Facebook: The Communication Tool in the Mini Business World

First came barter system, where goods or services were exchanged for goods or services; then, it all came down to business – where goods or services were exchanged for money. Business as we know it is a commercial occupation that brings out the energy and rings in the profit, but for this to happen, there is need for transmission or exchange of information, thoughts and messages. I found it interesting to observe how this need for communication is being addressed by a few simple clicks, in the businesses with lesser capital, personnel, office space, or as I simply call them the ‘mini businesses’.

Consider this, first existed the ‘word of mouth’ – X baked cakes, her neighbours knew, they then told the others and soon she had customers at her doorstep. It was followed by the ‘print’ – pamphlets, flyers, newspapers … X was featured in an article that read about how she baked cakes with additional details like her phone number and e-mail. But then, just as Mark Zuckerberg and a few others became billionaires by creating a social networking platform from within a four walled dormitory room, today, X sits within her house, networking world over and cashing in on her talent. Pretty cool huh?! Facebook has become her most valuable tool for communication.

So what makes Facebook a valuable communication tool in the world of mini businesses?

I visited randomly many pages that feature for sale, accessories, clothing and apparel, tattoo art, mehendi art and so on ... and I found that all of them posted appealing photos, smart comments and information concerning price and delivery details — remaining in constant touch or being up-to-date with customers, both prospective and present. So I figured: first, Facebook fulfills the need for viral audio and visual marketing; second, it allows for the producer, the seller, the advertiser/marketer, the public relation officer to be one person; third, it offers the perfect platform for a wide range of target audience – because as we know it – old, young, teens, adults, just about everyone has access to Facebook; and fourth, it helps save advertising/marketing costs (okay yeah, we are paying for the internet, but it is minimal).

Alekhya Rao, a working professional and owner of part-time business Tejal Koustha Collections gave me the user’s point of view.

What is your business?

“Currently we are dealing with Saris - casual and designer wear. We do not have any readily made-up saris; it's always, make to order - from the price to the colours, we leave the choice to the customers.”

Where are you located?

“We are home-based in Hyderabad and as our marketing tool is online i.e., social media marketing, we would proudly say that we are spread universally.”

Why Facebook?

“We aspire to grow further and then diversify. Facebook is the most happening site among the others. We get the clientele that we want. There is no much effort needed to put information on Facebook. The target market is easily approachable and there is a mixed variety of people — so while our collections are mainly for college-going students who can buy a heavily worked niche designer sari within their pocket-money, even a brother or a husband can become the customer for gifting purposes.”

So whether it is baking, caking, writing, speaking, painting, drawing … if you understand the basics of agreements, want to make money from your talent and need for the world to know, then go start at Facebook – a valuable communication tool that can be the ‘big break for the small business’.

** Image from Google Images.

--Post by Angela N