small business help

I’ve just come across a course/ system that promises to actually give your business an ROI on social media ( return on investment), specifically Facebook. While I have yet start using the system ( it’s not open for sale till next week) I have been impressed by the pitch. Probably like you I have become more cynical on all forms of advertising and over-hyped press on social media driving business too my store. I’m sick of wasting money!

UPDATE: Smash it Social (Review Engine ROI) Is now up and running, and I am following the course with great results, click on the ads for more info. Click here for my next post.

And here what really works in my experience, ‘word of mouth’. The majority of my new customers that come into my store have been referred by their friends, family and acquaintances. And what’s even better they BUY. They come in knowing that my products are quality and therefore cost more, so they are prepared.

While, I have not have any personal experience with reviews on say, yelp or google. They have not been so common in my little city as say in the States, (though I have seen an increase lately). In my reading and research I have found that reviews are a significant driver for local new business. It seems as though people trust reviews more than advertising, I wonder why…..

So here’s what I like about this new system. It combines Facebook with reviews. The reviews then are pushed out to friends of the reviewers….

It’s ‘word of mouth’ on auto pilot

Have a look at the sales pitch to see what I mean 🙂

I would really be interested in hearing your experiences with social media. For the amount of effort and time involved, have you achieved a ROI? Have you new customer or clients, and has this resulted in repeat business? Are your fans on Facebook engaging with your brand and does this engagement actually mean SALES? My gut (unproven) feeling is that there are some industries/businesses that do well with selling via social media, by two way communication with their fans, and there are others that don’t……..Reviews though are ‘word of mouth’ via the written word ….

Note: I may receive compensation from clicking on the links in this post

One of the hardest things for me as a small business owner, who works daily in the business, is to know how to handle

how to handal customer complaints and reviews

What would you think seeing this sign

customer complaints and reviews. What I am talking about here is not how to put it right if a product has not lived up to expectations, but how to not take it personally. As Donald Trump say’s…’ it’s just business’. So I was heartened to read an article on a restaurant that had received a bad review on Yelp and then set about take advantage of the bad press. It’s possible that the owner first had a melt down, but then turned the tables and with some courage somewhat embraced the review.

How to Handle Customer Complaints and Reviews – Don’t take it personally

The restaurant owner placed a placard outside his/her business which stated ” COME IN AND TRY THE WORST MEATBALL SANDWICH THAT ONE GUY ON YELP EVER HAD IN HIS LIFE”. How this came about is self explanatory.

And by taking this approach Ken of Inkling Media gives some thoughts on what the unnamed business owner achieved by his stance.

3. It takes a risk – Most of what we do as small businesses would be categorized as “safe”. Even our risks are calculated risks. We do what is easy. But what if…what if that meatball sandwich really isn’t all that good? This restaurant is walking around with a bulls-eye, taking the risk that others might feel the same way as the one guy on Yelp.

4. It builds community – If I’m a regular customer of this restaurant, and I like their food, I’m going to rally around them. I might just eat there more often as a public declaration that I’m not going to let anyone tell me what to think or like. In times of adversity and negativity, you find out who your friends are, and in this case, your loyal customers might just step up on your behalf.

5. It draws new customers in – If I’ve never eaten at your restaurant, this sign might be just enough to intrigue me. I might just walk through your doors, and if so, I’ll likely order the meatball sandwich. One, because I love a good meatball sandwich, and two, because I’m processing through the first few points of this in my head and I know you think that sandwich is pretty good. If it is, you’ve won me over.

6. It promotes positive online reviews – Taking all of these points into consideration, by mentioning that one bad review on Yelp, the businesses is inviting all of us to check out their Yelp account. We’ll go there looking for the bad review. We’ll want to see what this one guy had to say, and probably chuckle under our breath. And since we are there, we are very likely to leave our own review, and we will probably not only be positive, we might just extoll the virtues of the meatball sandwich.

to read the full post click here

Do you think that you would have the courage to put it all out there? Or would you, like me, be too annoyed and hurt to turn it around. This unknown business owner has certainly opened my eyes to see what can be achieved with a little lateral thinking. How to Handle Customer Complaints and Reviews? Don’t take it personally and remember, it’s just business.

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How to get an advertising ROI on Social Media by using ‘word of mouth’

UPDATE: Smash it Social (Review Engine ROI) Is now up and running, and I am following the course with great results, click on the ads for more info. Click here for my next post.

It’s ‘word of mouth’ on auto pilot

How to Handle Customer Complaints and Reviews – Don’t take it personally

How to Handle Customer Complaints and Reviews – Don’t take it personally