I have written for quite some time about the plight of the SMB (small and medium business) with regard to Internet marketing. The topic has endless areas that can be addressed and there can be a million different ideas that can be thrown around. Just look around and see how many people and companies offer Internet marketing services to Mom and Pop and other very small businesses.
There is a problem with the SMB market though that may always keep the vast majority from truly getting into the Internet marketing game. They are just TOO small. As a result there are too few resources from actual people to money and all stops in between to really get traction in the Internet space. This covers all aspects of the Internet marketing game including search, social media, blogging, online reputation management and more. It pains me to say this but it’s just the truth.
As a result I am changing my focus here at Frank Thinking About Internet Marketing. I am going to focus on a spot in the market place where there is more opportunity because there are more resources to do more things. It is the SME (small and medium enterprise) market.
Good luck finding a true definition of this market but I am going to call it companies that have between 100 and 1000 employees which according to a 2004 US Census report is about 111,000 businesses in the US. I a sure there are more current stats but it’s OK for now. Of course you could look at revenue numbers as well but they don’t always tell the best story.
So why the switch? Well, I love the SMB stories but the realities, especially in this economy, are very harsh. Every single SMB I speak with wants information, wants to learn about Internet marketing and thinks Internet marketing is important. They get it. Trouble is they can’t afford it. They can’t afford the time needed to do these things well. They can’t afford to hire a full time person and they can’t afford to hire a consultant who has to make a living as well. This is not a condemnation but more of a realization. Truth of the matter is that SMB’s are stretched already and when faced with adding Internet marketing to mix they may break.
So back to the SME’s of the world. I have consulted with several already and they are an exciting group. Why? Because they realize that they need to get in the game. They realize that they don’t have the time to learn everything that comes down the pike AND they recognize value. It’s the perfect storm for someone like me because unless someone sees the value of my work the price for the work will never make sense.
So today I start on a new course and I hope you will come along for the ride. I will be focusing on the needs of the SME market as it relates to search, social media and blogging strategy. I will look at examples of companies that are doing a great job and others that need help. These assessments will be unsolicited and random which should be fun. I am going to be looking for people on the client side of the business who are willing to be interviewed to share their knowledge and experience as well. if you are interested let me know.
I also plan on being a bit more consistent with posts but I will not commit to an actual schedule because I will screw that up for sure.
Lastly, I am looking to find new business for my own Internet marketing strategy, content development and social media services. It’s that simple.
If you would like to learn more about what I can provide for the SME market in the areas of search marketing, social media, content creation, online reputation management and overall Internet marketing strategy call me at 919-285-1515 or email me at freed@frankthinking.com.
I look forward to hearing from you!
