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Main Street Gets Social According to the Discover Small Business Watch monthly report, 38 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed said they used Facebook, Linked-In, My Space or Twitter, up from 22 percent in October of 2007.A little less than half of those people, however, said they used their social-networking accounts to promote their businesses. "Of those who use the internet to network, more say they use it for purposes other than getting new business leads," states Ryan Scully, director of Discover's business credit card. "I think this speaks to the fact that there just aren't as many leads out there - on the internet or elsewhere - and open-minded small business owners are trying more avenues to develop new prospects." Discover notes that 62 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed don't have websites for their endeavors.
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| Posted under: Marketing, Online Biz, Small Biz News, Tech
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It seems like you have to get on the social media band wagon or get left behind these days. As someone who is trying to keep up...oh, AND run my business, I'll tell you that its not easy. I'm lucky if I can get 1-2 tweets out per day and review my latest LinkedIn activity 3-4 times per week. I feel like I need to hire staff just to do my social networking!
Michael Giuffrida
ForeSite Technologies, Inc.
http://www.foresitetech.com/blog/
http://twitter.com/smbceo
Everyone keeps talking about being social, but how long can one be social ? Who is going to take care of business while I am being social? Not to mention the computer headache and the carpel tunnel....
My opinion is that social networking is a great way to start, but for a start up business you have to have your product in everyone's face repeatedly, and I just don't know how to do that without a HUGE hole in my pocket.
Can someone suggest something? the traffic at KICKAMESSAGE.COM is good but it can always be better.
Any suggestions?
www.kickamessage.com
What a shocking statistic! 62% of entrepreneurs do not have any sort of web presence. With all the free resources out there it is kind of silly to not be reaching out the web at all. It doesn't have to be time consuming, just have something out there with your name on it.
http://www.royallmedia.com
While online social networking sites can help to create a web presence for your business, I personally have found using online marketing tools such as Google Adwords to be the most cost-effective in attracting consumers specifically looking for your services and products.
When I first hired a company to do this, their lack of transparency and human monitoring of my campaign caused me to spend a ridiculous amount of money without seeing any new business generated. By learning how to effectively generate keyword lists, word ad copy, and daily monitor keyword placements and alter bids, a business can significantly lower their current marketing spend while driving more traffic to their site and receiving more phone calls.
I would be happy to discuss with anyone some ways to keep marketing costs down while attracting more business.
Mark Anthony
Training For Success
www.salestraininganddevelopment.com
347.668.9245
347 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10016
There is a new viral media player being introduced this May. It will allow web sites to share their products on the various sites you mentioned. The price will be $198 a month. It will pay for itself in extra sales.
Getting social is great in all, but what about the rest of your job while you're being social? Just Myspace or Facebook could consume your entire day. Now there are hundreds of social sites. - Where do you start? I spend my entire day in front or a computer and I don't even utilize social sites for anything more than SEO purposes. I mean, twitter is about the only one i have patience for, yet how do you really connect with people in 13 words? And how do you compete with the 500 other people that are fighting for the 10 spots on your twitter page? - Could go all day on this, but with the fast sweeping movement of social networking I'm curious to see how long it take for it to follow in the footsteps of the dot-com's and the real estate market...
Shawn Hutchison
www.OnlineSellingDomination.com
Social media is great to draw traffic to your website, especially Twitter.
See, go to my website http://www.smallbiznetwork.net
I agree with the importance of being up to speed with social networking sites - especially as a small business. SMBs are able to get closer to their customers and are nimble enough to adapt quickly to their changing needs in this current climate. Its never good to hear that "62 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed don't have websites for their endeavors". They are missing out on one very simple way to effectively market their business and grow revenue. Many SMBs are still not aware that you can set up and manage a website for free.
Tim Kimber, Office Live Small Business
Social Networking is a great way to develop leads and become known in your particular industry. As long as you're not spamming, social networking is a key tool when it comes to meeting individuals relative to your industry, developing leads, and getting your message out there.
Those who use social media for purposes other than generating leads may still, in fact, be impacting their businesses. Social medial participation can have an impact on both your personal brand, and if your company is mentioned, your company's brand.
Just as the wise employee knows not to drink to much and jeopardize his/her future at the office Christmas party, the wise business owner will be sure to socialize over the internet in a way that protects, maintains, or establishes a brand that is supportive of their goals for businesses success.
Cecilia Edwards
www.ceciliaedwards.com