Social Media and Small Business

If you are running a small business, taking advantage of social media tools can be the great leveler between you and the big boys.  Can’t afford expensive ad campaigns on television or radio? No problem.  Channels such as the Internet combined with mobile technology should be your friend. The beauty of an online presence is that a well-designed web site and its trimmings can make your company appear larger than it actually may actually be. Who can tell a “mom and pop” operation from the behemoth anymore?  If your company is internet-based, who knows if you even have a warehouse full of inventory. The manufacturer or distributor can be carrying it all for you.

About social media. Develop a dialogue with your customers. That’s what it’s all about today. By establishing a direct communication link between you and your customers, you learn about their likes and dislikes.  They will tell you what they like about your products, your customer service and more.  Isn’t that what you should want anyway? Your customers can help you hone what to sell and improve your level of service with the feedback they provide.

So, develop a conversation with your customers through the likes of Facebook and Twitter.  Let them know about promotions with a Tweet.  Enable your customers to post comments on Facebook.  Why not share your expertise by writing postings to a blog linked to your web site.

If you don’t know where to start, there are lots of books out there about social media and small business.  The more you read and observe how others are using it, the more it will make sense.  One book I recommend is the Complete Idiots Guide to Social Media Marketing by Jennifer Abernethy.  It’s fairly comprehensive and easy to follow.

 

 

Advertisement