Welcome to this issue of 'Savvy Marketing Tips' and to more new subscribers!
Each month we bring you easy to implement tools and tips for your small business, so you can take advantage of the many brilliant low-cost ways of marketing via the internet. We hope you will find our newsletter a welcome and useful addition to your inbox. If you do, please tell others about us so we can reach more people!
Best wishes,
Sam & Louise
the Savvy Marketers
More Savvy Tips from our Blog
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Feature Article : How Networking Online can Help your Small Business
Social or Online Networking, is what makes Web 2.0 work and enables the exchange of information and views. It comprises literally hundreds (around 400) of different websites including: Blogs, forums, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, LinkedIn, Ecademy, YouTube, Flickr, iTunes and Podcasts – to name just a few!
Why is Online Networking important?
• Low/No cost way to build your personal and/or business brand • Connect with influencers, thought leaders, and potential clients all around the world! • Be amongst the first to hear breaking news stories • Spot and follow trends very early on • Research – access to a great and generous community • Get your message out quickly to hundreds and thousands of people • Attract new clients • Share tips with your followers • Build relationships – with friends, clients and JV partners • You’re more visible in the Search Engines – Google likes blogs and Twitter especially.
Which networks should you join?
You do not need to join them all and quality is more important than quantity. Which ones you choose will depend on how much time you have and on your circumstances. If you’re an artist or the creator of something beautiful to look at, you’ll want people to be able to see the results. Joining a site like Flickr.com would be appropriate for you. If you can demonstrate what you do in a short video, YouTube is definitely one to put on your list.
In addition you probably need a blog although this isn’t for everyone. It requires a commitment to post (write entries) on a regular basis, at least 2 to 3 times a week. Nothing is sadder than a deserted blog that hasn’t been updated for months. And if you don’t like writing, there are other ways to find content. Through your blog you can connect with people looking for your area of expertise and get feedback on what you write.
I recommend signing up for Twitter (it’s important to secure your name so no-one else can use it!). It’s the social network making all the headlines at the moment and membership is growing at an amazing rate.
Facebook has lost some of its attraction in the last few months, but is still a powerful force in social networking. What started as a college project, used exclusively by students, in 2004 is now the network of choice in the 35-65 age group!
The other social network gaining in popularity amongst professionals and ‘serious’ business owners is LinkedIn. I’ve noticed over the last few months that people I connect with via Twitter and Facebook are now on LinkedIn. The ‘recommendation’ facility helps build your professional credibility and reputation online.
Summary
Start off by joining Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to attract and make new contacts. Build relationships with those contacts before taking them to your blog or website to convert them into paying clients. Just as with traditional offline networking, it’s a longer term strategy – not an overnight quick fix.
This is obviously just an introduction to online networking, we'll be exploring more in future issues!
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Savvy Marketing Tips are brought to you by the Savvy Marketers, who are Sam McArthur and Louise Barnes-Johnston. We offer no-fluff, low cost, extremely valuable how-to information about marketing via the internet for the small business owner who has little or no prior experience.
