Saturday, May 9, 2009

Even Small Companies Can Think Global

Recently I started working with a client in the telecommunications industry that reinforced the concept that we truly do operate in a global setting, even for small companies. The client I'm working with is based in Dallas TX, has an office here in Toronto and I'm providing marketing services for their customer in the Middle East.


With more and more business being conducted via the web and through teleconferences its easy to see how borders and distance become meaningless in the new economy. As the economic forces shift towards more service based businesses it's becoming more realistic for small firms to consider and transact business with customers around the world. A few years ago this would not have been possible but technology has opened up new markets for small business operators to consider.

This also raises an interesting question about how to market service based businesses to clients around the world. The obvious answer is through the web and long list of social networks that are available. LinkedIn is a good tool for finding contacts at other companies and getting introductions. Effective use of a network can be a low/no cost marketing tool for companies. HubSpot is a great example of a company that makes effective use of social networks. They are active on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and on their blog. They seem to have cornered the market on the use of social networking for small business.


The new global business environment calls for new marketing practices so don't be afraid to try a few. You can always follow me on Twitter at @RS4Marketing.

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