After years of kids in their twenties making money on the internet from their bedrooms now more and more Small Business owners are realizing the internet is an extremely powerful way to generate leads, make sales and grow their small business.
When it comes to growing your small business using the internet, it seems everyone is talking about the power of social media and how it can rapidly grow your online presence, generate leads and customers. In this article you are going to learn what social media is and how you can use social media to grow your small business.
Small Business And Social Media – What Is It?
Social networking or media can be defined in many ways however the simplest definition I found is: Social media is any form of online publication or presence that allows end users to engage in multi-directional conversations in or around the content on the website.
Social networking or media is transparent, it allows freedom of speech of the users to share their opinions, discuss the topics further and share all of this with their friends, and colleges.
Some examples of websites that demonstrate the power of social networking and media are: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, MySpace and LinkedIn just to name a few popular ones. All these website are completely free to use and free to share almost any information you wish, whether it is for personal or business matters.
Small Business And Social Media – Why Use It
Here are a few reasons why as a small business you should be using social media:
Word-of-mouth – For years people have raved about word or mouth marketing and how it is one of the most powerful forms of marketing around. Social media simply puts word of mouth marketing on steroids.
Communication – Social networking/media allows you to connect with your customers and potential customers on a more personal level, allowing your customers to see a real face behind the business, it also allows your customers to communicate with you in an instant.
Low Cost, High ROI – To costs involved are minimum at best and when compared to traditional marketing and promotional methods the return on investment can be unmatched using social networking/media.
Small Business And Social Media – How To Use It
Once you have created your profiles on all the major social media sites, you then want to create valuable content that is related to your target market. Some examples could be videos that answer the most common questions you get about your product or service and share on your profiles. Or provide free advice, like how to get stains out of your carpet if you are in the carpet cleaning business.
Social networking and media is about people and relationships, so the more value, advice, tips and general positive information you share the more it will be shared by others.
The next step is to direct the people who visit your profile and content to your website or mailing list and this is where you can now start introducing them to your products or service. Ideally you want to direct your potential customers and leads to your mailing list, this way you can continue to communicate and build a relationship with these people even long after they have visited any one of your social media profiles.
Author: Sam Stone
About the Author
Sam Stone invites you to discover new ways of making the most out of your business by utilizing the power of the internet. Before you flush away your money hiring an internet marketing company, please watch this short, eye-opening, Video Presentation for Small Business Owners now!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/how-to-grow-your-small-business-using-social-media-3189393.html
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