Leila Bedoian, the owner of The Local St. Augustine, a retro-style motel on Anastasia Island, is speaking out against the possibility of a nationwide TikTok ban following President Joe Biden signing a bill. Bedoian explains that TikTok is crucial for her business as it allows her to share information not only about her hotel but also about the local community and attractions in St. Augustine, a city with plenty to offer.
The motel, which Bedoian transformed from a rundown roadside accommodation to a vibrant and shareable destination in 2021, was recently voted the number one roadside hotel in the country by USA Today. She credits part of this success to her active presence on TikTok, where one of her videos went viral, leading to a significant increase in website traffic and brand awareness for her business.
Research from Oxford Economics shows that small businesses in Florida used TikTok to support thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue in 2021. Bedoian emphasizes the importance of TikTok for reaching new customers and creating brand awareness, expressing concern about the potential consequences of a ban on small business owners like herself.
As a business owner who relies on organic marketing and social media presence to reach customers, Bedoian worries about the challenges of finding alternative ways to connect with her audience if TikTok were to be banned in the U.S. She believes that Congress needs to consider the impact on local businesses before making decisions that could significantly affect their ability to thrive and grow.