Businesses in small towns need to make informative posts and band together to grow their trade through social media said one expert at a recent social media workshop in Lightning Ridge. 

“At the end of the day businesses are trying to sell products, but people don’t generally go on social media to be sold to” Rebecca George - Business Advisor with Business HQ told the Western Plains App. 

“So a post on Facebook or Instagram needs to do other things as well - for example, is the post educating people? In Lightning Ridge we might ask is that the post is educating people about how a certain type of opal is special or unique in some way.” 



George said that people need more than one reason to go to a small town in NSW, “so it’s important to share each other’s posts and content. Businesses should tag each other in posts. So if I run a hotel and tag in a tourist operator its letting someone know there is more to do in Lightning Ridge and they can stay longer”.  

The Walgett Shire Council Tourism Team recently spent two nights in Lightning Ridge - on March 22 and 23 - with the Business HQ Tourism Specialist and a variety of local business operators; and took a deep dive into the world of social media channels, discussing engagement and top strategies for success.  

Spread over two nights; George used her 20 years of experience in the tourism industry working with accommodation, tours and attractions to support our local businesses in highlighting their unique selling point, growing their social media following, creating a social media strategy, time saving tips for online marketing, working together to boost reach and engagement and how to make the most of free marketing opportunities.  

ABOVE: Rebecca George. Image: Central NSW Business HQ. 

“With over 27 participants registered over two nights there was a great mix of the local business community from accommodation providers to tour companies, opal carvers, jewellery designers and sellers, hospitality & even the local concreting business in attendance. Such a fantastic environment for brain-storming, networking, questioning, and learning. The workshop was loud, interactive, and entirely enjoyable for all in attendance!” said Walgett Shire Council’s Alana Douglas  

“We spoke about the challenges of social media. We talked about them and their audience. Who are they actually trying to target?” Rebecca George said. 

Carinya Station Farm Stay & Tours owner and operator Jacinda Barry said that the event helped reinforce a very important principle of social media “collaborate, collaborate, collaborate”. 

“Small businesses in town all need to get together and collaborate on social media for our markets to expand,” she said. 

“It's also ok to re-share and re-post material. Sometimes when people first follow you, they don't know who you are, so sometimes it's just a matter of restating what it is that your business does,” she told the Western Plains App.