Small businesses today have a lot going for them–they’re still small.  What does being small mean?  Possibility.

There are so many directions you can go to “break the system” and create leverage for yourself to expand.  With all the chatter small business owners hear it is often difficult to determine who and what you should adhere to.  We need to implement more technology upgrades! This post will cover the major selling points for small business owners why they need to get online and connect with their customers in a more personable way.

#1 The world is turning digital

In the grand spectrum of the now digital world I can see a trend.  The first people to really take over and understand the concept of communicating with people through digital media are, who else but online marketers.  They are constantly teaching others who to communicate the way they do and reach a massive community more easily.  Some group of people had to be the first to really figure it out–it just makes sense it was marketers.  Now its the responsibility of our small businesses to grasp hold of what the online marketers of the world have learned and incorporate that into our own business practices.  The whole world is switching over to the digital age.  Its better to start social media now to get ahead rather than sit back and wait until you’ve dug yourself into a digital black hole.

#2 Your audience wants more

Customers aren’t happy with the same product and/or service you’ve always provided them.  They are getting spoiled–and for good reason.  With the increase in technology we are experiencing every day, seemingly daunting or tedious tasks we used to have to perform throughout our day are becoming easier–even automated at times.  Because our lives are becoming easier by the use of technology we expect more from the services and/or products we purchase.  Its time to give our customers what they want by answering their questions before they ask them and implement concepts of inbound marketing to its fullest extent.  Marcus Sheridan, The Sales Lion, provides a great eBook on inbound marketing.

#3 What happens if I don’t?

As stated before, the world is turning digital.  You can be certain that if you aren’t out there answering customer questions that your competitor is.  They are giving more value to your customer and in turn, the customer is looking to them to give their business.  Its time to take charge in this new digital age and beat our competitors to the punch.  Set up a business blog and start answering your customer’s questions before they ask them.  Have the mindset of doing everything you can to consistently give value to your audience.  One of the best parts about this is when the answers to common questions are in digital format the article is working for you again and again without you needing to do anything else with it.  Your digital business blog answers customer questions without you having to, which saves time, money, and generates leads from Google.

Your Turn

Is your business utilizing social media? Why or why not? Respond in the comments below.