5 Ways to Improve Your Social Footprint - At Very Little Cost

In the world today everyone wants to be noticed. The Internet and invention of social media have given people the opportunity to promote, comment, and critique any and everything you can imagine. That being said; it is important that every business and brand have a way of reaching the public over this highly connected forum. Most big organizations realize the importance of social media and have the infrastructure in place to serve this community. Smaller businesses tend to be the least present yet the benefit from participation could be far greater on their growth than their giant counterparts. What usually prevent their entry into the social media world are the perceived costs and/or time. Not only are these worries unfounded in today’s world; it is bad business not having an effective social marketing campaign. The cost and time for entry on the basic level is nominal and compared to the long range benefits it is one of the best investments you can make. Here are five ideas that will give you a social media imprint with minimal financial investment:

If you don't have a website get one – it's free (or not as expensive as you think)

Starting your website does not have to be tedious or a fortune. There are plenty of companies willing to host and provide templates for those wishing to build a space online. These companies offer a variety of services depending on what details you choose to add to your space. Typically the more complicated the build or details included, the higher the cost for design and hosting. If you would like to see some options, I suggest googling – “web hosting service wiki” – click on free hosting to access a fairly up-to-date chart on builder/host sites. Also at pcmag.com an article by Eric Griffith is a wonderful tool listing a concise but more detailed idea on options in website building. “How to Build a Website”

If you do have a website make use of it – you are paying for it (even if it’s free)

According to an article in Forbes entitled “How Much Is Online Presence Helping Small Business?”, most businesses surveyed don't pay enough attention to their online persona. Essentially, many businesses start a page and forget about it. Even if they have online sales they don't see the connection between that and other media sites they own. This leaves information sometimes untouched or updated for long periods of time. Recently, I visited the page of a growing small business; the home page was beautiful, but other pages on the site clearly lacked maintenance or development. The news and information page had one flyer posted five years ago. Building a page and forgetting about it can turn from a benefit into a hindrance for any company. Think about it, if you came into an establishment always under construction or offering outdated material would it be your first choice for doing business? Probably not and if you choose to do business this way eventually even a free site will hurt your reputation.

Blog on something – and hopefully that something is interesting. ”They will come”

Why do people use the Internet? Primarily to get information; if you are on the web it is likely you want information on something- cars, cosmetics, your fantasy team, The Real Housewives, or if you're reading this - social media ideas. People interested in your product, service or maybe directly in your company need to know why they should trust you above anyone else. Your ability to provide information shows your expertise in an area and makes you more trustworthy. Why is this important? Friends who recommend something are the ones we trust the most. We value their opinions and consider their advice. Second to friends in reliability are experts, and that is where you want to be. Forgetting the prime reason people surf the net overlooks untapped growth potential. Time or money spent here will have huge benefits in the long run and could prove more cost effective than traditional advertising. For information on blogging check out this article at The New York Times entitled, “Where to Start When Starting a Blog.”

Join Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, or all three – you don’t have time or people power - a dynamic photo or the right 140 characters can make a difference

Dealing with the internet takes time, and everyone knows "time is money." This is another reason businesses tend to overlook their web products or choose not to participate. Participation however does not have to be a 40 hour a week job (or for that matter 10). Social sites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter make it easy to engage with the world without investing hours into content for the world. With these tools and some effective strategy your photos and mini-info bursts can have a powerful effect on your audience. For information on Pinterest in particular (but helpful advice for all platforms) check out this article by Debbie Hemley entitled "26 Ways to Make Pinterest Work for Your Business"

Facebook – highlight your products and ideas, not YOURSELF

I recently looked at a Facebook page that was connected to a small business in the food industry. This was a mom & pop operation that has HUGE potential. Their company webpages were still incomplete (company started in 2007 – see point #2) and their Facebook page was mostly about them and their friends with a few photos of their product. Although their page was up-to-date and interesting, it does not reflect their business, so a potential customer like me gained little knowledge about the very thing that attracted me to the page. In my opinion, where other social media tools should be heavier on info and entertainment, a company Facebook page should be your number one free source of advertising. Keep your posts professional and focused on your company, products and events. Believe it or not others will join because if they like your industry or product they want to stay in tune with you and comment on what they like (or don't like) that you are doing. For more info on this go to Facebook's post – "5 Tips for Using Facebook on Small Business Saturday"

Having a social media presence is important and helpful if you want to connect with your community and the world. Social media has also opened an avenue for any size business to hold the megaphone and tell the world what you feel is important. It is inexpensive compared to other marketing tools and offers you a direct line (in many cases) to the audience you want to reach. Following the advice above not only gets you in the game but increases your presence (name recognition) and compared to the cost it’s the best business decision you’ll ever make.

#5socialmediaideas #socialfootprint #smallbusinesssocialmedia #startingwebsite #usingownwebsite #businessblogging #facebookforbusiness #improvesocialmedia