Regular readers here will know that here at Oldfarm use what social media tools we can to promote our pork business.
We have the website, the facebook page, and in fact two twitter accounts. I’ve set up a YouTube channel – which I need to build on. I’ve set up Pinterest and Instagram accounts which I am still grappling with, more from the point of view of finding the time to keep all balls in the air!
Without these tools I don’t know how we would promote Oldfarm Pork…. we don’t have a marketing budget! I have written and spoken before about how we use these tools.
However, yesterday, wearing a different hat to pig farming, I was asked to look at other small businesses in the Midlands and their web presence.
The results, to me anyway, were staggering!
27 companies looked at….. ranging from 1 person to 10/12 employees.
- 10 had no website, or web presence, of any description
- 8 didn’t even have an email address
- 8 had a Facebook page
- 5 had a Twitter account
- None were using YouTube or Pinterest
- Only 4 were using website, facebook and twitter
Now is it me, or is this amazing in 2012 for small businesses not to be using free tools to promote their business?
Thats a bit mental – what sort of business were they in that they could afford to ignore such easy and powerful tools. Not to mention mostly free.
It is mental… they was quite a mix of businesses… some quite arty which would so benefit from say Pinterest!
M
It try is amazing and every small or medium business should use these free tools
I know Fiona, I was stunned! The exercise started out as something else and morphed into this!
As a customer, I like to be able to see online at what a company or business has to offer. If there is no online presence, I move on, and I’m quite sure I’m not the only one. No presence equally potentially lost business. Very interesting post, Margaret.
Exactly my sentiments Colette. Not sure how any business can survive without a web presence in the 21st century!
It is surprising but surprisingly common. I think pinterest and youtube are still ‘foreign’ to most people but yes, that businesses with employees don’t have a web presence is surprising. Did any cite poor broadband as a reason?
I came across a great quote recently which said that we no longer have a choice of whether we use social media or not – it is a case of how well we use it 🙂
No Lorna… broadband wasn’t the excuse…. ‘didn’t see the need for it!’