Comments on: Small Biz Sees Value in Social Media — Says Survey

By: Jenny Ambrozek

Jenny Ambrozek — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:31:45 +0000

Anita, thanks for highlighting this survey that I’m sure my regular sources would have never unearthed. Reflecting on your post and comments it occurred to me it’s important to think about what one’s own site looks like in a networked world. It’s my sense it needs to function as just one node in an extended ecosystem of a brand’s presence in the online spaces (Facebook, YouTube, Myspace, blogs, wikis etc) so you meet your audience where they are.

By: Anita Campbell

Anita Campbell — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:11:50 +0000

Hi Amanda, Yes, I think MySpace is good for a certain type of business — say, independent musicians, or businesses that cater to the youth market.

But if your target market is not youths or young adults, your efforts would probably be better spent elsewhere. For instance, many small businesses that sell B-to-B would find MySpace a dried up desert for highlighting a business.

There are exceptions — last year I wrote about the Youngstown Business Incubator that has successfully attracted tech startups via MySpace and convinced them to return to Youngstown and enroll in the incubator program. But in that case, they are specirfcially appealing to young startup entrepreneurs, those in the 18 to 25 age group.

It pays to understand your target market intimately and go to the social media sites THEY use. That’s where you’ll find them to connect, etc.

- Anita

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:11:56 +0000

This survey reflects the way I feel. Who hasn’t heard of MySpace with all the negative things that are reported on it so often? But I would never put myself or my business on MySpace because of that. Businesses should use more respectable and professional social sites to be taken seriously. Linked In is just that and it makes sense that it came in first for most used.