US Trend – SME’s Now Going Online
Apr 14
According to an article posted on Emarketer, small and medium enterprises (SME’s) are really seriously looking to going digital in 2009 and 2010. In a study made by Bredin Business Information, they say that the top problems encountered by SME’s are the following:
Based on this study and common sense, you can safely say that the real problem is the limited resources. With this in mind, businessmen should really make it a point to make every cent spent on marketing and awareness to have an impact on the bottom line. This leads me back to my earlier post 3 Reasons Why SME’s Should Invest in Online Marketing.
By going to the internet you can target the people you want to talk to which makes your hit rate go up. The rates are also much lower versus traditional media and the chance for viral marketing to take shape and snowball is much higher especially if you have a good product. 
One good example of a local SME taking advantage of the online space is Hizon’s Catering. I don’t really see them spending heavily on TV or Print but they did get my attention with the campaign that they are currently running on Facebook. Basically what they did was they had a small button advertisement that has a very catchy copy for people my age (hahaha) – FREE DREAM WEDDING. See below for a screenshot of the advertisement.
When you click the add, you’re directed to a landing page about the promotion where you input information about yourself and your “partner”. Upon completion of the form, you’re included in the raffle for the dream wedding. However, it doesn’t stop there! Every now and then, you’ll get an e-mail from their Marketing Manager inviting you for a free tasting of their food for weddings.
It’s targeted to people who are in marrying age and usually have the status “in a relationship” or “engaged”. Their choice of social network is also spot on. Philippine Facebook users seem to have more disposable income at their disposal since a lot of FB users are professionals already. If this campaign isn’t cost effective and targeted, then I don’t know what is.
Just to add, I sent an e-mail to Joseph Hizon, the Marketing Manager of Hizon’s Catering and here’s what he had to say about the campaign on Facebook:
Thanks for the email i enjoyed reading your blog, the campaign works really well especially since its well targeted to our market, its one of our most effective tools for database building.
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hello.. do you have a list of sme in metro manila??
or do you have in mind where i could get one