The times they are a-changin’. Each day, millions of people go online to talk to “friends” and “fans” they’ve never met. Bloggers lead their flocks to listen to certain music, attend certain events and buy certain products. Top manufacturers are getting in line to beg popular bloggers to review their products online.
Celebrities, politicians and stay-at-home moms keep family, friends and strangers in tune to their day-to-day lives by sending tweets. Social media has made the World Wide Web a closer-knit community with endless possibilities. But what does that mean for you as a small business owner?
First things first. Your customers are already logged on, and it’s time for you to catch up. “Your customers and prospects are out there talking about you and your services whether or not you choose to get involved,” says Nathan Egan, founder of the Freesource Agency, a social media consulting firm.
Social media platforms like blogs, Facebook and Twitter are an easy, inexpensive way to influence the conversations people are having, brand your business and drive web traffic. New research from social media platform Wetpaint and digital consulting firm Altimeter Group found that companies with a strong social media presence increased their revenues by an average of 18% in the past 12 months, while those with a weak presence saw sales drop by 6%.
So what’s stopping you? If you’re like a lot of other small business owners, you are already overworked, understaffed and over budget. The world of social media is huge, and it can feel daunting to even know where to begin. That’s where NICHE comes in. We’ve put together a primer to help you build a social media plan that fits your schedule and delivers results for your gallery. We’ll help you decide which platforms work best for you, give you tips on what to post and how to attract followers, and let you hear from gallery owners who are already making social media work for them.

For more of “The Essential (Non-Threatening) Guide to Social Media” pick up a copy of the Winter 2010 NICHE magazine.

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