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Social Networking Pages and the Small Business

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Social networking sites are internet behemoths. You would be hard pressed to find a person who is not connected to any one of the popular sites. Many small businesses are also clamoring to sigh up for an account and start networking. Let’s take a look at social networking from a small business point of view.

The amount of people who spend their time posting, tweeting and blogging grows each day. Facebook alone is one of the most visited websites in the world. Users are avid about checking their pages and sharing their lives. If they like something, they will proclaim it proudly with the click of the very recognizable thumb icon of Facebook. They will also link that site to another account like Twitter and in one post, shout out to the world at large.

Small businesses may gain an edge in participating in social networking sites. Depending on what kind of business you have, or who your customer base is, you can reach people like never before. Not only are you able to connect with existing customers or clients in your area, you can expose your brand to a broader market. By optimising your use of such sites you might find that your customer list will blossom.

If you have an upcoming sale or special event, you can alert your followers in an instant. It can be challenging for small business owners to expand their brand in the marketplace. Social networking sites are a good resource to introduce yourself to the networking world.

 

Filed Under: Blog Marketing, Marketing Basics Tagged With: , ,

3 Ways Auto Companies are Using Social Media

Social media has turned into a great selling tool for many businesses, and auto companies are no exception. Social media serves as a platform to reach new customers who may not be watching TV to see car commercials. Indeed, recent surveys suggest that more than half of companies are now using sites like Twitter to connect more personally with the public.  Naturally, more of the marketing budget is now heading toward online social media and away from conventional avenues like television and the Sunday paper. Here are three ways auto companies are using social media to move vehicles.

1.) Twitter- Auto makers such as Volvo, General Motors, and Ford Motor Co., have been using Twitter almost since its inception to connect with users and get the word out about their latest line of vehicles. Twitter can be used for everything from launching a new line to advertising car refinancing and there is an open eared public hungry for the updates.

2.) Corporate Blog- GM is just one instance of a premier auto maker using a blog to inform the public of what’s new at the company. This has been especially valuable for a company like GM. They have received bad media publicity and this serves as an outlet to get their own voice heard. GM has also made great use of Twitter, assigning up to 40 employees to post on the site.

3.) Facebook- Nearly all auto makers now have a Facebook page. In addition to traditional websites, Facebook allows auto makers to reach the car buying public and keep them updated on the newest cars they have to offer.

 

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Characteristics of Successful Internet Businesses

Since the advent of the Internet, entrepreneurs have been taking advantage of the enormous platform the Internet creates. From Amazon to Facebook, the Internet has some amazing business success stories. Business executives, analysts and scholars have long tried to crack the code to determine how these entrepreneurs became so successful. While their stories are all different, many Internet entrepreneurs share similar characteristics that have helped get them to the top of their game. Here’s a look at a few of these characteristics.

Frugality

With Amazon and Apple famously having humble beginnings, it’s no secret that Internet businesses don’t need large amounts of capital to create something revolutionary. Mint.com founder Aaron Patzer, has long touted the importance of being frugal. The very site he created helps users find deals to save their money and improve their financial lives. Patzer’s site started with small beginnings, and has grown slowly ever since; they run on the principal of asking for investors only whne needed.

Simplicity

Websites don’t always have to have all the bells and whistles to be money-making machines. Take YouTube as the prime example. The site simply allows users to upload videos. Nevertheless, it’s a useful, entertaining tool that has taken the world by storm; users share YouTube videos over blogs, Facebook and emails. Google purchased YouTube in 2007 for $1 billion.

Flexibility

Facebook is a premier example of a company that has grown and changed over the years to meet the needs and demands of its users. Facebook has updated its interface several times over the years to pioneer new . Some changes have been successful, but others have not. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Facebook understands it cannot rest comfortably on its exiting product; they must evolve with their users.

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