Static web pages want “cut the Mustard in 2010”! Is your Business Ready?
The old days of just posting a static website with your business address and a contact email want “cut the mustard in 2010” thanks to Social Networking! Social Networking for Business is not posting cute jokes to friends on the popular social platforms. It’s more about a methodology of how to communicate your message to consumers in real-time. To take it a step further, businesses need to focus their efforts on building their social networks from LOCAL CLIENTELE. You know the ones that shop your businesses and use your services. And not worry about conquering the social world.
Why start with local clients? “Success Begins Locally” this means that if you focus your time and resources on local clients the potential for each client to tell another is viral. If you think about it, could you actually handle 4,000,000 million + potential customers (the Population of the State of Alabama in 2008)? More than likely not but damn maybe! The opportunity for your business to make an impact and grow within your local area is unlimited.
So, how do we connect with those 4 million+ consumers? First we have to tidy up the website and get those Social Platforms working for us (Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Digg, Live eNewsletters, or a combination of a few of these) and start farming our local clientele that we invest so much time in everyday. Is this instant? No, but it’s where we have to start by giving incentives to our clients to join our networks and share what they have experienced with shopping our business. Just think if one customer told a family member, friend, and co-worker and those clients told the same your business would grow and spread like wild fire. You say but how? For starters giving the client the opportunity to connect with your business at every Touch Point will be the difference in getting the relationship beyond “hello”. It’s very important that each time you communicate with clients to leave the multiple opportunities to continue the relationship building process.

Here are 5 tips that will help you do just that!
1. Your website should have Social Connections, Live Posts, Subscription to your Blog Posts, etc located right on the front of the Home Page.
2. Use the online method to post Live Specials, Weekly or Daily Specials, Updated News, etc. Satisfied clients will want to stay tuned to new things you’re offering.
3. If the client come into your store you should have a pamphlet with your Website, FaceBook, Twitter, etc on it with incentives for making the connection (ex: discount coupons, post feedback and earn a %off next time you shop, event calendars, etc). If you make home/business calls you should give them a pamphlet including the same information.
4. Business advertisements and Print media should have your business website, social platforms, etc located right where customers can see it.
5. Post new updates and specials regularly. We recommend a minimum of 2 posts per week per account.