Small Business and Social Media

In the next series of blog posts,  I will explore the expanding use of social media in conjunction with small business marketing. Recently I changed my tag line to reflect this growing reality. I now tell people,    

“I help smal business owner get more customers using the internet.”  This replaces my earlier version “I help small business owners get more customers using their website.” 

I will concentrate on what is social media?  Why, where, when and how can social media be used by small business owner to get more customers to their businesses.  I hope you will go with me on this journey and give me your own feedback on these thoughts. After all, isn’t interaction the goal of social media and social networking? 

Here are some learning expectations I have for these posts:

First—what starts as a social phenomenon, something people use in their ordinary lives, in a short time finds its way into a commercial application. Can you believe that early critics of the internet said it had no commercial value? Email started as a communication tool between friends. Now we have email marketing and email has become the standard in business communications. Businesses find ways to monetize these social realities.

Second–like any business tool you can use the tool and then you can use the tool! Yellow pages ads are business tools. Most business owners do poorly with them. That does not make it a bad tool just a poor application of a good tool. The success businesses learn how to master the tools.  How can you master the social networking tools?

Third–I am convinced that over time, digital social networking will over-shadow the traditional notions of business networking. The empire of BNI groups will shirk. Digital networking can be so much more effective, efficient and targeted than the normal business networking groups. People are comfortable with digital connecting.  There are no space or time limitations with social networking like a meeting that happens on a Wednesday morning!

Fourth–social media demands even more focus on who you are as a business, what you do and how your product or service is unique and beneficial to your customers. Since social networking takes place on line, you must be absolutely clear about these basic business qualities if you are going to be success. Sloppy business practices will not make it on social media programs.  

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal