The contest, now live, features celebrity judges, $10K in prizes, and an extensive SMB resource hub

Hootsuite, the global leader in social media management, today launched The Very Big Social Media Makeover for Small Business, providing small businesses across North America the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime Social Makeover with ten-thousand dollars in prizes. Through the contest, Hootsuite seeks to help one lucky winner successfully overhaul their social media presence to achieve growth and scale with social.

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As the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards an increasingly digital world, innovation and agility have become paramount to the survival of businesses worldwide. As many SMBs have closed their doors—and others still struggle to survive—social media has become a primary lifeline by which businesses can connect with customers, drive sales, and build brand loyalty.

“More than half a billion people have joined social media platforms in the last 12 months, and social media has become the place for businesses to engage and drive purpose,” said Henk Campher, Hootsuite VP of Corporate Marketing. “But not every SMB has the resources available to establish and grow a social media strategy, or hone in on customer needs through social listening. Social is an incredibly powerful tool, and with access to the right resources, a thriving social media presence is something that anyone can realize. That’s where we come in.”

Hootsuite’s very first social media makeover contest is led by an exclusive judging panel of small business experts: Arlene Dickinson (Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Venturepark), Maneet Ahuja (Senior Editor at Forbes), Steve Strauss (Senior Small Business Columnist at USA Today), and Gabrielle Bienasz (Editorial Assistant at Inc.).

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Contestants can win big with $10,000 in prizes; including:

• $5K in social advertising spend
• $5K in agency spend
• Lifetime access to Hootsuite’s Team Plan
• Social Media consulting from Hootsuite experts
• A video creator kit (including lighting, audio, and recording equipment)
• All-access pass to Hootsuite Academy, the company’s industry-leading online learning platform
• Custom branded Canva templates for social media

SMBs can enter to win the complete social transformation through a short nomination on the Hootsuite website. Shortlisted contestants are to submit a video story in support of their application, and four lucky finalists will be selected. Hootsuite’s celebrity judging panel will choose the grand prize winner, to be announced on the company’s Instagram channel on June 17. A collection of prizes are also available to contest runners-up.

In conjunction with the contest, and the company’s Social for Good mandate, Hootsuite has released the Small Business Playbook—a curated collection of resources, based on timely challenges, sure to help SMBs advance their social strategy in 2021. The blueprint for social success is packed with strategy, tools, advice and top examples, a resource that SMBs can’t afford to miss.

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