If you hear the word twitter and think of birds, you're a step behind the marketing efforts of your colleagues. A new survey found that a whopping 88 percent of small business owners and employees are using social media, like Twitter, to gain attention for their businesses, improve traffic to their Web sites, and find new clients. Why not apply this strategy in the veterinary world?
Here are the top four social media tools-all free-used by the mostly small business owners surveyed, in order of popularity:
1.Twitter, where users post short messages of 140 characters or less about sales and specials at their businesses, funny or informative online tidbits, or just day-to-day experiences in their personal and professional lives.
2. Blogs, hosted for free online or on people's own servers, that act as online journals. Places to start one free include Blogger, Livejournal, or WordPress. You can click here to watch a video tutorial about how to start a blog at Blogger.
3.LinkedIn, a massive professional networking Web site where users connect with former and current employers, employees, clients, and colleagues.
4.Facebook, a personal networking Web site where users post pictures, join groups, and exchange messages with friends, family, and even clients.
What are the business benefits of connecting to new and current clients with social media sites? Respondents cited:
> Eighty-one percent said their social media efforts have generated exposure.
> More than 66 percent said spending six hours or less a week on social media Web sites boosted traffic to their company's site.
> Nearly 80 percent said their Web site rose in search engine rankings.
> One-third of respondents said social media marketing helped them generate new clients. For those business owners who've used social media for years, the number rocketed to 62 percent of respondents. Respondents said the time they've spent interacting and playing with social media sites pays off in the long run with better results.
If you haven't started using free social media, don't worry. In the study, 72 percent said they just started or have been using social media for only a few months.
The study was conducted by Michael Stelzner for the upcoming Social Media Success Summit 2009.
Social Web sites can help small businesses
More than 80 percent of businesspeople surveyed say social media like Twitter and Facebook has generated exposure for their businesses.
If you hear the word twitter and think of birds, you're a step behind the marketing efforts of your colleagues. A new survey found that a whopping 88 percent of small business owners and employees are using social media, like Twitter, to gain attention for their businesses, improve traffic to their Web sites, and find new clients. Why not apply this strategy in the veterinary world?
Here are the top four social media tools-all free-used by the mostly small business owners surveyed, in order of popularity:
1.Twitter, where users post short messages of 140 characters or less about sales and specials at their businesses, funny or informative online tidbits, or just day-to-day experiences in their personal and professional lives.
2. Blogs, hosted for free online or on people's own servers, that act as online journals. Places to start one free include Blogger, Livejournal, or WordPress. You can click here to watch a video tutorial about how to start a blog at Blogger.
3.LinkedIn, a massive professional networking Web site where users connect with former and current employers, employees, clients, and colleagues.
4.Facebook, a personal networking Web site where users post pictures, join groups, and exchange messages with friends, family, and even clients.
What are the business benefits of connecting to new and current clients with social media sites? Respondents cited:
> Eighty-one percent said their social media efforts have generated exposure.
> More than 66 percent said spending six hours or less a week on social media Web sites boosted traffic to their company's site.
> Nearly 80 percent said their Web site rose in search engine rankings.
> One-third of respondents said social media marketing helped them generate new clients. For those business owners who've used social media for years, the number rocketed to 62 percent of respondents. Respondents said the time they've spent interacting and playing with social media sites pays off in the long run with better results.
If you haven't started using free social media, don't worry. In the study, 72 percent said they just started or have been using social media for only a few months.
The study was conducted by Michael Stelzner for the upcoming Social Media Success Summit 2009.
A new name for “drop-off”
April 18th 2024Scripts for confident client conversations include wellness testing woes
Read More
Making the ER experience a low stress experience
April 17th 2024Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM), emphasize the importance of creating a safe space for pets and owners during emergency visits
Listen
Short lifespans for pets can compel clients to act on obesity, researchers discover
March 27th 2024Results found that life expectancy is one of the most important factors for pet owners to participate in their pet’s weight management
Read More
Flipping the script
April 3rd 2024Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, interviews host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, on this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast
Listen
New partnership aims to improve outcomes for veterinarians and patients
January 30th 2024IGNITE Veterinary Solutions and PetPath’s new partnership will help ease stress surrounding care before and after a patient surgery
Read More
What pet owners really want
January 23rd 2024Recent survey findings revealed which practice trends may be affecting client satisfaction
Read More
A new name for “drop-off”
April 18th 2024Scripts for confident client conversations include wellness testing woes
Read More
Making the ER experience a low stress experience
April 17th 2024Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM), emphasize the importance of creating a safe space for pets and owners during emergency visits
Listen
Short lifespans for pets can compel clients to act on obesity, researchers discover
March 27th 2024Results found that life expectancy is one of the most important factors for pet owners to participate in their pet’s weight management
Read More
Flipping the script
April 3rd 2024Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, interviews host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, on this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast
Listen
New partnership aims to improve outcomes for veterinarians and patients
January 30th 2024IGNITE Veterinary Solutions and PetPath’s new partnership will help ease stress surrounding care before and after a patient surgery
Read More
What pet owners really want
January 23rd 2024Recent survey findings revealed which practice trends may be affecting client satisfaction
Read More