The principles for small businesses



Photo by visualpanic

 My last post on Chin Chin's use of Social Media got me thinking. It got me thinking about how small businesses can leverage SM to their benefit.

Perhaps it's been so successful because it's one of the first channels that's accessible to everyone. No major expenses required, it can be done without an ad agency, a media buyer and a research company. Of course, these things can help too - but a small business-man can pull off a relatively proffessional SM job without the general public batting an eyelid.

So I got googling, and came across these principles for businesses wanting to dip their toes into social media at MarketingProfs.com

At a super high level - but read more here.

Rule 1: Develop your social skills
Rule 2: Let culture lead your way
Rule 3: Mind your online and offline manners
Rule 4: Listen, learn, adapt
Rule 5: Include others in everything you do
Rule 6: Rely on others for growth and innovation
Rule 7: Reward others and you will be rewarded, too

Rule 3, 5,6 and 7 speak to me especially. While all these rules are key for successful SM strategy, these seem to exemplify the new way of conducting yourself (and your brand) online. Instead of paying their way to exposure brands need to work for it, and rely on the goodwill of others to spread it.

This might be a new and novel approach for big businesses, but for the small community business it's nothing revolutionary. Small businesses have been relying on word of mouth and the benevolence of stranger for generations. And now they can do what they do best, and utilise SM in the process.