If you do not believe that there’s a place for you/your business in the social internet, watch this…

 Socialnomics

When was the last time you considered making a purchase for over $1,000? Which of the following did you do?

•  Used the yellow pages
• Got on a plane to go to a trade show
• Responded to a print advertisement
• Responded to a direct mail advertisement
• Did a search in Google or another search engine
• Asked a friend for advice, and they emailed you a URL as a response

 According to Marketing Sherpa, 98% of those surveyed did an internet search in some form.  Today, the buying process starts on the internet.

Welcome to the web!  Welcome to the age of internet conversations and relationships. Welcome to the world of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and more. These are not insignificant time-wasters, something for the young and unsophisticated, something frightening or irrelevant for businesses and marketers or something only relevant to consumer marketing or large corporations. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube are tools for connecting people with other people and promoting and maintaining communications. And, as with any other social media tool, marketers/business people have an opportunity to use these tools to expand their communications and engage with customers directly… taking their message directly to the consumer. And, as the video makes evident, this can be done economically and with high target accuracy.

No doubt, 2010 will be a challenging year.  One can only speculate as to what will happen with the economy, unemployment and trade.  Creating or enhancing online visibility can have a significant impact on how a company, your company, fairs in the new year.  Will you be able to take advantage of the new opportunities and grow your business?

• On the Internet, a smaller company can out-market a larger company.
•  Size of budget and number of employees is less relevant.
• David can beat Goliath, if he is smart about using the Internet.

 2010 should start with a plan.  The options available to improve your business’s online visibility are almost limitless. You may have or create a website where you showcase your product or service, take orders and/or capture data. But you cannot assume customer will automatically come to you. There’s Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click, Social Media and more.  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube are all tools. You need to go where your constomer lives… online. If your customers, prospects, and influencers are there, you should be there… listening, engaging, sharing, and helping.

The market is changing rapidly… Search Engine methodologies are changing and becoming more sophisticated. There’s a growing, more competitive Social Media environment. More businesses are developing Social Media Marketing programs.  To achieve Online Visibility in the new year will require commitment.

Not already on…

• Twitter?  (www.twitter.com)
• Facebook?  (www.facebook.com)
• LinkedIn?  (www.linkedIn.com)

Sign-up TODAY!

 You already have the skills, you just do it offline.  It’s called networking…

• Meeting people
• Building relationships
• Asking questions
• Answering questions
• Building trust
• Building a reputation

 Meet people and start conversations

• Answer questions – help others
• Ask questions – trust others’ advice

Become a real member of the community

• Add value to the community
• Ask and answer questions

 A word of caution:  Communicating on the internet DOES NOT mean only writing about the products and services you sell. Write about the things your audience wants to learn about.  Write about yourself, your interests (which include your business) and what makes you and your business unique.  Mix it up!

Can you find your company?

 Try this:

 Google: (your product or service), (your state).

 Did you find your business?

 Do it again.  This time use your product/service, city and state.

 Any better?

 Did you find any of your competitors?  Were they ahead of you or behind you?

Chances are that right now someone is looking for your product or service on the web.

Will you be found?  MetaSense can help!

 Any comments?  Please comment so that I know I’m not the only person reading this.

 Jerry Steinhoff