Are we living in a new entrepreneurial era? Economic conditions have forced many to rethink their career path. As a result, many people are transitioning into consulting careers, freelance careers and entrepreneurial careers. According to WorkXpress CEO Treff LaPlante, now’s the time to start a technology business.
And many are finding that social networking and business benefits abound. New, small businesses are taking the lead when it comes to thinking creatively about using services like Facebook and Twitter as low-cost methods of getting their brand out into the public eye.
A great example is Coolhaus, a new ice cream business started by a former architect and a former realtor. They realized potential social networking and business benefits by establishing Twitter and Facebook accounts. Social media promotions included giving followers a link to a famous architectural photographer Julius Shulman. If customers came to their roving ice cream truck and said his name, they’d get a discount.
Thanks to fun ideas like that, the social networking and business benefits have led to Coolhaus gaining nearly 8,000 Twitter followers and 1,300 Facebook fans. And according to a recent Rice University study, having more fans and followers really does matter when it comes to social networking and business benefits. Fans of a small chain of cafes visited the business 20 percent more often and spent 33 percent more money than other customers.
Looking at social networking and business benefits goes beyond the low costs. Social media marketing reaches consumers where they communicate. It’s a way of getting in on the conversation.
