A small business owner has so many other things to do in a day’s work that even taking the time to establish an online presence involves a major effort. But in today’s hyper-competitive networked world, you really can’t afford not to invest some effort into establishing a unique Web brand and using the full potential of the Internet to learn best business practices.
Make social media an integral part of your marketing effort: Develop a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other online gathering places. Post regular updates, giving useful information about your business to existing and potential customers. While you don’t want to spam your audience with multiple messages in a day, frequent updates keep the connection strong. And make sure you cross-promote across several of these platforms to reach the widest group of potential customers possible. If you don’t feel confident about your own media savvy, hire or create a volunteer position for an intern with the skills you need.
Take advantage of resources such as the Wall Street Journal’s Small Business section in its online edition. The WSJ and other business media feature frequent articles giving up-to-the-minute advice. The United States government’s Small Business Administration offers free online courses, tips, and marketing plan templates just for small business owners. Visit http://www.sba.gov to find out more.
About the Author:
Charles L. Starr has more than four decades of experience as a marketing executive for high-profile companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Nestle S.A. He also headed two start-up companies that achieved national presence within a few years of their founding.
Charles L. Starr 