The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce interviewed Scott Spiro for their Winter, 2011 newsletter. The piece can be found on page 10 in the “Focus on Small Business” section.
Reprinted from the Chamber Voice Winter 2011 – LA Chamber of Commerce
In the last few years, new media technologies have changed the face of business and provided powerful tools for networking, marketing and improving efficiency. Blogs, websites and social networking allow businesses to form stronger relationships with customers and outreach more effectively to prospects. However, with new technologies being released all the time it can seem difficult if not impossible to keep up with it all.
The Chamber asked Scott Spiro, CEO, Computer Solutions Group, to break down the trends and share some tips with the small business community.
What are some of the new media trends you see catching on in the small business community?
More businesses are finally seeing the real value offered by New Media. In particular, they are setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts in record numbers and putting these links on their marketing materials.
How has the new media landscape evolved over the last decade?
New media has really taken off in the last two to three years. It’s a bit like when companies first started learning about websites back in the 1990s. They thought to themselves, “Why do I need a website?” and “What’s wrong with a phone book ad?” Similarly, companies are now trying to understand why they need a new media presence.
How can new media technologies save time and money for small businesses?
New media tools are less expensive to use than traditional marketing services. However, it’s best to take the time to learn how to use them. Not every tool works for every company. First, decide what your primary goals are, and then choose the tools most applicable for your goals.
What can you recommend to small business owners who are overwhelmed trying to keep up with the latest tech trends?
Stay simple and start with the basics: set up a personal Facebook account and a business Facebook page. A blog or microblog (like Twitter) is also good to have. Next, set up a YouTube video channel. Put something together that will separate you from the crowd and that will be interesting to read or watch. Set yourself up as a guru in your industry. Finally, use a tool like HootSuite that allows you to update all of your pages with a single click.
To read more of Spiro’s views on technology, follow him on twitter at twitter.com/scottspiro or visit his blog: blog.scottspiro.com.
His company can be found on the web at www.csgllc.net, on twitter at twitter.com/csgsupport and in the blogosphere at www.csgblog.net.
