best and started exploring what was making it hard for some business leaders to dive in. What were their top pain points and how could Meta help them overcome these challenges?

Factory 360 had the pleasure of partnering with Meta for the Meta Boost Small Business Studios tour’s virtual component with on-demand training videos and access to free resources.

As for the in-person events, this was a five-city tour where Meta and industry experts helped small businesses learn how to build a strong online presence and bring their traditional marketing strategies to online and social media platforms.

What Meta Boost Small Business Studios and Industry Experts Achieved

The two-day tours started in Detroit, Michigan, and traveled to Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Austin, Texas; and ended in San Diego, California. Attendees enjoyed free workshops in brand building, building creative ads, developing skills for photos and video content, using Instagram Reels, and establishing a social media presence.

Real-time tutorials on building and managing virtual storefronts were offered. And experts sat on a panel to discuss how they reached their level of success in “How I Did It” conversations. Meta personnel was on hand to answer questions and share tips. Adobe, Vimeo, and other Meta Business Partners offered their insights into video campaigns and digital design.

It proved to be a helpful way of showing businesses how to use the internet to form connections but also offer the face-to-face interactions that marketing professionals missed. As marketing teams start making plans for what 2023 has in store, this empowered them to start thinking of both online marketing events, long-term social media plans, and how to get back to in-person events.

Let Us Help

Meta Boost Small Business Studios was an amazing success. We’re thrilled we were able to help so many people. In fact, it was so successful that it caught the attention of Event Marketer. We’re also happy to consult with your marketing team or business leaders and offer insight on the best ways to build winning digital and social media marketing campaigns, whether you’re looking for help with your content or need ideas for a mobile tour.

Founded in 2007, Factory 360 is an award-winning, female-owned experiential marketing agency specializing in all aspects of digital, in-person, and social media marketing campaigns and events. The online world is everything to us, and it’s our goal to make sure those brief interactions with your followers or intrigued consumers turn into lasting connections.