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If you are into social media deeply or have been using it for some time, then you are probably somewhat familiar with Klout. Klout is a company that tracks your social media influence. It is easy to sign up for and gives you a
measuring and marketing platform to see how effective your efforts are. This company has been around awhile but recently has gained some popularity and is getting a foothold in businesses for providing analytics. The key word here is influence and not so much anything else. So having said that who would care about using Klout? In a nutshell those who are trying to influence their audience or market share. As you use social media and are trying to get a certain sector of the population to pay attention to you or your product or service, then using Klout will help you via your score they provide. The higher the score, the better your influence. If you are a small business or enjoy a local or small regional market then Klout is probably not for you. Klout works best on a national or international stage. How it works. As you produce engaging content or topics, followers who tap into your feeds are tracked by Klout through their very detailed analytics or algorithms. Simply, the higher your score (up to 100) the better you are influencing your followers. Some say that Klout does not really work that well and at the moment as I stated for small business, that is true as there just is not enough sampling for the system to be strongly effective. But if you are a say a famous speaker, offer a service or product geared toward a specific market and you are wanting a larger share of that market then give Klout a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Get yourself a plan of action, build great content and start loading your social media! OK, so you are a small business and "Those big guys" ae all over the web offering to do it cheaper and wow, they have those fancy attention getting images, Specials on Twitter, Fan Pages on Facebook. So why don't you? What makes you any different. In fact, YOU have the advantage. Really? Yes you do and here is why.
KISS Yes, you can keep it simple stupid. (no offense) The big guys have "wow" graphics, links all over the place on their web creating mass confusion. Ever think your customers just want simple "KISS" help? By keeping your web site simple, you focus more on your customer's needs. They are looking for answers to their problems or shopping for a service. They are not looking for a "theme park" experience. Be a Problem Solver, Not a Problem Creator As a SMB owner, you have the upper hand in that you are in the field every day. The big guys are not. You know your customers. You work with them every day. Work with them on their problems and concerns. Don't try to imitate the larger competition, be who you are and use what you know. Your customers will respect that. they want help and answers, not lip service. Use Counter Moves As a SMB, you have the flexibility to change quickly and adapt to your customers and the local market. The big guys can not do that right away. You control your brand and you call the shots. The big guys have to answer to Corporate, approve changes, approve budgets, ect. ect. What are you waiting for? Don't stick your head in the sand. Be ready! Customer Service You have your customers because you serve them and you help them. Sure your prices might be a bit higher but you provide something the larger stores or offices do not. Service, support, and a smile. That is so important. Price is NOT always everything. Be competitive but also be personable. Excell in customer service and you will be a winner. Take Chances As an SMB, you can take certain risks in being creative such as using Social Media, revamping and experimenting with marketing campaigns. Take a chance. See what works for you? I am not saying throw away a couple of thousand dollars on a "What if" but catch up with the times, be creative, use your employees and ask their opinion. Again, those "Big Boys" have no say and they employ and pay huge dollars for a marketing firm that has no clue of your local market. National statistics don't always match up with your local economy or market area. Small risks can be big dividends. You Too Can Be a Big Brand Because you may be a small business, does not mean you can't have the image of a big brand. Use Twitter, Facebook, blogging, and your web to create the visibility that you too are a big player and that you want to earn your customers business and respect. Besides, you are out there 24-7 using social media. It does not hurt to see what your larger competition is doing by looking at their marketing campaigns but come up with your own ideas and specials. If you feel you do not have the savy to navigate social media, consult one of your employee who may or contact me. I will be happy to help. |
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