Small Businesses Spend Online

A recent City Bank/GfK Roper survey indicates that small-business (76%) owners are still not finding their feet and their dollars on social networking sites. An even larger % (86%) have not used social networking sites to get advice, business or information.

The survey indicates that small-business owners (61%) depend on search engine marketing to deliver the best value. 57% of small-business owners indicate that they have made greater use of their company’s website to generate business leads and sales during the past year.

Survey respondents are also using email marketing (28%) and online advertising (25%) to generate business leads and sales.

Video: How Twitter Can Help Achieve Business Objectives

Twitter must currently be the most confusing social tool with ordinary mortals trying to understand how to use Twitter as a business tool. One of my favourite tweets comes from @nltweets with daily tweet-releases of travel ideas and deals in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dr. Ralph Wilson's Web Marketing Today had this video post with ideas for using Twitter for customer service, selling and fund raising.

Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

The increase of user-generated content, comments and reviews on the Internet leaves your business vulnerable to unsolicited comments. All you need is to Google, Yahoo or Bing your business name to find what is being written about you - and not always BY you.

In this article, "Three Best Ways to Improve Your Online Reputation" the Wall Street Journal Online provides this advice:

1. Reach out immediately to dissatisfied reviewers.

2. Flood search engines with content you can control.

3. Appeal to bloggers to review your company or your product.

>>Read the full article...