ESSEX FEDERATION of Small Businesses is urging business owners facing quiet periods due to the snow and ice to use the time to revise their marketing plans and start using social media and the internet.
Essex FSB Chairman, Iain Wicks, said: “We know that the current bad weather has meant many business owners are seeing fewer customers through their doors and we are encouraging people to use that time to develop their marketing and internet presence.
“Many businesses are finding that using Twitter and other social media is proving successful for them and, in very little time, it is possible to develop a presence which will raise the profile of your business and help attract more customers.
“For example: joining and using Twitter costs nothing except a little time, and some free software from www.socialoomph.com allows you to manage your time too by programming tweets, for example on new special offers, for future publishing.
“To maximise use of social media including a link to your website is essential and, if your business hasn't yet got a website, the Government is running a campaign called Get British Business Online at http://www.gbbo.co.uk/ which offers free website hosting and allows you to create your own website in just 20 minutes.
“We know several Essex FSB members, with no IT expertise, who have used this site to develop their own web presence (e.g. www.terrytabertalks.co.uk) and are finding it a useful way to attract new customers. They are among some 45,000 such firms which have used the site to develop a web presence.
“The scheme even allows you to list products online and take payments for orders using PayPal – something that could be a great way of making sales - even when customers are staying at home due to the snow.
“Essex FSB would encourage every business to have a presence on the web and to use social media to promote that site as we know that it works!”
No comments:
Post a Comment