2011 has been a tough year for business, and many small to midsize businesses (SMB) have been hit hard. But in true entrepreneurial spirit, they’re adapting and planning new strategies and tactics to grow business in 2012.
Zoomerang Online Surveys and Polls joined forces with GrowBizMedia to get a sense of the SMB forecast for 2012 compared with 2011. We surveyed 1,003 SMB decision makers—founders, managers, etc—from our Online Survey Panel on a number of indicative issues from sales, to hiring, to their general feelings and sentiments.
The results revealed that many (40 % to be exact) are feeling optimistic or very optimistic about their business in 2012, despite the fact that 61% of respondents said their business had been negatively affected by the economy.
How are SMB owners able to maintain optimism and confidence? My theory is that they sense the enormous potential offered by social media, even if they don’t completely understand yet how to capitalize on it.
Let me explain. Social media has made it easier than ever to reach out to your base, whether they are customers, volunteers, constituents, or members. For the first time ever, you have easy, instant access to what they’re saying about your industry, your product, your competition. You can solicit their opinion, run ideas by them and receive immediate feedback, and respond to their comments and grievances in real time.
This is no small thing. And SMB decision makers know it. Many of our survey respondents reported planning new tactics and strategies to grow business in 2012. A third of respondents plan to use advertising, marketing and social media as the primary methods of attracting new customers, despite 25 percent stating that they do not personally feel comfortable with social media tools.
Smart SMBs are getting comfortable with these tools and capabilities quickly. New innovations are coming out each week, and those who don’t figure out how to capitalize on them are likely to get passed by in the new media economy.
"While SMBs see the value of social media for their companies, they still do not understand how to use these tools effectively for their businesses. In order for small businesses to remain competitive, it's vital for them to be present on the channels that their customers access most often," says Rieva Lesonsky, CEO and founder of GrowBiz Media.
Social media isn’t just providing opportunities for the big bosses. Of the SMBs that reported creating new staffing positions, filling an existing position or promoting employees, the most promising business sectors for job applicants are social media and business development.
Business is becoming social quickly, and the trend is only going to speed up in 2012 as budgets are slashed and SMB decision-makers look for creative ways to engage with their customers. Take it from me, keeping up is easier than playing catch up, so start transitioning your business or organization today!
Want a quick, easy way to get started? Zoomerang offers a Facebook app, so you can create a survey right in Facebook, and send it out to all your fans. Ask them about themselves, what they think of your brand, what they’d like to see from you in the future, etc. The more you know about your base, the better you’ll be able to cater to them and strategically grow your numbers.
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