How to use social media in small business

Social Media in small businesses is becoming more common, many are aware of the potential benefits that can be developed. Many are still lagging behind as the recent survey by Citibank has portrayed (Reuters, 2009). 86% of small businesses in the US (under 100 employees) do not use social networking sites or do not find them useful in generating business leads or to expand business, can you believe that?! I sure can.

Those small businesses that use social media correctly will be using it as a relationship marketing tool rather than a point of sale tool. To do this, it does take a considered effort and time to start creating the social networks that your business can benefit from. As within the physical world networks and relationships take time develop. Small businesses need to make time or hire SMO professionals to develop social media strategies that suit their business.

There are many social media outlets such as blogging, networking, and bookmarking. What is important is that a company does not get excited and start creating profiles all over the web and jump straight into writing a blog.

A business must get try and optimize the way they communicate their brands message through social media the first time. It is important that the message in which the company is communicating is integrated consistently with the current brand image and positioning. Social media has many mediums in which to communicate across; small businesses need to be made aware of how one should communicate consistently along these mediums.

J. Jantsch (2008) describes Blogging as the doorway to these social media. Small businesses should start here and use blogging to build a strong social media pyramid.

Blogs provide the vital need of a small business by creating content in context which produces connections with other parties that are looking for what you provide. In turn this will create a valuable community of relationships around the business in which it can utilize.

Blogs need to be rich in content and in the context of the businesses interests. Businesses will need to start off by visiting and monitoring many blogs, comment on them, then start by posting blogs often. This should be used as a cycle.

Many other social medias will help facilitate this process. The use of RSS technologies and social bookmarking can put your blogs in the view of others looking for the material and new information that you are showcasing. Your blogs need to be seen and this will help to get them in direct contact with those who want your information you are posting on. This will help to create a following for your work and create connections that can be administered on the small businesses social network platforms

Social networking sites are a must, but they need to be chosen carefully. There is no point in using a huge range of sites. A select few need to be chosen and optimized. They need to be regularly updated, that means posting links to your blogs, press releases, and articles on the businesses social network profiles. Social networks are very important mediums in which small businesses need to use to interact with its new connections and build meaningful business relationships.

The use of social media by small businesses needs to focus on quality content within relevant context to create connections that will build a community of business relationships and opportunity. Small businesses need to use social media as a relationship management tool and not as a short term direct means increasing sales. Only then will small businesses reap the benefits of social media marketing.

Content + Context + Connections + Community = Successful Social Media Marketing