May is National Small Business Month, and this month highlights the dedication and effort of Utah’s small business owners who must work hard every day to survive in this challenging economy.
Like many small business owners in Utah, I have to wear many hats as the founder of Posh Management. Leveraging digital tools from websites to social media to now AI has been critical to helping me build my business.
My company focuses on helping brands expand their presence, connect with their audiences and stand out in an increasingly crowded digital space. Whether it’s event promotion, brand strategy or social media management, success comes down to reaching the right people at the right time. Personalized digital tools make marketing easier and more effective, and have made all the difference, helping me see real results.
Along with learning new technologies and empowering my clients with these new skills, my role includes many other things, like managing operations, hiring new employees, promoting my company and exploring ways to grow. Running a small business can be overwhelming.
Big companies have the financial resources to pay for expensive TV ads, product placement and influencer marketing, but small business owners like me face a different reality. We’re learning how algorithms work, tracking clicks, testing what content works and trying to turn a simple scroll into a sale.
In Utah, where over 99% of businesses are small, many of us rely on digital ads to stay competitive and reach both local customers and the millions of visitors who come to Utah every year. Across the country, 72% of small- and medium-sized business leaders use digital ads, and 69% use them to find new customers.
For us, success isn’t about having the biggest budget; it’s about using the smartest tools.
As a business owner, I also realize that federal and state regulations can have a significant impact on my company. Trying to keep up with new laws being passed in Salt Lake City and Washington has been challenging and frustrating.
Recently, I joined other entrepreneurs from around the country at the Meta Business Leaders Network annual conference, where we shared how AI and personalized ads support small businesses.
While I was in D.C., I met with the offices of Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis to talk about what really matters to small business owners like me. We discussed how, in today’s economy, digital tools are not just nice to have, they’re essential. We also talked about how important it is to reach customers efficiently, compete with bigger companies, and keep growing in a fast-changing business world.
As Congress considers new policies, it’s important that they recognize that imposing restrictions on digital tools could unintentionally harm small businesses like mine.
Small businesses are the foundation of Utah. From ranches in rural areas to boutiques and service providers in our cities, we help keep our communities strong and our economy growing. I encourage policymakers to spend time meeting entrepreneurs in their own communities.
Listen to the coffee shop owner in Salt Lake City running Instagram giveaways, the boutique owner in St. George livestreaming new arrivals, the food truck operator in Provo using location tags to find customers or the small business in Park City using targeted ads to reach visitors during busy seasons. These are real examples of how digital tools help small businesses succeed every day.
Let’s make smart regulations that protect consumers but also support innovation and opportunity. When small businesses do well, Utah communities thrive.
This National Small Business Month, I ask lawmakers to work closely with local business owners and take real action. Protect our access to personalized ads and digital tools by opposing unnecessary restrictions and supporting policies that help us grow and innovate. Making sure we have these tools gives small businesses like mine a fair shot.
When small businesses succeed, so does Utah.
