Marketing

There’s no easy way to say this. But, it needs to be said.

Too many businesses in the Caribbean are failing to manage their social media and use digital marketing to drive sales and get noticed. It’s something others have noticed, and it’s got to change.

Social media strategist, Katyan Roach says the comfort of regular trade and “solid bookings” are making people lazy. Caribbean business owners feel they don’t need to get onboard the social media bandwagon to make money. Regular custom means regular money. It sounds good, but whether you’re using social media or not, your customers are talking about you!

But that’s not the only reason to stop seeing social media as something you don’t need to do. If you want to sell a service or a product, you have to sell it online. If you are a small business relying on tourism as a big part of your income, you are losing business by not being online. These are facts.

Do you need to be online if you’re running a small business?

There are lots reasons why you should be. There are also lots of reasons given by small business owners explaining why they’re not. We’d add one more explanation people give, “we’re too small to bother”.

It’s because you’re small that you need to be online. Because online you can SHOUT, get noticed, influence and make money. Your competition is there. Your suppliers are there. Everyone else is there, except you.

If you’re on social media, you can be where your potential customers are, before they get to you. They can find you on the beach selling handmade scarves sitting at home on a sofa in Vancouver.