Use social networking to strengthen your business

This morning I read an article in The Metro’s business section titled ‘cast a wide net’. In the article, Laura Shannon provides real examples of how start-ups and small businesses are widening and strengthening their networks by using websites such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. In an era of financial crisis, using existing platforms is a cost effective and simple way of connecting with existing and new customers.

“Websites are a cheap and effective way for start-ups to promote themselves” – Laura Shannon

As a business owner you are able to use BView in a similar way but you also benefit from your listing appearing higher up in search engines. BView is a large community of customers and businesses, the platform provides the chance for business owners to carve their own community within BView. The community works in many ways and relationships are not just one way between business and customer.

Relationships in the BView Community

The BView community is made up of different types of relationships

Businesses <-> Customers

Businesses and customers connect. Businesses can share their news, address customer concerns and foster relationships. Customers can have their voice heard and can use BView to support local or national businesses.

Customers <-> Customers

Customers can connect with other customers. They become better informed about businesses, highlight rogue traders as a group and are able to seek advice within the BView community. Customers are more likely to enquire about your business if they read the good experiences of others.

Businesses <-> Businesses

Businesses are able to recommend other businesses. This makes it easier to share suppliers and also benefit from referrals. As mentioned in BT’s Upload magazine, on BView it is possible to check the credit score of another business before deciding to trade.

Simon and I have put together a few tips to help you efficiently manage and optimise your online listings. We have also provided examples of how businesses are customising their listings.

5 ways to get the most out of you online listings

1.    Manage your online listing

On BView once you have taken control of your business for free, it means you are able to update your core business details.

2.    Customers love simple access to rich information

Your listing will appear in different search engines across the internet and this will help you to reach a broader audience. In the same way people build their personal profiles on websites such as MySpace, you can build your business profile on BView. You can provide lots of useful information about your business including key contacts, opening hours, a description of your business, products and services.

3.    Promote your brand and create your presence online

Building a profile is more than just filling in your details. Are you more likely to respond to a page with text, pictures and videos or a plain text-only static page? Adding pictures and You Tube videos to your profile brings your business to life and expresses your brand personality. It’s easy to do and you will be pleased with the results.

4.    Get feedback from your customers

Honest customer recommendations are crucial and most of your customers will be more than happy to help. Customer reviews can contain tags for your business which makes it easier for others to find your listing. Customers can also include pictures that contribute towards the media shown on your business profile.

Impartial reviews from your customers are an extension of the most effective marketing there is: word of mouth. We find that businesses with reviews generate more enquires than those without. Getting reviews for your business is one of the most important and valuable methods of maximising your impact through BView.

As we know how important virtual word of mouth is, within BView you can connect to your Facebook, LinkedIn and email address book to ask your customers to provide feedback.  If you have a website you can attach a BView widget, which will show your BView score and number of reviews. This attracts people to review you and shows that you are actively

5.    Reply to feedback and join the conversation

Reviewing on BView is a two way conversation. The key is to engage new and existing customers through conversation. On BView, your posts appear in the feed of those following your business.  A business is able to comment directly on customer reviews and create a conversation.

Everyone appreciates the value of feedback, on BView you can review companies that you or your business work with. Writing reviews on BView not only helps to enhance your own reputation but facilitates your name or business name to spread further throughout the site.

Examples of businesses who are managing their online presence:

S.S.K.D Selffit Kitchens and Worktops Ltd

Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance

If you haven’t already, then head over to BView and search for your business to claim it for free! It only takes a couple of minutes. Can’t find your business? Contact Simon and he’ll help to get you started.

Tags: BView, customer service, laura shannon, marketing, online marketing, small businesses, Social Networking, the metro