Connecting with your target market is more important than ever before and the move to
‘local social’ has made this connection so much easier.
As the web as become more localized over the past 5 years, small businesses have been able to broaden their reach and better connect with both prospects and customers. This is a far cry from 1995 when I first ventured onto the Internet with Netscape, Compuserve, AOL, and a handful of search engines – Yahoo, Webcrawler, Alta Vista, Excite and Lycos.
The ancient web was more informational than anything else and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Well, I’ve got news for you, Mr./Mrs./Ms. Small Business Owner…You are in the right place at the right time, right now, if your desire is to grow and expand your small business.
“Local Social” is here and now!
Today we reach and touch a prospect directly through a myriad of channels, all with the touch of a button or swipe of our finger. The ‘local social’ wave is upon us and as small business owners we need to embrace this shift which is allowing us to further grow and expand our companies and ventures.
It’s a new web world for the local marketplace. No longer are we bound by just organic search results, directory listings, banner and contextual ads. We now have so many more channels and tools to attract, capture, connect and continue relationships with our target market.
These channels and tools are what will allow you to further expand and grow in ways you never have before. But you need to embrace them and have the foresight to understand how they work and how they can benefit your business.
This takes time, research and implementation in order to reap the benefits of the myriad of ‘local social’ tools that are available today. Yes, you must take the time or make the time, if you prefer, because if you don’t; then time will pass you buy and your competitors will utilize these tools, attracting and capturing your prospects and clients.
Time is not on your side when it comes to ‘local social’ and the evolving web.
So mark my words as I write this post – the small businesses that embrace the ‘local social’ channels and tools will be the ones that exist five and ten years from now. The ones that don’t will be left by the curb wondering what happened, and why their business is shrinking, or how the going out of business sale finally crossed their doorstep.
Local Social is here to stay and if you as a business owner are going to make it, you need to act now and start today. Every day counts and you can be the winner in your local marketplace by simply utilizing the ‘local social’ tools and channels as soon as possible.
Dave Krygier
Publisher
PS – If you operate or manage a small business that relies on local consumers or businesses, then check with The Small Biz Mechanic and get the latest scoop on how Local Social can have a positive impact on your future.