Managing business

Freelancer News: Social media for small-businesses

Author: Kasey Brunt Comments Print This Post Print This Post

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Freelancers benefit from online social networking

MORE and more freelancers are using social networking sites to promote their services, a survey has found. The BT Tradespace survey found 15 per cent of small businesses promote themselves on sites such as Facebook, compared to just seven per cent this time last year. But the survey also found there was room for improvement, with just 13 per cent of home-based businesses logging on regularly.

The research also found just 52 per cent have a company website and 22 per cent don’t market themselves at all. BT Tradespace director Mick Hegarty said while more businesses were using social networking sites, there were many more who could benefit from using the technology. “Many are still failing to realise the full potential of the web to help them compete and thrive in our changing world,” he said. “Smaller companies do much of their business through relationships, and referrals and professional networking enables them to play to their strengths whenever they interact with customers, suppliers and business partners.”

BT Tradespace has launched a new platform, Marketplace, to help small businesses attract more customers

New businesses make the most of social networking

Start-up companies are making the most of social networking tools, a survey has found.

The survey, undertaken by US marketing company VerticalResponse, found 85 per cent of new small businesses used social networking tools in their first three years of business.

The social networking tools most commonly used by new businesses included blogs, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Freelance Advisor/Social Media:

Kasey Brunt is an experienced journalist, writer and editor who has worked for publications in Australia, the UK and the USA.
Images by dsevilla


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  • and now we all know the Russian for Ford Focus - thanks for that!

    I do try to delete link-spam but this one amuses me, so I'll leave it :)
  • I'm also suprised the figures aren't higher, as online social media is not a particularly time consuming way of marketing, and most of it is free!

    Read more on how to market yourself for free here; http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/2008/12/17/fr... and why not join Freelance Advisor on Facebook!
  • This is interesting; I'm surprised the figures aren't higher. However, a lot of people become freelance (or set up a business) after many years' experience and they have a lot contacts.

    Perhaps if they feel confident they'll win most business through references and word of mouth, they don't feel a need for a web presence?

    I don't agree with that, but it could be one reason. I'm a freelancer with a focus on web copywriting, so an online presence goes without question!
  • Looks interesting, but as a UK-focused site we're much more likely to recommend the work of ChinWag, NixonMcInnes etc.
  • We found there is a lot of interest in social media by small businesses. We are kicking off a series of workshops to train small business owners on the basics. I would love to get your feedback. http://jimmyhendricks.collarfree.com/2009/01/20...
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