Comments on: Technology - Reaching SMEs

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:45:54 +0000

Hmm… One to ponder. you certainly can’t reach them via the cutting edge of social media - although there are some exceptions, and it is something that is changing very rapidly right now.

The challenge is connecting with how they run their business, without telling them how to run it! They know how too more than any marketeer does… We’ll come back to this one I’l sure!

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:49:38 +0000

So if I understand you right, Benjamin, actually show/demonstrate the technology, not just talk benefits.

In a totally unconnected way, I’d been thinking of running a ’show and tell’ session with existing/potential clients. Of course, the exact same concern came up - how do I motivate these SMEs to come along?

Agree that social media could be the key, but as I think only 5% of computer users use RSS what are the chances of increasing those figures and by extension into social media.

I’m going round in circles here - are we back to more tech evangelists?

I recall in 1996, it was all education, education, education. No one in Lincolnshire seemed convinced that the Web was where it was going to be for businesses.

Back to square one - over to you Benjamin and Chris… :)

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:09:32 +0000

I’d say go even further, when marketing to SMEs, focus on the application, even more than the benefits. Owner managers don’t have the time to figure out what it is that you can do for them, or how it is going to help, so joining the dots is important.

The SME space is notoriously fragmented, hence my and Chris’s conversation - finding us SME folks together is tought. Hopefully social media will fix that!