…and welcome to our new BizEdge Blog. We will be advising and reporting on the small business advantage plays that are emerging through Internet marketing and social media.

Whether or not you choose at this time to utilize Merchant Card Services from 1st National Processing and the Merchant Services Partnership we invite you to subscribe to our new blog, we promise to keep it up-to-date and informative.

At 1st National Processing, we are beginning to embrace social media as a powerful marketing and branding tool – and, we’ve yet to think of one business that couldn’t benefit from some sort of social media component in their marketing and advertising mix.

However, there are still skeptics. One of the most common questions that we get from them is, “do you think it’s a fad?”

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Business owners often ask us what they should they be doing for social media their company. In our “expert” LOL opinion, this question cannot be glossed over, let alone without doing bonafide research. That being said, asking is the first step and so we will answer it with the help of social media experts at Catalyst House (follow them on Twitter).

Here is their quick list of what your company MUST first be doing to get into the swing of things ->>

(source: Catalyst House)

1. Create a Facebook fan page and Twitter account and use them. Keep them updated with fresh, relevant content and bring in your personal network for growth. Ask your community what they want to hear about and then provide them with that information. Talk to them, respond to them and do it in a timely manner…not just today, but tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. Make time for these tools – you’ll be glad you did.

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We at the BizEdge Blog, along with a majority of marketing and social media enthusiasts has espoused the virtues of a paradign shift convergence of all things search and social related, especially where small business is concerned - “Facebook beats Google traffic” – “Twitter phenomena undeniable“ – yada yada.  But now a true industry pioneer and visionary is pouring a little much-needed cold water on the ‘dream-scape’.  Mr. Pace Lattin has analyzed the value of a Facebook member and put things back into perspective. –BJK

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From SiteProNews – “In perhaps the fastest growing industry ever, one person has made a name for himself as a leader and innovator. Pace Lattin, the publisher of the top newsletters in new media and online advertising, is one of the inventors of many of the technologies and methods that have become standards in the industry. He has been called many things, including a rabble-rouser, a guru, an innovator and a watchdog — but one thing stays the same: he is one of the most interesting leaders and commentators in the online advertising industry. Marketing Sherpa, a leading marketing research publication called him the most influential journalist in online media for a reason.”

One-Third of All US on Facebook, Yet Users are Worthless?

Pace Lattin – “First of all, I don’t hate Facebook anymore than I dislike any internet fad. One of my 30,000 readers asked me why I always write negative things about Facebook. First of all this isn’t quite true, since I’ve written a few articles about how to make money on Facebook and the top ads on Facebook. I just like to question what is going on, look beyond the headlines and the spin.

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Source:  Wise Research Ltd

There has been a major change in the way consumers listen to and engage  with brands, with only 5% overall (4% in the UK and 6% in the US) saying  they trust advertising messages and 8% (9% in the UK and 6% in the US)  believing what companies say about themselves, according to a survey report published by Alterian.

The report, ‘Your brand: At risk or ready for growth?’, penned by Professor Michael Hulme from the Social Futures Observatory, estimated that this lack of consumer trust in brand messaging equated to nearly US$426 billion being spent on ineffective advertising in 2009 alone. mdalton This article is copyright 2010 TheWiseMarketer.com).

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Source: Mitchell Harper | Mashable

Facebook has extended their ubiquitous ‘Like’ button beyond its increasingly morphous boundaries to… well everywhere (we just got ours).  Combined with Facebook Open Graph this has implications for all small business owners, but not the least of which are are ecommerce businesses. Mitchell Harper, whose BigCommerce software powers nearly 50,000 website shopping carts explains in Mashable the ways of impact now building, while the video we embedded hears NewsCertified Exchange COO Jim McManus describe this latest convergence, of Web and FB as essentially paradigmatic.   -BJK

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5 Ways Facebook’s Open Graph Will Impact E-commerce

After watching Mark Zuckerberg’s recent keynote at the Facebook F8 developers conference, it is clear that Facebook is looking to become the standard in social personalization for everything you do online. And the new social features and direction that they announced will undoubtedly have an impact on the broader world of e-commerce.

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Source: Pete Gombert | E-Commerce Times

We made a compelling case, previously, that small businesses need to embrace the exploding social media now, or be left behind.  (see Small Biz Social Media Revolution)

Now Pete Gombert at E-Commerce Times adds to the conversation -

There are online conversations happening right now about your industry, if not your specific business and brand. Listen to these conversations and learn about the audiences involved. Choose the best social media channels based on your research, and create your plan accordingly.

The new Main Street exists anywhere thumbs can hit keys or scroll across a touchscreen. So what does your online presence say about what you have to offer those virtually strolling by?

As the use of social media surges and online communities continue to grow, relationships between businesses and customers will continue to evolve dramatically. Customers regularly seek feedback on future purchases from their social circle. Conversations about your brand are readily accessible, and any business can develop a substantial online presence with time and expertise. The emergence of social media has leveled the playing field, and small businesses have unprecedented marketing opportunities within their grasp.

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Sources: Steve Rubel & San Jose Mercury News

We’re at the beginning of a major shift in how we find, consume and interact with information. If the 2000s was the Google decade, then the 2010s will be the Facebook decade. Already, you can see the writing on the wall – pun intended. Look at the data.

According to Web measurement firm Compete Inc., Facebook has passed search-engine giant Google to become the top source for traffic to major portals like Yahoo and MSN, and is among the leaders for other types of sites.

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