Six Web 2.0 Tools Retailers Need to Know About

The change in marketing options for retail stores and small businesses from 10 years ago to today is shocking. Think how hard it was to keep in regular contact with your customers back then, and how easy it is now. Not only can retailers keep their customers and clients up to date almost immediately, and through several channels, but customers themselves can now serve as one of the best marketing means around.

How?  Through the Internet, of course. Or, more specifically, through the multiple social media platforms now available. These social media sites and applications are commonly referred to as Web 2.0, which is basically just a fancy way of saying “user-friendly”. The applications and websites developed under the guise of Web 2.0 are those that allow people easier communication and socialization with one another. In other words, Web 2.0 is the perfect marketing avenue for small retailers.

[tweetmeme]The simplicity and ease of use of these social networking tools makes the life of small retail business owners easier than ever. You now have the ability to contact, locate, and attract customers at any time of day, with just a few keystrokes on your cell phone, net-book or computer. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular web 2.0 tools you can use to grow your small business with ease.

Tool 1. Foursquare

Description: A social networking website that combines mobile devices, gaming and social interaction in one neat little package. With about 170,000 users, Foursquare has rapidly grown since being founded in March, 2009. The site allows members to sign up, connect with friends on the site and update their current locations by sending text messages through their mobile phones or devices. Once they do this, their friends can then see where they are in real time, or at least in as much real time as text messages allow for. Users can earn special badges whenever they check-in at places with certain tags. They can also earn the right to be the “mayor” of a place if they check-in from there more often than any other Foursquare user.  

Small Business Potential: As a way to merge the digital world with the real world, Fousquare looks like a neat innovation. For small business owners, especially retailers, it allows you to not only keep into contact with your customers, but also lets you in on their movements and habits. Your customers can see who else checks-in with you, and lets them know where you check-in from as well. Retailers who want to build a loyal customer bases might see a good return through Foursquare, especially by inspiring some friendly competition with the awarding of badges and even the coveted position of mayor.

Tool 2. Groupon

 Description: Groupon is a deal-of-the-day site that offers special coupons and deals in specific locations. Begun in November 2008, this site now serves more than 40 local markets by offering a single product or service per day, per market to its users. If enough users sign up for that offer, the deal becomes available to everyone.

Small Business Potential: Groupon is a great idea. By allowing local businesses to deal directly with their customer base, and by offering limited time deals that are only available if enough people sign up, Groupon is a buzz creating machine. If a deal is offered that gets people excited, they serve as surrogate marketers, trying to get enough people to get in on the deal so it is available. Essentially, Groupon gets your customers to want to spread word of mouth. Cool. Very cool.

Tool 3. Postabaon

Description:A relatively new service, this handy little application can be seen as the offspring between Foursquare and Groupon. With it, users out shopping who come across a particularly good deal can now let all their friends know about it instantly. All they have to do is update their Postabon account with details, and they then get disseminated to everyone else. Users get feedback for posting these deals as well, earning Karma points and competing with others to see how many good deals they can post.

Small Business Potential:Finding a great sale is almost as much fun as telling everyone else all about it. The hunting and gathering impulses that shoppers experience are well known, and Postabon allows them to share the wealth whenever they come across that great find. For retailers, Postabon can serve as a wonderful way to let customers feel like they’re in on a secret.

Tool 4. Facebook Pages

Description: People can connect with friends on Facebook so easily, it’s ridiculous. Fortunately, Facebook allowed businesses and organizations to tap into this connectivity by creating Pages. Just like a personal Facebook page, Pages allows stores, brands, retailers, and other companies and organizations to create their own profile page.  These profiles can then attract fans and keep customers up to date on all the goings on. Pages allows users to post messages as well, and the organization can update its photos, status, information, and all the other neat things Facebook offers.

Small Business Potential:With about a bazillion people using Facebook, the potential for Facebook Pages is unbelievably big. Everyone who has a Facebook page can become a fan, and they can stay updated with anything posted by your business. The ability to keep thousands upon thousands of people up to date at any time is invaluable, and serves as free, targeted, and personal marketing at any time of day. This is an invaluable resource for any small business.

Tool 5: Twitter

Description: If you’ve been alive in the past year and have had any exposure to the media at all, you’ve probably heard about Twitter. It’s everywhere. The micro-blogging site has absolutely exploded in popularity, and shows little sign of slowing.  Twitter is a free social networking site that allows users to post short, text-based posts to their Twitter page. As long as they are less than 140 characters, Twitter users can post whatever they want, whenever they want. They can also choose to follow other people’s Twitter feeds, and attract followers of their own.

Small Business Potential: Twitter is kind of like that song “Heard it Through the Grapevine”, only the grapevine is now 140 characters or less and can reach anyone at any time. Some people use Twitter religiously, posting updates all the time. For businesses, Twitter allows you the chance to not only keep up with your users, but serves as a means to get instant feedback on anything you do. Have a new product? Monitoring the Twitter feeds of your customers may tell you within minutes of a purchase what they think of it.  The ability to keep into nearly constant contact with your customers can be invaluable, and Twitter might be one of the best ways to do this.

Tool 6. Yelp

Description: Reviews are nothing new. From movie critics to book reviewers, you can usually find any number of opinions on what people think about things.  But what about that store on the corner that sells yarn? Or the mom and pop pizza parlor down the street? This is where Yelp comes in. Real customers post their thoughts about just about anything, from professional services, to churches, restaurants, and retail shops.  Yelp allows people to tell others what they think. It’s word of mouth from those who’s mouth’s actually count: customers.

Small Business Potential: Getting your store reviewed on Yelp can be great if it’s a great review, but not so great if it is a bad one. The key to this kind of site is telling your best, most enthusiastic customers about it so they can spread their joy with the rest of the world. Yelp is kind of like a digitally rendered reputation meter. If your business is great, your customers will shout about it. Or in this case, give out a Yelp.

Article contributed by Cashier Live, www.cashierlive.com. Cashier Live focuses on providing a low cost alternative to traditional Point of Sale software since 2009. By taking advantage of web technology, Cashier Live can provide point of sale software direct to retailers at a fraction of a cost of traditional software. A key benefit of using a Cashier Live is that it can help you run your store more efficiently. From conducting transactions to managing your inventory, Cashier Live gives you the tools to decrease costs and increase sales. When you know what products you have, how many are in stock, and which ones are selling then you can reduce loss and make informed decisions on what products you should be ordering. Cashier Live provides all these benefits and more. For more information about Cashier Live’s web based point of sale, please visit our website at http://www.cashierlive.com.