[TeacherAngel]

Social media can be a very powerful enemy or ally of small business owners. It is a free platform for advertising and marketing. It is fairly easy to use and has a wide reach too. However, there are some instances when some social media actions, or lack thereof, causes small business to fail with their online endeavors. Small business owners should be careful and consider different factors before they post and share.

Ignorance is Bliss

Some small business owners fail to see the importance of taking their business online to different social networking sites. People have misconceptions about the social media as something that is used when one needs to have fun and meet people. Social media is that and a lot more. Ignoring its importance will not do any small business good. Social media is more than just a fad. It is here to stay and it gets stronger every day. Being left behind in this gift of technology will definitely harm a business especially when their competitors are doing just the opposite.

Official

Contents and design matter when it comes to social media. Small business owners should make sure that the tone of their posts matches their business. If it is a product or service that is for moms, home improvement and childcare tips, cute baby photos, other mom’s success stories, parenting poetry and motherhood memes will definitely work. If it is something for fathers, industrial, word work, automotive contents may also be incorporated. However, when it comes to the background of the profile page and the logo, which is usually used as the profile photo, it should be the same for all social media networking sites. It will give off a formal and official effect that will help earn the profile page viewers’ trust and confidence.

Updates

One of the common mistakes of small business owners is failing to add new contents to their social media pages. It is something that should frequently be updated for exposure and information dissemination. Small business owners should be able to post new content daily, or at least once a week, depending upon the social media page. However, they should not overdo it and give page visitors some time to digest the information, or probably participate in the discussion, before posting a new one. Small business owners should be able to maximize each post before posting a new one.

Interaction

Social media contents should encourage interactivity. It will be best if small business owners will post informational articles and updates that end with a question and probably encourage participation through offering a little something for the one who will come up with the best answer or perhaps an electronic raffle. This will give the content more chances of being shared and getting more viewers or readers. Maximum exposure is one of the goals of starting conversations in social media.

Small business owners will also be able to hit a second bird with a stone since they can read between the lines and recognize the needs and preferences of customers who participate in the online discussion. These may be used as bases for product or service improvement. When customers know that their voices are being heard, it can help small business owners earn their customers’ loyalty.

Small business owners should learn the do’s and don’ts of social networking. They should take advantage of it for the business’s benefit. It is the best way to reach out to their customers.

[cmoneyspinner]

I pity the small business owner who fails to recognize the power of social media. Has it not occurred to them social media was not really created for “business” but for “socializing”. Yet as soon as big businesses (like Coca Cola) realized the number of consumers and potential customers they could reach … it became Facebook For Business Purposes.

A small business owner can choose to be ignorant. But they won't obtain bliss or zen that way.

[TeacherAngel]

That's true. It definitely helps when social media is used to build relationships with the customers and not just to sell.

[kat82]

Social media contents should encourage interactivity. It will be best if small business owners will post informational articles and updates that end with a question and probably encourage participation through offering a little something for the one who will come up with the best answer or perhaps an electronic raffle. This will give the content more chances of being shared and getting more viewers or readers. Maximum exposure is one of the goals of starting conversations in social media.

Interractive content that is not limited means much to people like me. Being allowed to share how you find it or an addition gives one a sense of belonging to that particular content. I also love contents that are interractive in nature and will always contribue to the best of my ability.