If there was one hot topic today in the Essex Ecademy Networking meeting today it was the role of the Internet and Social Media in boosting sales for local businesses.
Many people still think that Twitter, Facebook and Blogging is simply not something that their business requires. Many people just cannot understand why they would benefit from having a presence on a social media platform that is populated with teenagers chatting about the latest episode of Hollyoaks. But Social Media and Social Networking has evolved. In fact, it has been hijacked – by shrewd and cunning business entrepreneurs that can spot an opportunity when it arises. So, how can you learn more about Social Networking?
On the Wednesday 19th May there will be a Business Networking event at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford where social media experts will speak about the developments in this industry and what it means for Essex business. The keynote speaker will be John Popolini, with Mark Shaw and Alan Stevens talking about Twitter and how to generate free publicity. More on this event will be published when full details are announced. Find out more.
Baiju Solanki from Performance Coaching and Training talked to the group about his plans to start a regular group dedicated to learning more about the role Social Media Networking can play in promoting traditional businesses.The group will meet in a location with wireless Internet, and everyone will bring their laptop. Then Baiju Solanki will teach people first hand how to start building their social media presence.
Basics of Social Media and Social Networking
Firstly, do not forget when social media networking started online: in forums. It then moved to blogs, then more complex sites such as Ecademy, Facebook, Linkdin and Twitter. There is a wide range of options for social media networking for businesses, but really the core of it lies in Blogging, Twitter and Facebook.
Every business should endeavour to run a blog as part of their website. A blog can be about anything. A blog can be used to provide customer service updates, announce events, new product ranges or services, or explain regulatory changes that affect the specific industry. There are no restrictions on what you can blog about, and providing interesting fresh content to your website will help to boost your ranking in the search engines. Also, blogging should allow readers to comment and discuss the topics that are being raised. So your blog is your own personal social media network!
Next is Twitter. It started out as the Internet’s equivalent of sending text messages. Soon however, businesses found that Twitter provided an excellent platform to communicate with customers in a fast and efficient manner. Twitter and blogging can be combined. For example, Morrowtech.co.uk build websites/blogs that allow you to both update your Twitter page automatically when you blog, or automatically create blog entries using the latest Twitter posts. So you only need to use one system to add content to both.
Facebook is another hugely successful social networking site. Although it developed for non-business activities, businesses have found that Facebook is a fantastic way to reach out to their clients, and keep clients informed of new services and products. Companies can create pages on Facebook which allow you to manage discussions and notify members of events.
There are many other options for social networking that apply to just about any business. Search Google for a forum related to your industry and you will find people that are discussing the latest trends and rules that govern your business. Not being part of these communities means that you are already behind the competition.
If you wish to find out more about social media and social networking, and how it can help your business, then get along to one of the Essex Ecademy networking meetings, keep an eye out for Baiju Solanki’s new working groups, or get along to the Shire Hall in May to listen to some social networking experts. More on that soon. Got any questions about social media and social networking, then ask here. Essex Portal is a social media site as well as a business news portal!
Related News and Events:
- Essex Ecademy Coffee Networking Group
- Does Your Business Need a Pro Blogger?
- World Cup Networking – Social Media Event – Chelmsford – 19 May 2010
- SEO Advice for Essex Businesses
- Essex Portal Website SEO, Marketing and Promotion Services
Really good advice in this article.
Furthermore, social networking can have more relevance for small businesses looking to market themselves locally than they might think.
For example Facebook pay per click adverts can be targeted very effectively down to town level, and new social media sites like our own, Youressex.net, are actively targeting more local level social networking, or geo-social networking as we call it. YourEssex.net has literally just launched, and is our second geosocial site after previously developing the model in Kent, http://www.kent.co.uk.
In short, social networking can no longer be dismissed by even the smallest local businesses – it can now play a useful role in most online marketing campaigns.