Comments on: Small Business Marketing in Tough Times? Have Conversations with Your Customers http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-in-tough-times-have-conversations-with-your-customers/ Business Blogs That Work Sun, 25 Sep 2011 11:57:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Teresha http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-in-tough-times-have-conversations-with-your-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Teresha Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:34:24 +0000 http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-in-tough-times-have-conversations-with-your-customers/#comment-213 Very interesting post and I think it's very good advice. So much is made of social marketing that some jump in head first without finding out if it's necessary for them and then are put off the entire idea due to the amount of time and effort required with very little to show for it. However, I would suggest that even for very small companies with a predominantly "inactive" customer base there are a few basic social marketing activities that are almost a requirement in today's world. First - make sure you are visible on the prominent online directories such as Google Local, Yelp (for the US) and Bizwiki.co.uk for the UK. I'm not suggesting that you just list your address, I am suggesting you take advantage of whatever opportunities the directory gives you to really make a case for yourself. For example, on Bizwiki we allow companies to post their history, services, products, branches, specialisations, opening hours and other factual information. Second - I would suggest that businesses actively solicit positive reviews. Sites like Yelp rank business listings based on the number of positive reviews so ask for them. Every time a customer says they've had a positive experience or thanks you for sorting out a problem send them your listing link on Yelp, Bizwiki, Google or whatever site and ask them to tell the world about it. If companies do nothing else but ensure they are well listed and well reviewed on the free business directories they will probably have done enough social marketing. Most small businesses, especially those offering products or very local services, would not require anything more. I agree that every business is different and some may not even require that level of online social marketing but the trend towards using the internet in place of the phone book and taking reviews into account when making purchase decisions is growing. Very interesting post and I think it’s very good advice. So much is made of social marketing that some jump in head first without finding out if it’s necessary for them and then are put off the entire idea due to the amount of time and effort required with very little to show for it.

However, I would suggest that even for very small companies with a predominantly “inactive” customer base there are a few basic social marketing activities that are almost a requirement in today’s world.

First – make sure you are visible on the prominent online directories such as Google Local, Yelp (for the US) and Bizwiki.co.uk for the UK. I’m not suggesting that you just list your address, I am suggesting you take advantage of whatever opportunities the directory gives you to really make a case for yourself. For example, on Bizwiki we allow companies to post their history, services, products, branches, specialisations, opening hours and other factual information.

Second – I would suggest that businesses actively solicit positive reviews. Sites like Yelp rank business listings based on the number of positive reviews so ask for them. Every time a customer says they’ve had a positive experience or thanks you for sorting out a problem send them your listing link on Yelp, Bizwiki, Google or whatever site and ask them to tell the world about it.

If companies do nothing else but ensure they are well listed and well reviewed on the free business directories they will probably have done enough social marketing. Most small businesses, especially those offering products or very local services, would not require anything more.

I agree that every business is different and some may not even require that level of online social marketing but the trend towards using the internet in place of the phone book and taking reviews into account when making purchase decisions is growing.

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