June 17, 2009
What’s In a Number?
According to a recent study by Sage Software and AMI-Partners, as of March 2009, 260,000+ small businesses in the U.S. and Canada were utilizing social media tactics.
Given the wide definition of what social media (and people’s perception of social media) can be, this stat feels largely empty to me. But it’s the one I’ve seen repeated on a number of advertising blogs, Twitter feeds, et al. recently.
More interesting to me is the fact that the number one activity these 260,000 businesses are using social media for is “responding to customer questions.” This shows me that many small businesses are picking up on something that the larger companies often miss - it’s about establishing and nurturing a conversation.
This point has never been made as clear to me as with Nissan’s so far underwhelming attempt to generate social buzz with its new Cube (a new vehicle that seems custom-designed to get people talking). I’m sorry, but a Facebook fan page and ghost town Twitter account do not a social media strategy make.
Keep it up small business – maybe your big brothers will start paying attention, too.
Posted in How to Go Social, Social Marketing