To understand the question, “Why social media”? You first have to understand America and how
Americans decide where to spend their money.
The foundation of this country has always been about “the guy next door”
or “the mom and pop” businesses. Even if
you don’t consider your business one of these, it’s not about your business but
about your customer.
Your customer wants to do business with someone they “know”. It has always been that way. Due to the big box stores and advertising prices through the roof, the “little guy” has gotten lost. It’s not that customers prefer these shops, because of advertising; they just know them like they used to know Tim’s Hardware down the street. Most people will tell you that there is something missing. Shopping from Mrs. Large Hardware Chain or Mr. Just As Large Hardware Chain just isn’t the same as when they could walk into Tim’s, get greeted by name, and put their money into the pockets of someone they actually knew.
Even if your potential customers have never known anything other than the big box stores, there is still something buried deep within their DNA that makes them want to spend their money with someone they know. Bottom line is that your customers are looking for you! If they can’t get to know you, they will still spend their money, but it will be with whom ever the media has told them to do business with.
Most business owners will tell you that if they could just sit down with a potential customer and talk to them about their product or service, they would be closing deals hand over fist. With social media you not only allow your potential customers to get to know you, but you get to know them as well. No matter what “widget” you sell, you will sell much more if people have a chance to buy them from “Tom” or “Jill” instead of a website or cold store front.
~ Social Media is changing the way people do business. Don't get left behind ~
Jeremy Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a social media manager, trainer and consultant in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+ , Pinterest and the tools to manage them.
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