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What e-business strategies are local experts urging companies to adopt? It may come as no surprise that those the Business Journal talked to are keen on Social Media and mobile apps.
To paraphrase Ivan Feher, CEO and founder of Customer For Life, "Become a social business - earn customers for life."
Feher said, "Businesses need to engage customers with 21st century methods. Years ago, customers would go to an establishment and speak with their salesperson or the owner directly. Everything was simple. Today, to achieve a 360-degree view of customers, partners and employees, a Social Media strategy is essential."
Companies who want sustainable growth need to leverage Social Media externally with customers and internally with employees and partners.
"With Social Media, you need to do more than offer specials and coupons on your page. Just hawking merchandise and services misses the point," Feher said. "Companies must learn to build value before growing sales."
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, are examples of methods to reach customers, externally, while Salesforce Chatter can engage your internal constituents.
Use Facebook efficiently
The majority of businesses - 96 percent of firms - have fragmented Social Media strategies that limit benefits. A cohesive Social Media strategy begins with Facebook.
Andrew Torba, founder and CEO of Kuhcoon said it's absolutely essential for small business owners to be active on Facebook. Facebook, said Torba, is transitioning towards a location-based mobile-focused company, bringing local business owners along with them.
With the rise in mobile technology and Facebook's new "Nearby" feature, businesses will become more and more exposed to their local audience on Facebook, he said.
In order to seize this opportunity, Torba said, "Businesses must create a proper Facebook page and share content with their community on a daily basis. They must also learn to integrate their social media presence into their other marketing efforts. As...