Social Media Marketing for Small Business
Social Media Marketing
Just about every business function including networking, marketing, advertising, reputation-building, hiring, researching and even socializing that we businesses owners cut our teeth on in the “real-world” are now shifting – faster every day – to the virtual world.
Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In weren’t even around 10 years ago, yet look how these social media marketing companies have changed the business climate. (click graphic to open and enlarge in new window)
Social Media Marketing - courtesy of Crowdspring.com
Social Media Marketing specifics
As a local business owner, of particular interest to me is the ease in which we can identify with our customers. Take for instance Facebook. With Facebook a business can set up a company page where members of the company can interact personally with their customers.
Social media marketing works both ways. It also gives the customer a voice and it is an excellent way to interact with companies before or after they do business. Not to mention a customer is able to associate with fellow customers.
Social Media Marketing for small business
Now you might think that setting up and running a fan page or focusing on social media marketing as a whole is reserved for big business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Creating fan pages and connecting with your clients using Facebook and other social media marketing tools such as using Twitter, LinkedIn, Yelp, and Google Places, is excellent for even the smallest business. I look at social media marketing as the “Great Equalizer” for small business because it is a cheap or even free way to get exposure that only big businesses could afford in the past.
Social media marketing strategy
Like every business strategy, the first step in developing your social media marketing presence is to create a plan, and that starts with strategic differentiation followed by goals, and finally outlining the tactical plan itself. Here is a quick mind map of social media marketing networks and easily-achievable goals.
Social Media Marketing Plan - click to open
After you’ve created your plan, I’ve found it easier to use automation tools, such as Hootsuite and Ping.FM, to leverage your message to the masses.
In conclusion, social media marketing is especially useful to small business to connect with prospects and clients as well as to gain exposure in your marketplace.
Scott
Comments
Great post. Every business should have social media set up. If someone comes online searching for a business they want to know what kind of interaction and support they can expect. If they see a vibrant community and social interaction from the business that is gonna set you apart from the competition for sure.
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Hi, this is a great post, and Social Media Marketing is a must for all companies, if one don’t have it you will surely loose out on a lot of business.
FB Fan pages and Twitter also a must as explained in your post.
Your charts and statistics a great eye opener, thank you for the info, and a great site…keep up the good work.
Regards
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