subject: Why Social Media and Small Business Go Hand and Hand [print this page] Why Social Media and Small Business Go Hand and Hand
Everywhere you look, small businesses are venturing out into social media. It's easy to see the appeal; social media sites are very "in" at the moment, thanks to movies like The Social Network and many Celebrity Tweets. The average business owner thinks, sure, why not? I can update my company status several times a day if it makes me money!
However, many company heads quickly learn that social media has the potential to be a waste of time just as it does a great business opportunity. Company heads may feel disappointed in their lack of online interest, or may feel that updating the page is using up company resources. This is a common problem in social media marketing and it stems from unfamiliarity with the Internet and with this technology in general.
If you actually take the time to learn the ins and outs of social media, you will see the advantages of incorporating sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and MySpace into your marketing plans. First, understand the advantages that come with this type of marketing. Though it may cost a fee to create a page initially, eventually social media can become a free or inexpensive way of advertising. It also helps to brand your company, keep in contact with your customers and prospects, survey your customers, and interact with a larger community.
Unfortunately, many companies charge into the social media world without really thinking about their long-term strategy. Public advertising only becomes a resource waste if you don't accomplish directives and if there is no way of measuring your success. These are two important parts of any social media campaign. What can you expect to accomplish in social media? What online tools can you use for reporting progress?
Yes, these are real marketing issues, usually supervised by experienced marketers in corporations, but somehow delegated to entry-level employees in many instances. Social marketing should be handled by a marketing expert, one capable of establishing goals for the company, and tracking success. This is why many companies today are hiring online marketing firms to handle their social marketing needs.
This type of arrangement may involve starting a social media page, creating profiles and photos, and finding prospects to join the company page. Status updates are usually used to advertise specials or unique opportunities for customers. Advanced social media marketing may include posting external links that relate to the company's industry, or even investing in SEO or email marketing that complement the social media page.
Indeed, social media is not just another website to use in advertising. It is a new marketing technology and one that can truly make a business thrive!
