BizThinkTank - Social Media for Small and Medium Business

EXPLORING THE DIGITAL WILD WEST : OPTUS SOCIAL MEDIA INDEX

Social media is simply facilitating what human beings have always done: socialise and network.

It is a new marketing tool which offers a powerful opportunity for small and medium businesses to connect and build relationships with current and prospective customers, partners and suppliers.

Harnessing social media can yield a range of benefits, however it can also be bewildering to time-constrained owners and employees of small and medium businesses.

Optus has developed the Optus Social Media Index for Small and Medium businesses in Australia to help uncover the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium businesses when using social media to drive sales, improve engagement with the medium and increase revenues.

You must login or register to access part 1, part 2, and part 3 of this e-book.

On this site you will also find Social Media 'How To Guides' and 'Case Studies' to help you understand the potential for your own business.

CASE STUDIES

Learn from other people's insights and experiences while using Social Media in their business.

Download and watch case studies of businesses using social media to help you with developing and implementing your own social media strategy.

For a quick introduction of Social Media use in business, watch this short video summary of how it's being done by a few different businesses!

Download episode

Matisse Art for Hair

Matisse Art for Hair is a hair salon located in the residential suburb of Zillmere, Brisbane. Popular among locals, Matisse Art for Hair offers a range of hair and beauty services to its clients including colouring, cuts and styling, as well as facial waxes, spray tanning and Keratin semi-permanent straightening treatments.

Encompass Books

Textbook retailer Encompass Books offers discount text and reference books to the higher education market, and is setting a new direction for textbook purchasing. Founded five years ago as Encompass Info shop, based in Adelaide at Rundle Mall, it opened a Melbourne store on Swanston Street a year later.

Client connections with Optus Business Fusion: Step into Life Elwood

Step Into Life is a personal training business with franchises Australia-wide, offering locals the opportunity to lead healthier lives, make new friends and enjoy the benefits of exercise. Rob Marshall saw an opportunity to set-up his Step Into Life business in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood, where he could offer his clients a fun, social atmosphere to work out, and see results.

Expanding with Optus : Down to the Woods

In 2009 Amber Clohesy launched a unique business concept from her family home in Melbourne: edgy homewares for children. Fuelled with a passion for interior styling, retail and quirky products, Amber and her husband Ben set out to establish their family business 'Down to the Woods.'

News and views get smart with
Social media: SmartCompany

SmartCompany.com.au is a free news, information and resource site for Australia's entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners and business managers, to help keep them ahead of their competition. With writers who have had years of experience reporting for Australia's best newspapers and magazines, including BRW and The Australian Financial Review, and contributors that include Australia's top entrepreneurs, experts and advisers, SmartCompany is a seriously informed publishing entity.

HOW TO GUIDES

Here are some step-by-step guidelines to help you get started and manage your social media strategy.

How SMBs Can Expand Their Social Media Networks

Being involved in social media is no longer optional for many SMBs. By not engaging online, you may be missing out on business opportunities, particularly if your competitors are already in that space and doing it successfully, for example, building their reputation, engaging and servicing existing, new and potential clients, and most importantly, getting revenue.

How to Create and Manage a Twitter Account for your Business

Although many SMBs are aware of social media sites such as Twitter they're not necessarily using them for business purposes, according to the 'Optus Social Media Index for SMBs' report. While 91 per cent of survey respondents are aware of Twitter, only 27 per cent use it for business. Why is this?

How to Use LinkedIn for Business

LinkedIn is a business orientated networking site that has over 75 million members in more than 200 countries. As of April 2010, there were over 12 million small-business people on LinkedIn, which is roughly 16 per cent of its total user database.

Why SMBs should get involved in Social Media

Social media allows SMBs to communicate, create and share content over the Internet. To reap the full benefits of social media, SMBs need to understand how the space works, and ensure their online activities complement their offline marketing activities - in other words - you need to have a plan in place so you are not wasting precious time flying blindly.

How to create and manage a business Facebook page

Facebook has over 400 million active users. Of these, according to Nielsen Research, 8.8 million are Australian Facebook users. According to the "Optus Social Media Index for SMBs" report, Facebook is the tool of choice for services and products for many SMBs, followed by YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.