Connecting Small Businesses and People on WEB
Utilizing the Web to connect people and small businesses, if both are considered to have individual identities, can be quite intimidating. Even with search engines and “go-to” websites, the average person and small business can get overwhelmed. The person could search endlessly for what they’re looking for, the small business could search endlessly for the people they’re trying to advertise and sell to. Many small businesses have resorted to social networking sites, like Twitter and facebook, to advertise and sell. A problem with this is the crucial capital of attention. On Twitter, people are bombarded not only by “tweets” about other interests (politics, hobbies, etc). Basically, the small businesses must compete not only with other online businesses, small businesses, but also other attention grabbing content. On facebook, there is the same problem. The members are caught by all this other content. This can include events, groups, other profiles, etc. From a psychological perspective, it can be quite cumbersome for the small business to wade through the sea of content and sell. Another problem with this is that the people aren’t actively looking to be advertised to on social sites; they are more concerned with what is going on in the world, or what their friends are doing, etc. So the only dynamic segment in this arena is the business. The web is an intimidating place for the searcher and shifting from location to location, makes it more overwhelming.
So, problems need solutions. First, there should be a “go-to” location for small businesses and people. What this does is ensures that there are no competing factors for attention beyond a certain geographical community. This also ensures that both sides are on the same page and have the same mindset. So what if there is a go to site? Does that mean that people will automatically go and do the same laborious task of searching? This is what happens on most search engines when only one side is actively searching for something. Sites like Travelocity, PriceGrabbe.com and Shopping.com etc have become “go-to” sites but still require constant searching by only one segment, the people. So, Secondly, there should be a place where both sides are actively searching, and can actively discuss. There should be a place where businesses and people are on the same field, can “friend” each other, and mutually ease the process of searching. What this is basically taking the idea of a social network, but not having the businesses compete with the social lives of people.
Twitted by wokidoki
September 6th, 2009
4:50 am
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