Local-social search can help businesses in promoting their products/services to their audience better. And, it can also help them identify micro-target markets. And look at these numbers released by the BIA/Kelsey Group. These are from the latter part of 2009…
• 16% of consumers use Social Networking Sites as a Source for Local Shopping Info
• 47% think ratings or testimonials from users of a product or service is very important, up from 40% two years ago
• 18% of those surveyed have submitted a written review
• Types of businesses searched for in past 6 months from a mobile device: 43% search for restaurants, 37% for movies, 35% for retail stores, 32% for banks/atms, 27% for hotel/lodging
• 25% of those surveyed want to locate friends nearby on their mobile device
The game is changing and businesses must try to keep up with it and take advantage of it so that they can connect with their audience in more meaningful ways, whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, or new platforms that have yet to be launched.
Here are the statistics on what small businesses are doing in this space
Social Media By Small and Medium Sized Businesses