Tough times and rough roads left behind by not-so-kind advertising resources from the past are forcing business owners to make the most of their budgets and find new ways to promote themselves. A growing number say their advertising dollars have dried up but those that have plenty of time on their hands are able to sit in front of a computer and promote their goods and services online.
Businesses that had multiple web sites are consolidating them down into fewer, more succinct pages of information. “We are no longer finding it necessary to have a regional web site and a national one—we’ve combined them,” say some owners. Many feel static web sites could dramatically diminish in importance in the years ahead, as Social Networking and the interactivity it provides are successfuly feeding their client base with information, allowing instant feedback and answering questions-- all in real time.
The overabundance of information remains a growing concern for some owners that feel they are getting lost in the cyber sea of noise. “I paid a lot of money in the past for SEO and it worked in its day. But now, I am finding that by just maintaining my Twitter accounts and growing my Face Book fan page, the results are starting to rise,” according to a growing number of business owners. Most say they’re disciplining themselves to make SM a part of their day, scheduling appointments from inquires right on line.
Melinda Massie, a Fort Worth, TX, wedding planner told eWN today, “I do my own self-promotion and don’t rely on the big-box advertisers any longer.” Massie and a growing breed of planners say they’re snubbing their nose at traditional forms of advertising, feeling today’s brides will be asking for referrals from friends and then checking online to see what the latest trends are. Massie, a free-spirited thinker, remains our Long Cool Woman in a black dress and says she continues to get additional recognition on her blog because of the attention as a really cool person in her market.
Our Long Cool Woman in any kind of dress from Ft. Worth, Texas, Melinda Massie.
Massie and other business owners say they’re abandoning annoying e-mail blasts, in addition to cutting back the cost of static web sites. “With Flash not being offered on cell phone and handheld devices, it’s going to level the field for everyone in the next few years anyway; may as well start now,” say those that look to the migration to mobile.
eWedNews
All Rights Reserved
2010
Posted on 03/25/2010
Comments
Comments are the view of the comment poster, not the view of eWedNews. Please keep all comments relevant to the subject and respectful.
