Does Social Networking Offer An Effective Marketing Tactic?

Posted by martinparry on June 13, 2010 under Business Planning, Marketing, Sales, SME News, Social Networking | Comments are off for this article

Social networking is not a new phenomenon. It has been used as a business marketing tool to develop tighter customer relationships and spread brand awareness but it also has the ability to directly impact on a company’s profits. In June of last year Dell announced $3 million in revenue from using Twitter. This success was not immediate and 18 months after launching on twitter the revenue stood at $1 million. Once their following was established the revenue continued to build more quickly. It is not only large companies that are using this medium successfully. Many smaller businesses have found great success marketing in this environment where the main investment is that of time rather than cash.There are now so many websites that give you the option to become a Fan of their Facebook page. So how could this work for you? The way these tools are used is going to vary massively by your business area and the clients you work with. The key to success seems to be providing value and interest to the clients you interact with. Offering exclusive discounts, valuable information, details of up coming events, photos, videos etc. Links to these sites can be promoted on email footers, in store, on websites or business cards.

Many companies are now using Facebook, Twitter, My Space, You Tube or other business focused websites such as Linked In as marketing tools. Do you know if your competitors are marketing in this way already? Do your clients use social networking as part of their marketing approach? In today’s business world there are relatively few opportunities for free marketing. Social networking sites are an area where this opportunity still currently exists and where some companies have found great success. It could be well worth investigating!Sc: www.wallacestein.co.uk

Sc: www.ukba.co.uk

MGBA Offers Food For Thought

Posted by martinparry on May 5, 2010 under Business Planning, Marketing, Sales, SME News, Social Networking | Comments are off for this article

UKBA regional operator MGBA, based in the Midlands opened it’s summer marketing season with the first of a series of Food For Thought Dnners. This one, hosted by Hogarths Hotel, in Dorridge, was a great night. Twelve regional business leaders from around the region debated some of the key issues facing business leaders at the present. “Excellent, I would definitely come again” said Barron Laight of Academe Properties.

The next Food For Thought Dinner is to take place in Leamington Spa on 27th May. If you would like to know more email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk

Sc: MGBA

Yahoo Answers hits 1Bn

Posted by martinparry on under Marketing, Sales, SME News, Social Networking | Comments are off for this article

Yahoo Answers — by far the largest answer search engine on the web —says it passed the one billion answer mark within the past week. In today’s announcement, Yahoo has also shared several other interesting stats about the Q&A service, for example: Yahoo! Answers currently receives 823,966 questions and answers per day.

Also last December, Yahoo announced Answers has more than 200 million users around the world, with 350,000 new visitors per day.

Today’s Location Alliance Bank, N.a. post says Yahoo answers is “available in 9 languages across 21 countries.” But back in October, a Yahoo blog post said the service was “available in 26 markets and 12 languages.” Which is it I wonder.

Midlands Group Offer Food For Thought

Posted by martinparry on March 31, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance, Marketing, Operations, SME News, Social Networking | Comments are off for this article

The UKBA group in the Midlands(MGBA) are launching a season of

The Board Room

dinners for business leaders in the region. The events will offer an opportunity for entrepeneurs to get together in relaxed civilised surrounding and thrash out problems and issues that affect them all. The first dinner will take place at Hogarth’s Hotel and Restaurant on 27th April 2010.

Invitations are being sent out over the next few days and MGBA are looking forward to hosting a fascinating evening of debate, discussion and hopefully, some answers to the challenging questions and issues before the business community today.

Any business owners and leaders who would like to join MGBA on the night or would like details of future events email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk

Sc: MGBA, Midlands Group Business Advisors

Recession-Hit Firms Fight Back with Sales

Posted by martinparry on March 29, 2010 under Marketing, Sales, SME News, Social Networking | Comments are off for this article

After cutting operating costs to the bare minimum, many smaller firms are hiring sales staff, improving their websites and boosting marketing activities in an effort to tackle tough trading conditions. So says a business survey carried out by the FPB. They also found that business owners expect their efforts will pay off. More than half (56%) of those surveyed expect to increase their turnover in 2010 and 44% believe their business will grow.

The findings are the first of the FPB’s new ‘Economy Watch’ panel – a body of more than 350 members who are sharing their experiences as the economy heads away from recession. The panel is designed to provide an accurate and timely reflection of what small businesses are experiencing on the ground. Its findings will be released on a monthly basis.

The results of the first Economy Watch panel paint a generally positive picture, with firms expressing a defiant attitude to the downturn and only 13% concentrating on cutting costs. Perhaps surprisingly, 80% of those surveyed described the cost of borrowing as ‘affordable’. However, business owners expect to see continuing tough times ahead. A significant 60% of those surveyed expect to see the general cost of business to increase this year and an overwhelming 76% are anticipating tax increases.

Additionally, almost half (48%) of those surveyed had been required to provide personal guarantees for loans, while 26% had to secure loans, often on properties, in order to access affordable interest rates. Some members reported interest rates of more than 20% for unsecured borrowing.

Sc: http://www.fpb.org/news/2307/Recession_fighting_firms_focusing_on_sales_and_marketing__survey_finds.htm