| Social media has become a very useful tool for small | | | | social in your social media. |
| business and their marketing strategy. If you're not | | | | Other companies have gotten on the Twitter |
| using it you are potentially missing out on countless | | | | bandwagon and done nothing with it other than |
| sales and exposure to your niche and community. | | | | claiming their real-estate of a Twitter user name. If it is |
| Marketing has been changing and if you're still just | | | | used as it is intended as a way of making connections |
| using the same old techniques then you're business | | | | with people it could go a long way in improving your |
| isn't living up to its full potential. One way to change this | | | | business. |
| is through social media with resources such as Twitter, | | | | Twitter isn't the only social media out there, Facebook |
| and why not their free. | | | | is probably at current the most famous and you can |
| Four years ago Twitter didn't even exist and even | | | | easily connect with your patrons with on Facebook as |
| yesterday I found people that still had never heard of it, | | | | well. If you use them in unison you're opening the doors |
| but that doesn't mean it hasn't become a huge | | | | to even more opportunities. |
| resource and useful tool to many businesses. In fact it | | | | The key however is that you have to be social in your |
| was claimed the most used word of 2009. | | | | social media marketing, your customers and patrons |
| I know of one restaurant here locally that started giving | | | | need to know that there is a real person on the other |
| out the employee discounts to their followers on | | | | side, someone that they can relate to. Many of the old |
| Twitter, through a password that gets passed every | | | | techniques of billboards and full page adds are not as |
| Tuesday. Every week the password changes. If you | | | | affective as they once were, but when you connect |
| go into the restaurant and order a drink with your meal | | | | with a person it leaves a deeper impression than any |
| you get 20% off. This little tactic has brought increased | | | | sign or advertisement ever will. |
| business on what used to be their slowest day. | | | | The ability for immediate feedback on any changes or |
| Now this advertising hasn't been the only thing that has | | | | proposed changes could save you a lot of money and |
| changed. The restaurant has a way of directly | | | | or ill well with your customers as well. It is also a faster |
| connecting with their customers. The restaurant | | | | way to get a message out. You won't need to wait |
| actually has two different twitter accounts, one for the | | | | and hope that someone sees something in a paper, |
| restaurant and one for the owner. | | | | magazine or any of the old ways, and you have a |
| It's a way for the owner to keep a finger on the pulse | | | | better chance of your message not being |
| of his establishment. He can ask questions and get | | | | mis-understood. |
| immediate feedback on how changes have affected | | | | There are so many ways that Social Media can |
| his customers and customers have a direct connection | | | | positively benefit your business's bottom line that you |
| to voice their opinion. Of course this only works if | | | | really should take another look in using these free |
| you're taking the time to make that connection and be | | | | resources if you are not already. |