Take a Different Social Media Path |
Posted: April 10, 2014 |
Take a Different Social Media Path The internet has slowly been taking over modern life as we know it during the past decade. Since the 'dot com boom' and onwards the internet and a digital way of life have become so common that it now affects our speech, daily habits, social life and more. When did the phrase 'Google it' become a normal answer to a query or question? When did we stop simply enjoying things and start to actively 'Like' them? Whatever the answers the key message here is that the internet is here to stay and the sooner smaller businesses realize it, the better. E-commerce, online classified ads and an instant connection with potential customers is no-longer solely the realm of huge multi-national corporations. You might claim it's not for you with proclamations like:
Despite sounding like potential setbacks these are actually great reasons to get involved. With so much choice people are now actively looking for businesses that feed their interests whilst simultaneously drowning out what doesn't. Social media is one way of spreading your message on a global scale but before you set-up a Facebook or Twitter account why not take a different path with Storeboard? Social Media Specifics You may think that Storeboard and the social media world are just online gimmicks but Facebook has just recently celebrated it's 10th anniversary after somewhat humble college-dorm beginnings in 2004. This fact can be slightly startling to those that still consider 'Social Media' a new and complex beast amongst the simpler options online but interaction via multi-media platforms is now a way of life for many. Social media comes in so many forms now that whatever your message is there will be an optimum channel for its distribution to the people that want to see it the most. Think social media is just about 'liking and sharing' the latest funny pictures? Think again as there are now specific channels for almost every form of media out there including the following:
Every one of these media forms have an outlet designed solely to their needs. Fans of minute video clips now have Vine, social photo fans have Instagram and musicians have Soundcloud. That brings us to Storeboard, a social media site specifically designed with the small mom and pop business in mind. You might do great things for your province, your community or your loyal customers but telling other people about it can be difficult. The aim for many with an important message now is to go 'viral' but not everyone can claim to have the backing of huge organisations like the Make-a-Wish programme which promoted last years wonderful Batkid story. Realistically you won't have the same support but Storeboard is all about the smaller guys and gals telling their story to the right people. Tell Your Story Big business and big social media sites go hand-in-hand. As of 2013 Facebook had over 1.3 billion registered users worldwide. McDonald's Facebook page currently has over 30 million likes and CocaCola manages to trump that with a staggering 79 million likes. Competing in such a market will mirror everyday life with the big guys generally winning but the real issue with massive social media brands like Facebook and Twitter is that they're not designed for small local or independent businesses. When you have a great story to tell and don't want it to be lost in such a crowded marketplace you need to focus on an area specifically catering to your needs and Storeboard offers that with free advertising, tailored business pages and classified ads all rolled into one mom and pop friendly system. Maybe your business actively affects your local community in a variety of ways. You could be a restaurant that sources only the best local produce and encourages support for local farmers and their products. Maybe your business is actually a charity or community-run organisation which aims to offer help or charity to those that have suffered from drug or alcohol addiction issues. No-one can deny your message is important but with other social media outlets there is a danger that your story will be lost amongst cat videos, baby pictures and viral superstars like Batkid. The world is full of fantastic stories but without the right channels your message is in danger of being lost. There will always be a community of people ready to support local food produce but you need to find the right way to connect with them. Not everyone is in a position to help with charity but those that are, are ready and willing but only if you promote your message directly to them but unlike the biggest organisations you need a different channel. Whilst no-one disputes major sites such as Facebook and Twitter being great, expressive platforms on which to promote your business the real issue is that so much of an audiences attention has already been captured and as a result small businesses should look to new ways of spreading their messages and stories. A Different Path With social media here to stay the behemoths of the digital world like Facebook and Twitter are constantly looking for new streams of revenue and this endless search for more money is pricing small businesses out of the sites. Some estimate prolonged ad-campaigns could now cost thousands of dollars. Such a situation is simply not viable for the shops and stores that dot our main streets and employ our friends and neighbours. Storeboard ensures that small shops, the heartbeat of communities, don't lose out on the social media opportunities that now exist in the 21st century world by offering a different, more designated path.
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