A lot of people do not realize that even though you have an online presence in several popular social networks that you are going to reel in the traffic, and then sit back and make money. It takes more than your online efforts.
All those connections online are great, but what about those in your surrounding community. There are thousands of aspiring small business owners who are looking to get ahead. They are struggling with what few tools that have, and with what little knowledge in business practices. They start a business because:
They found a passion they would like to pursue.
No matter what type of service, I have found a lot of business owners who give up because they had no idea they had so much they could do if they had down the work to learn how to manage a business properly. While it is exciting to start a business, it takes a lot of work. People are hard to convince that something is worth purchasing.
If you are doing okay online, try your community. Go to businesses in person, shake their hand, and tell them a little bit how you can help their business grow online. Make sure you have done a little research and know their genre so you can catch their interest the best. They want to make money and if you say you can do it and explain in a brief introduction how you can help them do it, they may just hire you.
These are the people that if they do find success online using your methods, they are going to mention you (both in the community and online) and that will increase your reputation both online and in the community. Online businesses owners might just be the next thing local Rotary clubs and Chamber of Commerce chapters might invite.
Are you reaching out to your local community? How have you connected? What advice can you give for successful encounters with local business owners in increasing their social media marketing awareness?
I'm just getting ready to start an online business site. And I will surely keep your advice in mind and extend my efforts to connecting with my local community as well as connecting with people online. This is good advice that every online business should consider.
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Hello Nile
Nile, I agree many marketers become so focused on internet marketing that they completely ignore tried and true and very cost effective offline marketing ideas. I got caught in that same trap. Offline marketing has great power because many forms are much more personal and leave a greater impression than a banner ad or text link that they only saw in passing. I use a business card with a QR code to offer a service to non profit’s that provides web and mobile technologies to automate fundraising. Using the same technologies attract new customer and improve customer loyalty for the local business.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
Reaching out to the local community with simple advertising in my opinion is a more effective way to market your social media outlets. This is also the target audience especially for a real estate business. Great post!
Again great sharing Nile. Very insightful post. Great advice for those who think that just on-line presence is enough. Yes, local community helps a lot in marketing. Offline marketing is also very important with on-line marketing .
It proves that personal connection is the strongest form of marketing. Humans need to see and feel for themselves for them to believe. Internet marketing is growing but it should still be supplemented with offline strategies.
Thank you, I really appreciate your encouragement, and I LOVE your perspective. I think I’ll be enjoying your content a lot..
Completely agree! Social media success is as much real-life as it is digital. I find that my chats over coffee drive the quality followers and readers that I want. The challenge is great, however, for those of us who are hardcore introverts. We have to find ways to engage in-person and then recharge our batteries…especially after interacting in large groups.
Love the post and comments!
–Sean
Nothings beats hitting the streets and actually talking to someone face to face. There is so much spam out there now days that e-mailing or hitting up Facebook or Twitter can get you nowhere. Actually getting in the door and shaking someone’s hand is a powerful way of building local connections. When we were starting up that was our main point of attack. Main street marketing.
Social Media marketing playing a very vital role for small businesses now a days.
Because, now a days people are mostly using their social media to get the solution of any problem and if you are providing & connecting them through your comments or through e-mails, that way you build your authority and trust from the visitors.
That eventually will help to grow small businesses through social media presence.
Offline marketing has great power because many forms are much more personal and leave a greater impression than a banner ad or text link that they only saw in passing. I use a business card with a QR code to offer a service to non profit’s that provides web and mobile technologies to automate fundraising.
I am also started to business in marketing…Offline marketing has great power because many forms are much more personal and leave a greater impression than a banner ad or text link that they only saw in passing…Thank you
Hi Nile,
I’m new to your blog so I’m reading all your posts and I am just loving them! You have some super awesome advice and I’m so glad I found your blog. 🙂
I’m a social media consultant and even though I love social media to death, nothing beats a face-to-face conversation. Social media can definitely be used to reach those businesses in order to talk to them offline, but no matter how you choose to do it, it’s very important to get offline and chat it up!
Thanks so much for the great advice. 🙂
I think we tend to be so focused on our online strategies that we forget all about the “real” world around us. Because I have always worked online, I have never even bothered with a business card. Why would I need it was my excuse, after all, it’s not as if I rely on business canvassing for my living. Then the other day, I met someone in a social gathering and when he gave me his card, I didn’t even have one to give him!
I partially agree with the contents of the post where many appropriate strategies have been highlighted. But I am afraid that business online is becoming a complex matter with every passing day. The business strategies which were valid a few months back are now losing their efficacy. In order to be successful one has to keep abreast with the changing situations. Pursuing the beaten tracks only will hardly bear any fruit. Still I feel that most of the strategies as mentioned are applicable even in present environment.
Hello Nile… what you have said here also rings true in France. Even if you run an predominantly online business you still need to be out and active in the community. Heaps of our work comes from referrals and repeat business but in order to establish ourselves we had to get out there and talk turkey. 🙂
Know a days Social Media is playing a pivotal role in Internet marketing. Facebook and Twitter are the largest that attracts online viewers. I love you perspective and it is informative. Thanks
Very true…social media is not just only online but to be in personal touch strenghthen the relationship..Internet marketers have the advantage of measuring statistics easily and inexpensively; almost all aspects of an Internet marketing campaign can be traced, measured, and tested…
Great points you discuss with us for social media marketing its very helpful for my business thank you so much for it sharing.
As what you’ve said Nile, house to house selling is indeed a very good form of marketing, but we all know how hard it is to meet any kind of people, one should be as flexible as he/she can be, in order to adjust with them, making good connections and relationships with them and being successful is as easy as pie.
My company used social media and blogging exclusively for our marketing because it was inexpensive and easy. I have found that networking through BNI has been more helpful in developing relationships with people who will refer clients to us.
I agree.
I recently went to my optometrist. I checked her website. It was very well done, but she wasn’t on the first page or even the first 10 pages when I put in the key word Optomertrist (my Town). One of her competitors showed up, but not her.
I mentioned it to her, and told her that many more people are checking the web, rather than the yellow pages. She needed some optimization.