Thinking of starting a business?? Or are you already running one and looking for a little jumpstart?? Before you look any further consider two things.? First, is your business online?? Do you have a dedicated website for your product or service?? Does your business participate in social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.?? If not, you may be suffering because of it.?
Business Website
Being a photographer is most definitely small business.? I only have one employee, myself.? You may be thinking, you don?t need a dedicated website.? You aren?t a large company to worry about that.? I think quite the opposite.? I enjoy the fact that I can have a website just like any major photography company.? It makes the playing field near level.? And, as an added benefit, my potential clients can see my portfolio and determine if I am what they are looking for before ever making a call.?
Think about the following when you are making your decision whether or not to build a business website:?
- 88% of United States households own a personal computer.
- 81% of US households have Internet access.
- 20 million people in the United States shop solely online.
- Just because you don?t ?sell? a product, you do ?sell? your business.
- Most consumers? research items or a service online before they head out to a store or make a business related phone call.
Those numbers alone should push you over the edge in your decision.? And hopefully you will decide that a website is an asset you need to utilize.? It could be the difference between you growing your success, or maintaining your mediocrity.?
Whatever you do, don?t just build any website.? Build a GREAT website!? Don?t create a website that is plain, hard to navigate, and oversaturated with information.? That will ensure potential customers find another site in their confusion.? Make sure your site is easy to understand, read, and navigate.? Consider that possible clients, business partners, and even possibly investors will be looking at your site.? Do you want them to select a different site because you took the short route?? Don?t do that to yourself or your business.? You deserve better because you have worked hard on your business.? Do the same for your website.? This will help you gain the customers that were led away from the ?other? confusing websites.?
The website design, maintenance, and marketing can be overwhelming.? The team at SurfYourName.comare experts when it comes to designs that get results.?
Social Media
Social media is, to most, still a relatively new concept in business and marketing.? It was originally considered to be a passing fad, and something that was just trendy.?? However, businesses and marketing departments have realized that this tool is one of the strongest available.? The view of social media has shifted and is utilized now more than ever.
If we look at the Social Media Marketing Industry Report from April of 2012, it has the following facts:
- 94% of all businesses that utilize a marketing department have a plan in place that uses social media to market their business.
- Almost 60% of marketers devote nearly a full workday to developing their social media marketing and maintenance.
- Almost 45% of people aged 20-29 spend over 10 hours each week utilizing social media sites.
- 85% of all business that use social media reports an increase in their exposure in the current market.
- 58% of businesses utilizing social media for over 3 years have reported an increase in sales during that period
If you decide to use social media marketing you may initially feel overwhelmed.? The initial concepts can be confusing if you haven?t used them before.? There are multiple platforms with the most common being Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.? Although there are plenty more!
These social media outlets should not be your only form of online business practice.? These should supplement your website as discussed above.? To use these platforms you need to know your business and partner with SurfYourName.com for the best results possible.? You will want to try to get your brand recognized locally and nationally.? If you are a smaller business, you can build a loyal local customer base with these platforms.? Show your followers that you have a product that only you can provide locally.?
Final Word
To sum things up, a dedicated website and use of social media platforms is absolutely necessary in today?s business world.? If you have not started on either, you should pick up the phone or send SurfYourName.com an email!? They will help you through each step of the process which will help you build a great website and social media campaign. ??You will definitely see your business grow and reap the rewards.
Is having a website and utilizing social media imperative to your business? success?? You make the call!? Please leave your comments below, I would love to hear from you!
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Tom Adams
Photographer/Owner Tom Adams Photography
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