Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
Social Media Thrives On Small Business Innovations
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by Matt Hymel
The industry of entrepreneurs is showing great potential going
into the 21st century. With larger companies failing to
consider consumer privacy (Google) or establishing controversial
content censorship (Apple), consumers are shifting toward "locality
with quality."
Any consumer expects the highest quality of work and the
quickest time for service. Customer service is critical in small
business settings since the communication with the client is, more
than not, face-to-face and personal-professional. The integration
of local business mindset and care for customers can translate into
a quality-product image for the overall brand.
Social media has become an inexpensive, effective way
for brands to communicate with and inform their followers with
urgent news or interactive content. New research has proven that top companies
utilize social media to establish and monitor brand image as seen
from the consumer (knowing the discussion is half the
battle).
One element of social media that has gone under the radar is
intimate, real-time contact. Having been swept up in the whirlwind
of celebrity twitter accounts or big-brand flash-enabled Facebook
pages, the underlying purpose of social media for business is to
establish relative connections between your company and its
consumers/clients. Whether it is strictly or loosely professional,
any platform that allows small businesses to observe and analyze
their body of work among consumers can assist their overall
direction and provide insight into future services.
Although research hasn't concentrated on small business social
media activity, there are examples where companies (big brands,
local branches or small brands with loyal followers) have utilized
platforms to promote contests, raise awareness, or "tweet" free
items or services.
Take a peek at some examples:
Mint.com Facebook page uses separate tabs to promote
their iPad Giveaway and their Become a Fan button.
Espresso Royale, a coffee shop with several Midwest locations,
uses its Twitter
account to stay connected with college students and to post
daily specials for its University of Illinois locations.
No matter the size of your business, there's an effective and
potentially lucrative means in exploring social media. Carefully
review your company's current plan and future goals before
considering a full-out social media bum rush. It is smart to tread
the water, use a single platform, before understanding the effects
and expectations. Don't let the overwhelming need to be
"social-media savvy" hold you back - every business (and
individual) uses social media differently.
Approach with excitement but execute with strategy.
Until next time -
Matthew Hymel
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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