Some interesting data from a new report from Ad-ology called the “Small Business Marketing Forecast 2010”). According to the report, lead generation is the biggest benefit of social networking for US small businesses (50% of respondents), keeping up with the industry (45%), and monitoring online conversations (44%).
The No 1. Roadblock to using social media is the perception that “our customers do not use social networks,” claimed by 31% of small businesses. Nearly as many (29%) say they do not have the time or staff available to do a good job with social network marketing.
Small businesses rated Facebook the most effective social networking sites, with one-third of respondents reporting it was at least somewhat helpful. It was also the social network most likely to be used. Use of LinkedIn was less common, but the business-oriented site was claimed as beneficial by 21% of small businesses, compared with 19% that said the same of Twitter.
Thanks for sharing this info on small businesses and social media with us.
It is surprising to see how many companies do not use YouTube when there are so many “eyeballs” out there eager to watch creative commercials or demos. As with all innovations it will take time for it to become mainstream and to be used properly. Right now social media marketing is still a trial-and-error affair.
Small Business is on the rise thanks to the economy! We finally have a chance to compete with the big companies that spend millions on marketing tools by harnessing the social networks and media.
Once business owners understand the power of social media there will be no stopping them at a local level.
Nice post about social media for small entrepreneurs… Thanks a lot!
I’m in the “29% that say they do not have the time or staff available to do a good job with social network marketing”. I would like to do marketing, but the time is limited
What the internet was 10 years ago social media is today. In fact consumers are less likely to do business unless you have a social media presence.
Social Media Releases are an effective and low-cost way to get key influencers as well as the media to talk about your company. You can use this tool to announce the arrival of a new product, launch a campaign, a promotion, a philanthropic initiative, a community event, etc.