The internet and social media sites especially have led to the line between our social and professional lives
blurring ever more with each passing day.
Social media sites give people the opportunity to connect
with old friends, make new ones and expand their professional network with only
a few clicks, from the comfort of their own home.
These platform sites have redefined the concept of
globalization, which was the "in" word two decades ago for large
corporations. Unfortunately for the latter, the current globalization concept
has allowed businesses of all sizes to tap into the benefits of being present
in a wide number of markets.
This is because the internet has become a business channel
that is practically free and companies are no longer required to make massive
investments in building an offline, local presence in whichever market they
choose to expand into.
In fact, why expand into a single geographical market, when
one can access the world with a few clicks of the mouse?
Of course, this doesn't mean that it's easy for start-up
entrepreneurs to compete against the giants. After all, why take on a
giant when you can still build a profitable and sustainable business that will
change your life and that of future generations of your family without
competing directly with the giants?
The simple answer is...the one colossal
advantage you have as a small business owner over a large corporation is relationships.
Yes, you heard right!
You are more likely to spend time building
relationships with your prospects... converting them to returning customers than any large corporation - as they
are mostly focused on their bottom line and ROI, overlooking strategies and
tactics that may not convert into tangible results immediately.
That being said, even the 'big boys' are beginning to
understand the value of social media sites and building relationships with
their customers, which is why you need to jump on this train of opportunity
before it passes you by.
What you need to understand is that the change that
has and is taking place is not in the core concepts of marketing, which are
more applicable than ever, but in consumer
behavior.
You see, social media sites have given consumers a powerful voice of their own and they are less likely to fall for advertising
campaigns that cost millions to put together. Instead of rushing out to buy a brand new, shiny product,
most consumers' first stop is their favorite social media website to research
the product in question.
For companies who simply don't get the social media space,
this can be a killer. However, for those savvy entrepreneurs who understand the
new consumer, this is a resource that can be leveraged to create an incredibly
successful business.
Christine Range
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