Social Media: The Next Wave, Part 3

See that wave over there? Well, even if you haven’t spotted it yet, it’s coming and it’s growing!

As we discussed last week (read Part #1 and Part #2 by clicking the highlighted links); geosocial powerhouses Yelp, Gowalla and Foursquare are leading the charge in successfully giving the ‘World Wide Web’ a decidedly more local focus. 

You might be reading this thinking, “Who cares? All this computer mumbo-jumbo…”

But the reality is that you should care. Don’t discount these new trends, because their potential to impact your business is extraordinary! They can connect you to your customers in a whole new way. If you are not in tune with what is going on; you are missing some great chances to interact with your customers, receive praise and address concerns.

This isn’t just limited to one type of business. Everything from dentists and realtors to cafés, boutiques and even mechanics can be found here.

Think about this; not long ago, all business accounting was done on paper ledgers. Even those who were dragging their feed eventually had to adapt or get left behind. The same thing is happening here. I urge you not to wake up sitting in the dust. Start taking advantage of these opportunities now!

So what can you do to start using these services for your benefit?

First of all, be there. Create accounts on Gowalla, Foursquare and Yelp, and make sure your business is listed… it’s free!

As I always say, if nobody knows about what you offer then nobody will give you business. It is as simple as that. Make your business easy to be found.

Next, create special offers via these channels. It will be easy to gauge the response and the effectiveness of your no-cost promotion. And ask your best customers to write reviews.

Monitor your brand and communicate. See what people are saying about you and respond to them. Thank reviewers for their praise and address concerns swiftly. It is a way to show them that you care, and a little bit extra in relation to your customers goes a long way.

Bear in mind, there are millions of consumers using these services, but in smaller centers it seems that individuals are slower to adopt. Even though the pace is slower, they are still adopting; and as I have said before, social media is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and stick to it, it isn’t going to cost you anything so what have you got to lose?

Quick Link Guide:

Go to http://www.yelp.com/business for more information on how to use Yelp for Business Owners, how to respond to reviews, and more valuable information.

On Foursquare, the link for their question forum for business is http://support.foursquare.com/forums/177952-foursquare-for-business.

Gowalla is a little trickier, and you need to physically be at the location and on a mobile device that supports Gowalla to add a business to their directory. Their feedback forum is located at http://feedback.gowalla.com/gowalla.

Get out there and use these tools to generate more business!

Jake Bergen is the Marketing Director at Tractor Beam Marketing, the author of the eBook ‘Social Skills: Facebook Basics for Business’, and the founder of Social Media Club Edmonton. All posts on this blog (and today's picture) © Tractor Beam Marketing Inc, but you are welcome to share this post with anyone who can benefit from it!