I sat with a Certified Business Coach the other afternoon and discussed putting together a workshop to help small businesses understand and begin to engage in the use of new media. It would seem that small business owners are more receptive if you call it new media instead of social media. Does that change what it is or the focus? While I personally understand the need to sound business-like and not appear to be indulging in something that is merely fun or, God forbid, social, I can also appreciate what "social media" represents - not just constantly selling, sharing knowledge about oneself or one's business, targeted marketing - the whole "getting to know you" scenario.

The Business Coach, himself, seemed to have difficulty grasping and wrapping his head around the whole concept of using new media to increase your online presence. The question of “Why?” kept cropping up. While I, personally, have been extremely involved with social media for the last several years, others have not… And in actuality, something like 70% of those currently involved with social media have only been actively participating for six months or less. Most are novices and struggle considerably with simply “creating a profile.”

“Login every day, ‘cause it’s not going away.” This is my credo and what I announce at every luncheon and workshop. I suppose you can choose to ignore what new media represents - another way to market or advertise your business, a way to change a cold call to a warm call, but it is a known fact that people prefer to do business with people they know. Why wouldn’t you want to meet and greet with current and potential clients? They can be your best references and advertisers.

The “New Front Porch” is getting bigger and better all the time. AND you can pick which part of the porch you enjoy the most, where the view is the best, where to best chat with the neighbors, where the breeze is the best, and whether or not you want to catch the mail right when it is delivered. I want to be everywhere on the porch. I don’t want to miss a thing.

If you aren’t promoting to current and potential clients/customers through the use of social media, someone else is or will be shortly. The commitment is minimal, a little work at first. But maintenance is easy and a little less stressful than constantly checking your actual mailbox to see if a check has arrived. And who among us hasn't done that?



© by rayannethorn