A new study from small business social marketing services provider Roost found small and independent companies are growing increasingly enthusiastic about the benefits of social media as part of their marketing strategies.

A new study from small business social marketing services provider Roost found small and independent companies are growing increasingly enthusiastic about the benefits of social media as part of their marketing strategies.

In a survey, small- and medium-sized business owners ranked social marketing as the most effective marketing channel, cited by 71.4 percent of respondents. Additionally, 87.3 percent of respondents said social media was an important part of their overall marketing strategies.

This growing popularity echoes the findings of a recent Regus study covered by Brafton, which stated that 43 percent of surveyed businesses have turned to social media to attract customers and generate new business.

“What we see with these results are that social media marketing is an incredibly valuable part of a local business’ arsenal for success,” said Roost CEO Alex Chang in a release.

Social marketing has proven to be an advantageous pursuit for many small business, especially those looking to promote offers and new services to local consumers. Experts have noted that social media provides SMBs an affordable marketing channel that can level the playing field with larger enterprises, and businesses of all sizes should remember to use fresh social content to engage their audiences.