Do small businesses need to fuss with social media

Good question. But not that difficult to answer. What is the question really about? If you as a small business owner want to start a conversation with your customers, then social media is it. If you don’t want a two way chat, then advertising in print, on radio or via Google AdWords is the answer.

Is it that straight forward? I think so. An article a blogger wrote on Zdnet talks about what people are doing for the inauguration of Obama. In case you haven’t heard, this is the event of the year, decade or maybe even the century. Everybody in the USA, and even further abroad, is gearing up to watch it in some form of others. What will be interesting is how the social media networks will cope.

One thing is for sure, Twitter will be down. In fact all Twitterati will be disappointed, almost, if their favourite social media isn’t going to go legs up. It has in most other peak periods, whether Macworld or CES. What about other social media vehicles. Will they be able to cope with the massive additional wave of communication.

What will be certain is that many people will watch on their computers rather via the old favourite TV. The reason for that is that they will combine their viewing with one eye cast on their Facebook stream and the other eye on Twitter. Ok, they need more eyes. But you get what I mean.

While watching, people will contribute commentary and read what their like minded people have to say, while watching the event unfold. It’s like in the olden days when all folks congregated in front of the TV and the conversation flowed while everybody watched the big event. Now we watch it by ourselves, but keep that commentary going via our social media networks. Alone, but not alone.

People have always needed to share. Our big, even little, occasions become big when we remember with whom we shared those events. Remember the people in your first ever school year. Or the ones who graduated with you. What about the ones who shared your wedding, or were there at your gran’s funeral.

And the big games? The huge world events? I remember where I was and with whom when Kennedy was shot. I know all the people I shared 9/11 with, at work sitting in front of the computer watching the live stream. The last World Cup, the Olympic Games. Who did you share those events with. That’s what makes it special.

Let’s see how the social media sites cope. Will they anticipate the traffic and interest? Will they understand that their members who generally behave in a predictable way, will go mad with excitement as they watch the inauguration of a US President who has brought back the US citizen’s pride in their country. It’s going to be awesome. Not to be missed by you and your connections, in the true sense of the word.

If as a small business, you have tapped into that vibe in some small way by contributing to the conversation and the general euphoric feeling in the US at the moment, then you could just endear yourself to your consumer. That is of course if your business is based in the USA. You would have to find something equivalent in your home country.  It doesn’t have to be national though, local is good after all.

You want to share with me the journey into marketing then sigh up to my RSS feed or e-mail notification. No spam. I promise. Just conversation. If you leave a comment, it makes it two way. Would love that.