3 Reasons Social Media Trumps a Website for Small Business

Social media is everywhere.  It's how people stay connected with the world around them these days.  It has spread the gamete from young to old...social media is a market not to be ignored.  It's true that as a small business a website is good to have and serves a purpose.  But if you have a website and aren't using social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn you are missing a whole market of people.  In fact, I'm going to go as far as saying that having a presence on these sites is probably more important to your small business than a website.  Why?  Glad you asked...

1. It Builds Community
Social media sites, like Facebook, open a whole new world up to small businesses.  The goal in this instance is to have a group of fans or followers who will vouch for your company's services, so that others will hear & try your company then tell their people how pleased they are with what you have to offer. Ever hear of word of mouth marketing, this is it guys.  People trust what their friends and family are saying about a business or product more than they trust what that company's website is saying about itself.  Word of mouth spreads faster and has more credibility.  Before you know it you have a whole community standing behind your business willing to support and pay for your product.

2. Time
Website's take time.  Unless you are professional website guru getting a decent website up and running takes time.  You have to find the right person to help you, you have to get together content, and  once it's all up and running you have to maintain that website.  Keeping it up to date with your latest sales and promotions takes time.  Social media on the other hand works a little differently.  It takes half the time and it's pretty straight forward.  You can set up a Facebook page, put together a post or two, and have a following built up within a couple days.  Social media is set up to connect people to each other.

3. It's free!
Completely free. There's NO money needed to open a Twitter or Facebook account.  Most social media sites offer some marketing features that do cost money, but you don't have to use them to be successful at reaching people.  A website can be a costly expense, especially if you want to do it right.  A website that is not customer friendly and easy to navigate will not hold potential leads long.  It takes money to put a professional site together.  If you need to get the word out about your business and you can't afford a website right away start with social media first.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against using a website.  I'm sure we'll have a few posts on the benefits that websites have to offer small businesses.  But if you are looking for a way to reach a lot of people quickly with out breaking the budget and build a loyal following of customers who support your brand, social media is the way to go.  It is a great resource for new and old businesses alike.  Small businesses have to get the word out there if they want to be found.  Social media is a good first step.


*Image courtesy of BPlanet / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Three thoughts Holding You Back

Whether you've been in business for 6 months or 60 years one thing is true change in inevitable.   Often times it's easy to get stuck on our past success or what we're comfortable with.  What has always worked for us before shouldn't change for the future, right?  A big fat WRONG!  This kind of thinking will not only slow growth, but it could stop it all together.  We have to step out of our safe thinking and open ourselves up for a change.  If you've thought any three of these things below...

1. That's the way we've always done it.

2.  We tried it once why try it again?

3.  We've never done it that way before.

You might be coasting in your comfort zone.  What if Thomas Edison thought to himself, "Well I have this great idea for electric light, but we've always used candles for light.  Besides, I've tried so many times and failed why bother.  We've never used electric light before."  Thankfully, Thomas Edison chose to step out and take a risk.   Imagine what our world would be like if he hadn't!  The same is true for any new business venture or idea.  Thinking like that will not only rob you of profit and time it will choke the life out of you professionally and personally.  Don't let these ideas take root anywhere in your life.

 A friend of mine once said, "The Titanic didn't sink because it was weak, it sank because it didn't change course when it was headed for destruction.  It is equally important for us to pay attention to our direction as it is our condition"  Never being willing to change or the fear of change is a condition thats direction will lead to loss.  What makes a business or person successful is how they handle the change that comes.  If we use change to bring new life and fresh ideas it will catapult us into greater growth and success!  If we ignore it when we see it coming we will go down just like the that "unsinkable" ship.

How can we check ourselves for this and make sure we're ready for change and growth?  Get some fresh perspective and wise council.  People who you have seen succeed through many changes and who you want to emulate.  This will help you evaluate circumstances honestly. Ask yourself is what  I'm doing working to grow my business?  Is it bringing success?   If you need to change, do it.  Make a plan and chart the course. Then bring people along side you, who will take hold of your plan and help remind you that it CAN be done!  To get to the places you've never been, you must go down the roads that you're unfamiliar with.   Now go and chart your course!



*Image Courtesy of Kenneth Cratty @ Free Digital Photos.net
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Priceless

Do you remember a few years back a certain credit card company had an ad going with the tag line "Priceless"?  There were several different ones running.  One ad would flash the little stuff you might spend to get ready for a vacation.  Each item would have it's price.  Each frame built up to the very last frame ending with a  picture of a family moment labeling it priceless.  Admittedly, some could be tear jerkers.  They knew who their market was. The credit card company got it's point across though.  Everything has a price and how much are you willing to pay or in this case charge for it?  There is a real truth in that idea.  Everything of value has a price and the more you value something should determine the price you're willing to pay for it.  

My wife tells a story from when she was 11.  There was a doll the that she wanted. It was a big deal for girls her age to have an American Girl doll.  She wanted her parents to buy the doll for her birthday.  She actually placed catalogs in strategic places through out their house so her parents would pick it up and see the dog eared pages. The doll wasn't cheap and neither were it's accessories.  Her parents told her that she would have to earn the money herself.  So that's what she did.  She worked that summer doing odd jobs for family and friends.  And finally saved one hundred dollars to buy the doll.  She kept it high up on a shelf so it wouldn't break.  She didn't even play with it and still has it today.   Now I can't relate to spending money on a doll, but I know she worked hard and paid the price for it.

There's no getting away from this truth.  It touches all facets of our lives.  What or who we value will determine what we pay for it.  What we hold in high esteem will cost us much.  It can be as simple as saving for a family vacation or as hard as trying to shed some pounds. It can be building a family or building  a business.  These things will cost us our time, money, and require sacrifice.   The higher value you have for something it wont matter how long it takes  to get it.  High value requires  effort, sweat and hard work.  There are no "real" shortcuts.  You can't "charge" it like in the commercial, because then it's not really yours, right. There's risk involved, because YOU are putting all you have out there on the line.  Giving all you have to see something through.  Risking it all means we're putting everything on the line  for the things and people we value the most. 

So why are people willing to pay the price for something when sometimes it seems to take so much from their lives? I think another truth will answer that question.  With great risk comes even greater rewards!  Think on it again...with great risk comes EVEN GREATER REWARDS!!!  The pay off!  That goal, that business, that relationship you worked so hard for will be yours because you never quit.  Because you did give your time, money, and sweat.  You saw the value and you paid the price. The method is not always fun or easy but the outcome is always the same.  If there is something you've been trying to achieve for a while and have not had the success you wanted think on what price you've paid recently for it's success.   We all have things we want, dreams, and goals for our lives. Asking ourselves these two questions might bring fresh perspective. Give it a try this week and see if it helps.  What do you value and are you paying the price for it?  

So, leave a comment! Let us know what you value the most in your personal and  business life. 


**photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/losttulsa/3086353114/">Lost Tulsa</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>

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