There was once a time where social media was primarily used by large corporations or brands. Over the past year the web has seen exponential growth in the adoption of social media practices by small business owners.

The University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business recently conducted a study on the relationship between social media and small business. The study showed that nearly one in five small business owners are integrating social media into their business practices, and 75% have a profile or fanpage on Linkedin or Facebook.

The study also goes on to show that small business owners realize the unparalleled access to potential customers through the power of social media.  For example, local businesses with a storefront can use social media resources like Yelp to engage with potential customers. Search combined with social media has provided a new realm of marketing and lead generation. Say you plan a trip to San Francisco and you want to find a good Thai food restaurant. You can simply type in “Thai Food San Francisco, CA” on LeapFish, and you will see the top 3 recommended Thai food restaurants in San Francisco.

The evolution of the real-time web has also added a new vehicle for free targeted promotion.  Twitter enables small businesses to engage with potential consumers in real-time. Small business owners use Twitter to create brand loyalty by providing value and a face to the product. You can also engage with small business professionals that share similar experiences; SmallBusinessTrends.com provides a list that acts as a directory for all small businesses Ultimate Small Business Twitter List . Joining a community of Small Business owners provides a space to discuss strategy and share insight as changes occur in your industry.

Small business owners can also capitalize on the power of free promotion by setting up a blog or content page. They now have the power to join the conversation by providing meaningful incite. “The two primary reasons people use the web are to find solutions to their problems and to be entertained” said Denise Wickman. Simply follow the three E’s: Educate, entertain and engage, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a thought leader in your industry.

However, not all small business owners have the time to blog. Setting up a content page or social hub provides another form of free promotion.  On LeapFish you can set up a profile page to include your Twitter stream, profile information from Facebook and Linkedin, blog roll, images, and videos all in one page, consider it a convenient and optimized snapshot of your business at no charge.

With minimal effort you can turn your business into a living breathing brand online. LeapFish makes it easy for your potential customers to find all of your social media content in one destination.