Comments on: Small Business Marketing & More: Social Networking Can Be a Friend Indeed Article at TheStreet.com http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-more-social-networking-can-be-a-friend-indeed-article-at-thestreetcom/ generating leads using new media Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:14:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Cynthia Trevino http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-more-social-networking-can-be-a-friend-indeed-article-at-thestreetcom/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Cynthia Trevino Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:15:41 +0000 http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-more-social-networking-can-be-a-friend-indeed-article-at-thestreetcom/#comment-192 Hi Mark, For small businesses especially, social media in the form of online communities could be valuable. I agree, in the partner channel, for one, sales people in different channels could access a private online social network and share what works/doesn't work for a new product introduction. From a vendor standpoint, last fall, Marketing Sherpa did a case study on a software company that launched a successful year-long campaign and joined ITToolbox.com. They were careful to participate as community members and contribute to the conversation. After sometime, they offered white papers to community members in key stages of the sales cycle. I posted about the story here http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/using-social-networking-sites-for-lead-generation-marketing-sherpa-success-story/ It is a very interesting example; the company took a long view of how long it would take to see results. That's a good thing; when vendors become community members they must do that. This type of effort is not a traditional marketing campaign by any means. Hope this helps. -Cynthia Hi Mark,

For small businesses especially, social media in the form of online communities could be valuable. I agree, in the partner channel, for one, sales people in different channels could access a private online social network and share what works/doesn’t work for a new product introduction.

From a vendor standpoint, last fall, Marketing Sherpa did a case study on a software company that launched a successful year-long campaign and joined ITToolbox.com. They were careful to participate as community members and contribute to the conversation. After sometime, they offered white papers to community members in key stages of the sales cycle. I posted about the story here http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/using-social-networking-sites-for-lead-generation-marketing-sherpa-success-story/

It is a very interesting example; the company took a long view of how long it would take to see results. That’s a good thing; when vendors become community members they must do that. This type of effort is not a traditional marketing campaign by any means.

Hope this helps.

-Cynthia

]]> By: Mark Gregory http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-more-social-networking-can-be-a-friend-indeed-article-at-thestreetcom/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Mark Gregory Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:23:31 +0000 http://www.smallcompanybigimage.com/small-business-marketing-more-social-networking-can-be-a-friend-indeed-article-at-thestreetcom/#comment-190 An intriguing dimention of social media is in BtoB community development. What works for a customer perhaps can work for a group of business partners engaged in similar but possibly competitive market offerings and in a community of vendor to business partner relationships. Imagine the power of social media in the cultivation of complimentary business partners making connections to form a larger solution. Would there be an advantage of a vendor plugging into a business partner community and if so, how or what would be the advantage? That one I have not figured out yet. Developing the value of social media in the business partner channel has to be a next dimension of social media development. An intriguing dimention of social media is in BtoB community development. What works for a customer perhaps can work for a group of business partners engaged in similar but possibly competitive market offerings and in a community of vendor to business partner relationships. Imagine the power of social media in the cultivation of complimentary business partners making connections to form a larger solution. Would there be an advantage of a vendor plugging into a business partner community and if so, how or what would be the advantage? That one I have not figured out yet. Developing the value of social media in the business partner channel has to be a next dimension of social media development.

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