Georgetown business resources
Halton business resources
| Is social media for small businesses? |
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| Internet marketing | ||||
 October 2012 Business Networking Lunch was all about marketing for small businesses. Presented by Catharine Frith of Halton Region Small Business Center the presentation offered general information about types of marketing. This was a bit disappointing for those small business owners who were hoping to hear more specific advice not general textbook definitions. Talking to small business owners both at networking events and while working on their website project, these two statements resonate most of our conversations: 1. " I tried advertising in the paper and it doesn't work." 2. " I should start with Twitter and Facebook but it intimidates me." To answer to the first one... Advertising will not work if it is not thought through and repeated. If your target clients do not read the paper, then it is not your choice of media. But if they do, then you should put a lot of thought into creating your ad. While Independent Free Press will help you design your ad its content or message is up to you. State benefits of your products or services for your customers, offer solutions for people's pains and provide proper contact information. Then contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at The Independent ( 905 873 0301 ext.237). To answer the second one... I am not convinced that social media is the way to go for small businesses for one reason: small business owners do not have enough hours in the day to properly maintain their social media accounts. They may not have enough funds to hire a professional to maintain their social media accounts. I do believe that social media have do have a place as part of a well thought-through marketing strategy. However, no matter how big your business is, I encourage you to properly set up your LinkedIn profile and add connections to your network on ongoing basis. LinkedIn is used the same way as referrals in real life: expect people to check you out (hence spend time on your profile) and check out who you know. I got business from a number of people who knew someone in my LinkedIn connections and approached me. And to get a bit of insight into social media...Seth Godin explains it very well in this two minute video.
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