By looking back at what I have blogged and wrote on the various social media platforms so far for this class, I come to realize that I have gained a quite sizable understanding of today's social media marketing environment and along the way have formulated a clear strategy for marketing my proposed business and generated a significant volume of contents developed around such strategy.
Interestingly, my initial aversion against the behemoth Facebook out of concern for intrusion of privacy has changed, during the course of this class, into a neutral attitude of adopting it as a pragmatic solution for marketing my business and services, especially when the business page can be established and maintained seperately from a personal page. The benefits of having a presence on Facebook and actively promoting business on the Facebook page outweigh the concerns and risks in using Facebook. I think due to its dominance in social media and the well developed features and functions it provides, Facebook would be my top choice for ongoing daily online marketing effort which will include updates of graphics, status and events to drive traffic to my business website.
The nimble Twitter would be an ideal candidate as a secondary social marketing tool to supplement the advertising effort on Facebook. The type of marketing I envision on Twitter would be frequent and concise tweets to constantly remind my followers to visit my Facebook page and business website. It is more of a headline news about my business with details to be found on Facebook and business website.
I have a particular fondness for Pinterest, finding it very attractive and pleasing to the eyes of the web surfers with the graphic collection of subject matters. I would imagine using Pinterest Pin board to showcase the rental and real estate properties for potential customers of mine. A another Pin board featuring the Chinese cuisine and its recipe would serve as an attraction for potential customers.
The online social media, as I learned throughout this course, enable small business owners and entrepreneurs to advertise their products and services in an unprecedented way that level the ground for competition between the big and small business. Through diligent and creative work and effort it is absolutely possible for an enterprising novice to carve a niche in the online business.
I agree with you on the Twitter and FaceBook integration works well together like Twitter can be the "headline to a story" and FaceBook could the link to the full story. Adding a Pinterest App to your FaceBook could be another way to show case properties.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see someone who also is considering starting a business to see some of the value in Facebook and other social media. I think Pinterest would go well in a social media plan for your business, to show the rental properties, and adding the dining places is a great idea to your clients. Perhaps specialty grocery stores would be another angle. Like you, I was very apprehensive about getting out there and using Facebook, trying to keep my personal life and professional life separate. Because I want to be able to step away from work, not make my job or my business my lifestyle. Good luck with starting your business, it sounds like a real good idea, and may be beneficial to students coming here to study as well as professionals moving here.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm happy I wasn't the only one who was anti-Facebook. I suppose I still have my reservations but I totally see the merit it has. I absolutely agree that social media has become such a vital tool for small business owners and it is definitely the future. Best of luck to you!
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