Small Business Social Media 101

"But understand that while you advocate for your company, you are also walking a tightrope from a legal and business point of view."

 

What can you do as a small business owner in order to harness the power of social media such as networking sites, blogs, and message boards to help your own business grow?

According to the New York Times, "Social media for business now is life or death," said Dan Simons, a restaurateur in the Washington area who closely monitors these forums. "You could open a business and do everything right, but if you're unaware of these social media you will perish. Social media can take a business and put a bullet in it."

 

How do you make sure that social media does not put a bullet in your small business? Here is how you can use those concepts for your small business in order to ensure that your business stays a hot spot and not in the hot seat:

 

Keep An Eye Online 

 It is key to know what is being said about you and your small business online. Do a Google search and see what pops up. Do you have a website to promote your small business? Are you listed on any online directories? Is your business reviewed on user sites such as Yelp?

 

Twitter allows you to maintain a Tweetdeck column where you can have a column devoted to Tweets that contain the name of your company. That way you can keep track of what is being said by customers and address any problems they may have immediately.

 

Facebook has groups that are devoted to certain businesses such as the Findlaw Fan Page. You can view these pages and see what customers love and hate about your business.

 

This little primer is just the start to growing your business. The one sure fire way to make sure that your business succeeds is making sure that you stay dedicated. Stay tuned for future posts on how to make your business excel.

 

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