Often times it can be difficult to get people to talk about your company if you are not willing to or able to spend a fortune on advertising. The success of your company and its ability to grow depends heavily on the amount of customers that you are able to find and that are able to find you.
In all of this there is some good news. There have been constant advancements in the online world in regards to social networking and web pages that can be used for little or no money and that can increase traffic to your business. One of the online mediums that are increasing in popularity is blogs.
Blogs, which is short for web logs, are a way for companies and individuals to create regular updates about their products, discounts, and services offered. A blog can also be used as a sort of journal and can highlight interesting articles, news, or thoughts about their industry.
Many individuals choose to use blogs as a personal means to get their thoughts on the web, but there has been and increased usage of them among business professionals to spread the word about their products and the types of services they provide. When a blog is created, it can be linked to the main website that is created for potential customers.
The great thing about blogs is that they not only provide the owner of the site an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas, but they also allow visitors to leave comments and share their opinions. This type of interaction between clients and owners can improve customer relations and help individuals relate to your company on a more personal level.
It is also a great way to network with others who are involved in your industry and get marketing and advertising ideas. You may even find new employees or those that want to become involved in your organization through this type of site.
Social media and networking is another great way that allows those who are hoping to expand their customer base and increase their profits do so. Over the past five years or so, social networking has become a major system for individuals to make connections with one another and with businesses.
Sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Twitter have expanded the opportunity for people to meet new people and connect with those that have the same interests. Because of this trend in social media, companies have also begun to use these sites to their advantage helping them to find new customers, clients, and employees.
When it comes to Facebook, business owners can create their own page and then invite individuals to join or become “friends” of the site. Because of the friend connections that exists in these types of social media a business has the potential to increase the amount of friends that the organization has, which will help spread the word about the company.
The more individuals become familiar with companies products the more likely they are to make purchases. Twitter is a site that is similar to facebook and can actually be linked to Facebook pages to display updates and gain “followers.”
Companies that create profiles on these websites increases their visibility on the web and makes it easier for them to reach potential customers that they may have otherwise not been able to reach.
The best part about these social platforms is that they are free. While there may be charges if you hope to advertise through them they are usually free to set up the account and maintain them. Essentially, it can be a free marketing tool is used correctly.
These social media sites are very important for companies that are just starting up and do not have the funds to support a large marketing campaign. They are also very important for larger companies looking to expand their customer base.
LinkedIn is another special social network site, in that it allows for people to create profiles to share their professional experience and make connections with others in their field, industry, or company.
LinkedIn is essentially a living, breathing online collection of resumes that are constantly being updated and can be browsed. Keeping your information up to date and correct on this site is essential, as you want your most recent work and professional experience to show and give you credibility.
All of these methods of marketing, while free, require a good deal of work; you cannot simply set up a blog or site and neglect to update it regularly. The only way that you will keep interest with your friends, followers, and customers is if you frequently update your pages or hire someone that can do so for you.
