During any period of economic difficulty, starting a commercial business can be an extremely problematic operation, but it should be pointed out that there are plenty of success stories in every sector of industry. Even in a recession it’s possible to build a successful enterprise, but you should look to the web to help from the very start.
While most people think of social media as nothing more than a fun and convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family members, many business experts have been quick to embrace the commercial possibilities offered by sites such as Facebook and Twitter. And in the process, they have achieved some highly impressive results.
Facebook has more than 900 million users around the world, a figure that represents a huge number of potential consumers. And when you add in the 500 million plus Twitter users, it’s easy to see just why company owners and directors are looking to garner the social media possibilities. Membership numbers are high, and the popularity of such sites looks set to continue for some time to come.
An end to ‘cluster bomb’ marketing?
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of using social media networks to increase customer numbers is the ease with which companies can target specific groups of users. This can enable marketing specialists to focus campaigns aimed at people who have already expressed an interest in that particular sector. For example, manufacturers of fishing equipment can use Facebook to advertise on pages belonging to people who have clicked ‘Like’ buttons on angling-related features.
The whole point of advertising is of course to alert interested parties to particular goods and services, and social media networks provide a level of directness that’s perhaps never been seen before. Any company that is able to take advantage of this access is likely to enjoy a greater chance of success in both the short and long terms.
All new businesses are in an excellent position to utilise the social media revolution, Raising awareness of new products and services isn’t always easy, of course, but it will be simpler if Facebook and Twitter are correctly used. One of the better strategies is to arrange competitions that feature attractive prizes. Offering potential rewards in return for Likes and Follows has proved to be a lucrative course of action for businesses in all markets, and the indications are that they will continue to prove profitable for a long time yet.
David Showell lives in the UK and works for a car hire website. He keeps a keen eye on the social networking scene.