As online marketers we are constantly made aware of new marketing opportunities that appear to us each and every day. If we indeed are true marketers, we see these opportunities as ones that we could potentially succeed with. We do not limit our own potential. Notwithstanding, as entrepreneurs we recognize our need to be able to be nimble enough to potentially capitalize on these opportunities when they present themselves. We have the need to be able to quickly adapt to these new opportunities, to execute them, and put ourselves in a position to be able to profit from them. So how can we go about putting ourselves in this position?

The thousand dollar sentence in the first paragraph, or million to those who don’t like to be limited, is “We do not limit our potential”. In the course of learning online marketing we may think that we are only working in the realm of the internet, but in actuality, our knowledge is not limited to only the online realm. Let me explain. We recognize our ability to be able to advertise or get our messages out to “targeted” audiences. We recognize that it doesn’t take extremely large budgets to do so. We know that there are alternatives to conventional media and we know them well. We recognize and understand the concept of attraction marketing. These are what we do to build our own businesses. Why couldn’t these same concepts be transferred to traditional brick and mortar small businesses? That is exactly what is happening.

There are thousands upon thousands of businesses that are now starting to use the internet to help their traditional brick and mortar business. This goes far beyond the scope of a website that is simply an electronic brochure that provides a list of services and prices. These are websites that are using social media in the form of Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. These businesses are involving their customers and potential customers with dialog, a two way interaction. They are putting faces behind their business names and engaging in dialog that informs, educates, and even entertains their customers. They are using Twitter in their customer service. They are using Youtube to demonstrate uses of their products. They are providing articles on Facebook to show how their products and services can benefit their customers. There are dry cleaning businesses that send out notifications via Twitter that people can come and pick up their items. There are pizza parlors letting people know their pizza delivery will be there within one minute via Twitter. There are hardware stores providing people with links to “How-To” instructions along with price lists for specific home repair projects on Facebook. There are businesses letting people know that there are specials going on in their stores on Twitter and Facebook. There are stores that will answer questions about anything that they have expertise with FAQ sections of their stores blog. There are thousands upon thousands of newletters getting sent from businesses providing customers with information about their business, how they interact with the community, and other things that may interest them.

So why couldn’t you be the one that shows your local small businessman how to do this? Yes you. After all, you know these techniques. You may have to learn a little about some of the traditional marketing methods but for the most part, there is not a business around that wouldn’t like to be able to do this. Why can’t you be the one that makes small businesses aware of the potential? Aware of the cost savings? Aware that you can be the one that helps them achieve that goal?

I can see it now. The Sunset Drive In with their own Tuesday and Thursday burger specials with free fries if they sign up for the newsletter. The blog of Bill’s Dry Cleaning offering Twitter notification that their cleaning is done and tips-n-tricks to avoid staining for certain material. Bill also is the king of puns. The Facebook page of Angela, the one who not only gives you a great haircut at her hair styling salon, but a short neck massage that will have you coming back for more. Angela also offers a discount for referrals and for those who are subscribed to her newsletter. You get the picture. This opens up a world of opportunity for yourself if you can cater to these small businesses.

Show them what social media is, how they can interact with their customers, how they can combine some of their traditional marketing with social media, how to make their business stand out from the others, and how they can start letting people get to know ‘them’. Implementing this will not only help you make a profit, but can literally change the lives of those businesses that are now struggling because of the economy. This could change the futures of many of those mutual entrepreneurial family that you are a part of. I’ll leave you with one last item that makes this opportunity much easier to do than you may think it will be. I’ll leave it in a form of a question. How many people within a 10 square mile area of where you are right now, know how to teach and educate these people on the techniques I was just writing about?

Have a remarkable day and help your local small businesses grow.

Photo Credit babymtham

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