Social Networking sites are changing the face of the internet. The internet started out as a one-way resource for information where voices were heard through anyone willing to take the time to build a website and post information about a particular niche topic. The internet has now evolved into a conversation. Millions of blog posts are posted daily and billions of comments and ratings are published in reaction the content produced. We are a social society, so it’s only fitting that the internet become a social web of interactions.
Small business is slowly realizing that having a website isn’t enough anymore. Or if they do have a website, it better not function solely as a business card. Web visitors want to interact with brands. They want to build trust with you before they use your products or services. The best way to do this is by implementing a social media marketing strategy. Social media works with small business, because it is designed to help businesses connect with customers on a local level. In downtown Orlando, many night clubs, bars, and restaurants are finding that connecting with people on Facebook and Twitter is a great way to get the word out about their promotions and discounts. This is happening all over the country, and here’s why it works:
Customers take ownership of certain small businesses
Most people can list off the top of their head their favorite bar, favorite breakfast place, favorite boutique, and favorite pizza place. We naturally like to take ownership of local businesses that we enjoy patronizing. Engaging in social media with your customers helps them solidify this ownership mentality. By starting a Facebook page, you can respond to customer requests, update them on new menu items and concert events. If you are a franchise of a larger brand, you can separate yourself from other franchisees by offering incentives on Facebook and Twitter to encourage repeat business by casual customers.
Gain Customer Trust
Creating a presence on social media sites puts businesses at a certain level of vulnerability. They are now opening up the conversation stream for customers to critique them, praise them, and offer suggestions. What many small businesses fail to realize is that customers appreciate when they see small businesses making an attempt to reach out to their customer base. If you are honest on your social media outlets and you respond to customer inquiries, you’ll gain their trust, and they will choose you over your competition.
Establish a New Voice
Do you want to tap into a younger demographic? Do you find that no one young comes into your store? Then, you need to go to where they are. They are never going to find your website no matter how much search engine optimization you do. Building a Facebook page and sharing it with friends and family will start the snow ball effect of viral word-of-mouth advertising. But, having a Facebook page means nothing. You must fill it with fun, relevant content. The content is your voice. Don’t sound like a business owner. Don’t sound like someone’s parent. Sound like their friend, and they will respond favorably
If you’re a small business with questions about marketing your business on social networking sites, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Tags: facebook marketing, orlando internet marketing, orlando social media marketing, small business marketing, twitter marketing