Elizabeth H Cottrell
Many small business owners whose primary business comes from walk-in- traffic wonder whether social media activity is a good use of their time. Here are some great reasons they should jump on the bandwagon and get more visible on at least one or more social media platforms.
Get them talking about you and your great products and services!
If you're not online, you can't be found when people search for keywords in your industry or for stores in your geographic area.
Google can be your best friend if you have a presence online.
When you create great content on your blog or answer questions on forums or in online groups, you display your knowledge and attitude of service.
Sites with question & answer functions, forums, or special interest and industry groups can be a great place to make yourself useful by helping others out or answering questions.
Being active in a social media community is like having a branch store in another neighborhood, but a whole lot less expensive.
Offer coupons or incentives on these sites for folks to come in your store. Many will find you on their mobile phones while they're out looking for someone who does what you do.
Social media sites are usually not where you make the sale, but since people would rather buy from someone they know, like, and trust, these sites are great places to build relationships and get referrals.
You don't have to be everywhere on social media, but you should understand what it does and how you might harness the social media tools best suited for your business.
This helps you become known as someone who is generous with helpful information and knowledgeable about your field.
