November 9, 2009
Why is Small Business Failing with Social Media?
Here we go again Folks…what is up with this just released Shocking Statistic?
"76% of small businesses still do NOT find social media useful in generating business."
My passion is teaching, informing and letting people know how to "entrepreneur their lives!" You must adopt an attitude of learning into your daily thinking..that much I know for sure!
Here is a timely article on small business owners being slow to move to Social Media..it is NOT A FAD! It is a lasting trend that is changing our world as we know it…forever. This landscape is one to jump into…and get onboard!
"Change is not death,
Fear of change is death!"
Gaping void.
MASHABLE just reported a statistic that blew my mind: 76% of small businesses still do NOT find social media useful in generating business.
Gasp!
I have to be honest, I just don’t understand it. I will further admit, I don’t know the details of the study, but I wonder how many of those small businesses haven’t tried social media versus having tried social media without success?
It is an important distinction.
But ignoring social media, or pretending it doesn’t exist is a one-way ticket to oblivion. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday soon.
For those of you still stuck in the first of these two scenarios, here are 4 things to think about:
Marketing is changing. Deal with it. The longer you wait to start, the harder it will be to catch up with your competition.
If you are still afraid of giving the world a chance to speak negatively about you or your service, deal with it. The ability to talk about a business online is only going to get more pervasive.
The content problem. If you are afraid that you don’t have enough to say, then you just don’t understand how social media works. Content is easy. All you have to do is think. And, you know, talk to your customers once in a while.
And if you think that you won’t have enough time, then you are doomed. Folks, this is where marketing is going. And if you don’t make time, you will ultimately fall way too far behind. That said, it doesn’t take as much time as you might think…
So, those are the four main reasons I hear every day about why most small business people don’t believe in social media. And while I want to fault them, I will not. Why?
Because it is my responsibility, and the that of every marketing influencer. We have so far failed to help these folks understand not only the power, but the necessity, of integrating social media into your small business marketing program.
But why are we failing? Are we not telling the story enough? Is it because we can’t easily explain the ROI of social media? Is it because we don’t want to let people in on the magic formula, and keep them at a competitive disadvantage? Who knows.
But I think the reason that 76% of small business people don’t believe is that they just don’t believe yet. Maybe they think that the new marketing requires more work than the old style of marketing, where you just paid money to advertise. The new way, you have to actually engage with people. And that’s not always easy.
So I think it is a combination of us marketing influencers doing a better job of articulating this new way, and in a way that is more easily understood and actionable. AND…I think small business folks need to – with this new understanding – take an educated leap of faith and learn this new way of marketing.
In the end, we will all win. We will be better connected, serving one another in a better way, and running stronger businesses.
What do you think?
Be Intrepid.
This was posted by our guest speaker , Todd Schnick-good stuff isn't it?
I welcome your comments on this…are you using Social Media? DO you find it exciting or daunting? How do you use it?
Elizabeth
Filed under Blog, Blog: Elizabeth Harrington, THE WEB: New Media Boomer Chick Web Mavens, Your Entrepreneurial Edge by Elizabeth Harrington
Comments on Why is Small Business Failing with Social Media? »
What a timely read… I just got off the phone with a small business owner asking about marketing – yet resisting the information I was sharing about social media.
I heard her tell the 'story' of how time consuming engaging with people can be and how she simply doesn't have 'time' for it. I'm very clear that I tell a different 'story' about social media to myself… one that is fun, liberating, efficient and productive.
Now that I'm off the phone and giving it some thought it's becoming clear that indeed, we could do a better job of articulating this new way, and in a way that is more easily understood and actionable.
For me that just might include telling my 'story', with examples that demonstrate where, how, and why others can take similar action.
Thanks for sharing Todd's post and adding to my thoughts around this, Elizabeth! I so appreciate you!
~~Mary K
My intuition is that businesses have not successfully learned how to use Social Media for the same reason that I did not find it useful….until I understood why you are now making it work. It's because in order for Social Media content to add value, it has to be a gift that is given for the sake of giving not for the sake of taking. For example, we've all learned that those who insist on "drive-by" marketing fail because people stop clicking on their links. Their manipulative agenda is transparent and ultimately futile.
On the other hand, you have provided useful information such as this article through your links that are without agenda so they attract people like me to check them out. They brand you as a person worth following.
"Give to Give" is no longer a mainstream culture, so it's the 5 percent such as yourself who figure that out and stick with it who will thrive the most. The rest will either figure it out eventually or move on to some other model.