Comments on: The five questions small businesses need to ask about social media marketing http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tweets that mention The five questions small businesses need to ask about social media marketing -- Topsy.com http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-9796 Tweets that mention The five questions small businesses need to ask about social media marketing -- Topsy.com Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:00:43 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-9796 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Higher Calling Media, Karen White. Karen White said: The five questions small businesses need to ask about social media marketing http://ow.ly/3Hl3S [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Higher Calling Media, Karen White. Karen White said: The five questions small businesses need to ask about social media marketing http://ow.ly/3Hl3S [...]

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]]> By: Kimmo Linkama http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-4030 Kimmo Linkama Mon, 10 May 2010 19:18:48 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-4030 Got here through your May 10 tweet. I think the fundamental question is your #3: Are my customers using the social web? In the case of my bread-and-butter, B2Bs, not so often. Then again, social media are great for everybody in that they provide search engines a vast number of opportunities to find your name, opinion and expertise. When we know that three-quarters of B2B purchase decisions begin with an online search, this is not something you will want to waste. Got here through your May 10 tweet. I think the fundamental question is your #3: Are my customers using the social web?

In the case of my bread-and-butter, B2Bs, not so often.

Then again, social media are great for everybody in that they provide search engines a vast number of opportunities to find your name, opinion and expertise. When we know that three-quarters of B2B purchase decisions begin with an online search, this is not something you will want to waste.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-2576 Mark Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:46:37 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-2576 Great! Thanks for the clarification and thanks again for taking the time to comment! Great! Thanks for the clarification and thanks again for taking the time to comment!

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]]> By: boomergirl http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-2569 boomergirl Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:03:47 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-2569 LOL. I wasn't referring to our blog when I asked that last question but above doesn't really explain that. I think you might agree that it is written with enthusiasm and delight. It was based on the opinion of someone who like you, pitches himself as a social marketing consultant. LOL. I wasn’t referring to our blog when I asked that last question but above doesn’t really explain that. I think you might agree that it is written with enthusiasm and delight. It was based on the opinion of someone who like you, pitches himself as a social marketing consultant.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-2564 Mark Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:29:51 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-2564 @boomergirl I think you're in danger or thinking too much! I'm not sure how you can sustain a business blog based on lust, at least not one i would visit very often! One idea is to just be yourself, even in your business blog. If you write about the things that excite and delight you, your audience will find you. If you try to fake it to align with some business theory of human motivations, people will probably see through it. Keep it real, have fun, be kind. @boomergirl I think you’re in danger or thinking too much! I’m not sure how you can sustain a business blog based on lust, at least not one i would visit very often!

One idea is to just be yourself, even in your business blog. If you write about the things that excite and delight you, your audience will find you. If you try to fake it to align with some business theory of human motivations, people will probably see through it. Keep it real, have fun, be kind.

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]]> By: boomergirl http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-2559 boomergirl Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:56:22 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-2559 We can't decide if we use our blog as a calling card for the rest of the PR services we offer or spend more time trying to monetize the blog. Both of us have marketing and advertising backgrounds. He in creative, me in marketing tourism. Rebuilding wordpress site with newer technology. Have spent hours talking with those with their heads deep in SM. Am told successful sites cater to one of 3 "human" things: fear, lust or greed. Would you agree? We can’t decide if we use our blog as a calling card for the rest of the PR services we offer or spend more time trying to monetize the blog. Both of us have marketing and advertising backgrounds. He in creative, me in marketing tourism. Rebuilding wordpress site with newer technology. Have spent hours talking with those with their heads deep in SM. Am told successful sites cater to one of 3 “human” things: fear, lust or greed. Would you agree?

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-1777 Mark Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:41:21 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-1777 @ Jon Great success story. i especially like the part about engaging with negative comments honestly. When customers see a response (new menu items) that would really secure loyalty. Good lesson there! @ Jon Great success story. i especially like the part about engaging with negative comments honestly. When customers see a response (new menu items) that would really secure loyalty. Good lesson there!

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]]> By: Jon Buscall http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-1776 Jon Buscall Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:15:03 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-1776 I think we need to get businesses to think about their desired outcome and how best to get there. For example, a restaurant I know in not so great a location wanted to increase visitors to their lunch session and generate better word of mouth. They didn't have money to advertise and couldn't get a review in the local paper. So they created a Facebook Fan Page and put an iMac near the door, and encouraged people to leave comments, join the page, etc. Over fourth months the page has increased word of mouth, particularly when they tied it in with a twitter account and got kitchen staff to tweet. The page was also a great way of getting feedback on their lunch and service. Even the negative stuff gave it a genuine edge because they engaged with the comments honestly and in a way that showed they were dialoguing. The end result was that the restaurant is one of the most popular lunch places in south Stockholm, with an excellent word of mouth. They started off asking what they wanted to achieve (visitors) Looked at how realistic a social media initiative would be (using an old computer) Committed a certain amount of budget (the computer) Measured their success by watching the number of fans grow and interactions increase and then used this to improve the service by asking their community what specials / foods they should be offering. Real life social marketing in action! I think we need to get businesses to think about their desired outcome and how best to get there.

For example, a restaurant I know in not so great a location wanted to increase visitors to their lunch session and generate better word of mouth. They didn’t have money to advertise and couldn’t get a review in the local paper.

So they created a Facebook Fan Page and put an iMac near the door, and encouraged people to leave comments, join the page, etc.

Over fourth months the page has increased word of mouth, particularly when they tied it in with a twitter account and got kitchen staff to tweet.

The page was also a great way of getting feedback on their lunch and service. Even the negative stuff gave it a genuine edge because they engaged with the comments honestly and in a way that showed they were dialoguing.

The end result was that the restaurant is one of the most popular lunch places in south Stockholm, with an excellent word of mouth.

They started off asking what they wanted to achieve (visitors)
Looked at how realistic a social media initiative would be (using an old computer)
Committed a certain amount of budget (the computer)
Measured their success by watching the number of fans grow and interactions increase and then used this to improve the service by asking their community what specials / foods they should be offering.

Real life social marketing in action!

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]]> By: Jenn Whinnem http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-1774 Jenn Whinnem Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:25:55 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-1774 @Mark - I'm always happy to support this blog! @Alexandria - that seems to be how it's worked for me & my company too. @Mark – I’m always happy to support this blog!

@Alexandria – that seems to be how it’s worked for me & my company too.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/07/the-five-questions-small-businesses-need-to-ask-about-social-media-marketing/#comment-1773 Mark Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:47:55 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1737#comment-1773 @Alexandria So pleased this will help you out. Nothing makes me feel better than hearing the blog created value for somebody in the {grow} community. Well, actually there might be one or two things that make me feel better, but we won't go there. This is a family blog. Thanks for taking the time to comment! @Alexandria So pleased this will help you out. Nothing makes me feel better than hearing the blog created value for somebody in the {grow} community. Well, actually there might be one or two things that make me feel better, but we won’t go there. This is a family blog.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

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