I recently was contacted by someone asking me to do their web site. They provide a high-quality service and have for some time. But they were lamenting the fact that giving their guests an excellent experience didn't seem to account for as much as it used to. This is due to Facebook and the Internet, in my opinion. Today we are constantly being bombarded by people on Facebook commenting on this and that and updating what kind of grapefruit they ate at breakfast or whether they should buy single-ply or two-ply bathroom paper. But they're also updating us on where they went on vacation while they're still on vacation, making us want to emulate that experience. I firmly believe a human can only take so much mental input at any given time. If your friends went to Hawaii and are constantly hitting you with pictures and stories about how wonderful it is while they're still there, you're going to want to go there.
So the fact that my prospective customer is only on the web with a static web site isn't good enough any longer. Now they're going to have to update their site with something relevant. A blog works, as does a free account on Facebook. Heck, we just set-up an account called Featherbed Guest where our guests can leave comments on Facebook right from the confuser in the dining room. We’ve also set-up a Facebook account for Oktoberfest (happening October 2) and have generated quite a bit of activity even though it’s months away. One of the comments I hear is that “it’s difficult to spend all that time on Facebook.” Honestly, by avoiding all the games and such it only takes moments to update one’s status and the rewards are plentiful. For example, if your business is having a sale you can invite your customers and prospects to join you - this is a reminder that you’re having an event and they’re agreeing to come creates a “buy in” for those customers. It takes me less than a minute to create one of these events and I can do it right from my smart phone. New products in your store, new credentials for your name and even a new paint color on the walls are reasons to update your status. If people can talk about their grapefruit, you can talk about things in your business. Recently on Facebook NorCal Moto & Speed updated their status with a new sunglasses shipment. By coincidence, I had just sat on mine and was going to go shopping on line. Instead, I went to NorCal Moto & Speed and spent close to $100 that day on a variety of things including some new sunglasses. That moment Mark spent on Facebook resulted in at least one customer coming in and making a purchase and all it cost him was a few moments of his time. If you’re lamenting fewer customers through the door this means you’ve got more time on your hands and that time is always well spent on marketing your business or service. And the prospect who wanted a new web site? They’ve now got a Facebook account (free) as their web site was just fine, they simply needed to remind people that it was there. Comments are closed.
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Tony BarthelTony Barthel is passionate about great marketing for small businesses Get Free Weekly Marketing TipsCategories
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