Comments on: Are Small Business Owners Wasting Their Time with Social Media? http://www.noobpreneur.com/2009/10/14/are-small-business-owners-wasting-their-time-with-social-media/ Business Opportunities, Entrepreneur Resources and Tools, Business Reviews Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:41:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Noobpreneur http://www.noobpreneur.com/2009/10/14/are-small-business-owners-wasting-their-time-with-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4759 Noobpreneur Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:14:50 +0000 http://www.noobpreneur.com/?p=2648#comment-4759 Hi Janice, Another great comment, and a great case study you shared in your comment - Thanks! This is a real life success story that I truly believe in - I was choked with tons of Internet marketers promoting "get 5000 Twitter followers easy and fast" program without teaching me how 5000 followers can help me and my business (in other word, the ROI.) "We hope to put in place some more formal results-tracking/ROI calculations in the future" - That would be a great thing to share! Maybe you might want to tip me when they are ready? http://www.noobpreneur.com/contact/ Thanks a lot for sharing! Hi Janice,

Another great comment, and a great case study you shared in your comment – Thanks!

This is a real life success story that I truly believe in – I was choked with tons of Internet marketers promoting “get 5000 Twitter followers easy and fast” program without teaching me how 5000 followers can help me and my business (in other word, the ROI.)

“We hope to put in place some more formal results-tracking/ROI calculations in the future” – That would be a great thing to share! Maybe you might want to tip me when they are ready? http://www.noobpreneur.com/contact/

Thanks a lot for sharing!

]]> By: Noobpreneur http://www.noobpreneur.com/2009/10/14/are-small-business-owners-wasting-their-time-with-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4758 Noobpreneur Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:08:06 +0000 http://www.noobpreneur.com/?p=2648#comment-4758 Mary, First off all, I want to thank you for taking your time commenting with your valuable tips :) "The lack of success is more likely due to your not knowing exactly how to manage it or it Mary,

First off all, I want to thank you for taking your time commenting with your valuable tips :)

“The lack of success is more likely due to your not knowing exactly how to manage it or it

]]> By: JaniceLBrown http://www.noobpreneur.com/2009/10/14/are-small-business-owners-wasting-their-time-with-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4757 JaniceLBrown Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:53:33 +0000 http://www.noobpreneur.com/?p=2648#comment-4757 Ivan: This is a good article that asks and tries to answer a very important question -one that every small business should ask before embarking on social media. (I think that one of the worse things you can do is start an SM program, then stop it.) One of my small-business clients, a popular restaurant in Naples, Fl, began a small social media program in April. We went into it with our eyes open about the time required, and set up a time budget. The program has been well worth the investment -- in fact, far beyond what we anticipated. Results have included helping improve operations; the ability to inexpensively reach a national customer base and acquire new customers who probably never would have found us otherwise (Naples is a favorite travel destination); and even attracting a new demographic to the restaurant (younger people, who love our wine lounge and self-service wine bar). We hope to put in place some more formal results-tracking/ROI calculations in the future. Here is an interview with Naples Tomato's social media manager, Tanya Fox: http://thefussymarketer.blogspot.com/2009/07/beyond-marketing-how-social-media-can.html Coincidentally, Naples Tomato just today announced that it will offer franchises. The social media program will be an important part of our marketing. http://www.prweb.com/releases/Naples_Tomato/Restaurant_Franchise/prweb3022884.htm Ivan:

This is a good article that asks and tries to answer a very important question -one that every small business should ask before embarking on social media. (I think that one of the worse things you can do is start an SM program, then stop it.)

One of my small-business clients, a popular restaurant in Naples, Fl,
began a small social media program in April. We went into it with our eyes open about the time required, and set up a time budget. The program has been well worth the investment — in fact, far beyond what we anticipated.

Results have included helping improve operations; the ability to inexpensively reach a national customer base and acquire new customers who probably never would have found us otherwise (Naples is a favorite travel destination); and even attracting a new demographic to the restaurant (younger people, who love our wine lounge and self-service wine bar). We hope to put in place some more formal results-tracking/ROI calculations in the future.

Here is an interview with Naples Tomato’s social media manager, Tanya Fox:

http://thefussymarketer.blogspot.com/2009/07/beyond-marketing-how-social-media-can.html

Coincidentally, Naples Tomato just today announced that it will offer franchises. The social media program will be an important part of our marketing.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Naples_Tomato/Restaurant_Franchise/prweb3022884.htm

]]> By: Mary Kurek http://www.noobpreneur.com/2009/10/14/are-small-business-owners-wasting-their-time-with-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4756 Mary Kurek Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:14 +0000 http://www.noobpreneur.com/?p=2648#comment-4756 How timely, as I'm working on a YouTube that is primarily examples pasted right out of my Twitter account showing exactly how you work Twitter and the ROI - from initial posting to the end result. I show the conversation string where I've asked for help from my Twitter followers in identifying resources for a blind/deaf child in Georgia. I'm planning to share where I've swapped a few "tweets" with a real estate agent who is helping me make an introduction to another local business - in order to conduct business. I'll show how another small business is interacting with other businesses resulting in an open endorsement and interest from a potential collaborator. I'm a professional networker - I use Twitter and Linkedin to seek persons of interest and create introductions for clients. It works extremely well, if you do it right. I also manage social media for other small businesses/orgs - every single day I'm networking in ways that produce ROI for clients. It's really not that hard, but if you aren't seeing results, don't just label it useless. The lack of success is more likely due to your not knowing exactly how to manage it or it's because the social media vehicle you've chosen isn't a good fit for you. As a former Chamber Exec, I can say that small businesses are truly missing the boat if they don't figure out how to engage in social media. Most don't "get it" or feel like they don't have the time. Some think it's just a fad - it's not a fad - it's part of a progression of where technology is taking us in communication. I look at it kind of the way I felt when they took away my IBM Correcting Selectric and replaced it with the Display Writer. Ticked off! But I eventually got over it and got on it, because I knew there was no turning back. My advice: sitting down with those who DO "get it" and deciding how you can incorporate social media into your marketing is definitely going to be worth your investment. How timely, as I’m working on a YouTube that is primarily examples pasted right out of my Twitter account showing exactly how you work Twitter and the ROI – from initial posting to the end result. I show the conversation string where I’ve asked for help from my Twitter followers in identifying resources for a blind/deaf child in Georgia. I’m planning to share where I’ve swapped a few “tweets” with a real estate agent who is helping me make an introduction to another local business – in order to conduct business. I’ll show how another small business is interacting with other businesses resulting in an open endorsement and interest from a potential collaborator. I’m a professional networker – I use Twitter and Linkedin to seek persons of interest and create introductions for clients. It works extremely well, if you do it right. I also manage social media for other small businesses/orgs – every single day I’m networking in ways that produce ROI for clients. It’s really not that hard, but if you aren’t seeing results, don’t just label it useless. The lack of success is more likely due to your not knowing exactly how to manage it or it’s because the social media vehicle you’ve chosen isn’t a good fit for you.

As a former Chamber Exec, I can say that small businesses are truly missing the boat if they don’t figure out how to engage in social media. Most don’t “get it” or feel like they don’t have the time. Some think it’s just a fad – it’s not a fad – it’s part of a progression of where technology is taking us in communication. I look at it kind of the way I felt when they took away my IBM Correcting Selectric and replaced it with the Display Writer. Ticked off! But I eventually got over it and got on it, because I knew there was no turning back. My advice: sitting down with those who DO “get it” and deciding how you can incorporate social media into your marketing is definitely going to be worth your investment.

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