CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Trying to make your dollar stretch is getting easier thanks to sites like Facebook and Twitter. And it's not just the big chains getting involved.
"You've really had to change the way you think about marketing and advertising," said Samantha Smith, who runs Potion, a makeup and skincare boutique in Huntersville's Birkdale Village.
She's had to adapt to customers more leery of spending their cash.
"As the economy changed, particularly over the last year, it has definitely taken a big chunk of your budget," she said.
To make up the difference, Smith has gotten creative. She's enthusiastically turned to social media and the free advertising that comes with it.
"Every day I'll do something on Twitter or Facebook. I usually will check in the morning when I get up before I get in the shower to see what people are talking about."
Then she comes up with a deal. A rainy day may mean a discount on a facial. Her followers are the first to know.
"I've had incredible results from it," Smith said. "I only see it getting bigger and bigger."
And it's not just stores offering discounts. Restaurants are getting in on the action, too.
"We don't do a lot of marketing," said Haley Shore of 300 East restaurant.
The Charlotte staple may not do much marketing, but Shore is using more social media.
"We'll send out what we might run as a special for the weekend," said Shore.
She says the communication helps build relationships with customers. One example, when the restaurant had a fire a few months ago she sent out updates on when the place would reopen.
"And they were able to reach us also and let us know they were supporting us," she said.
Back at Potion, Smith is always thinking of ways to grow her small business. And in this case, it's a win for her and her customers.
"You can really get a lot of deep discounts if you just look and track them," Smith said.
In most cases, the businesses have fan pages you can follow on Facebook. On Twitter, search the business name to find their feed.
We also found several sites that send out deals on Facebook and Twitter. Check out www.dealseekingmom.com, www.thriftyiscool.com, www.freebies4mom.com and www.twittermoms.com.
