Small Business Boomers

Social networking, blogging, and a knowledge of the “new” technology is imperative to advancing one’s small business, especially if it’s Internet based. More and more Boomers are uilizing computers, shopping on the Internet, using them for communication and to promote their businesses. 
 If they do have a business, they’re discovering it’s becoming difficult to operate efficiently and effectively without being involved with social media. 
Even so, there are some Boomers who seem proud that they’re social media ignorant.  That may be fine for some people, but generally even communication with family will be more frequent if one does explore e-mail, instant messaging, and features like …read more

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As a member of the Boomer generation, are you using Facebook and similar social media tools to promote your small business or for your personal enjoyment?  When I first started using Facebook it was for my writing business and to keep in touch with writing colleagues. Then I discovered it a great way to keep in touch with my grandchildren and my younger non-Boomer friends and relatives.
It was interesting that a year ago I couldn’t find anyone in my high school class on Facebook.  Now three of us are corresponding.  Gradually friends my age, in business and church, are becoming …read more

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Satisfied customers mean repeat business and great PR. (In these days of the Internet and social media, dissatisfaction and satisfaction spread quickly.)  However, no matter how hard we try, there will always be someone we don’t relate to, who is having a bad day anyway, miscommunicates, misunderstands, so gets really angry.  Sometimes it isn’t even your fault but you happened to be the person “in range.”
Dealing with upset and angry customers is something we must master if we’re to stay in business.  In some businesses, particularly online ones, we generally don’t deal with customers face to face.  (Although with Skype, ooVoo, and …read more

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The question has been asked, “Is it worth your time to try to reach Baby Boomers on social media?”  The answer is, “Yes.”  and “No.” I write a lot about Baby Boomers as business owners, but not as much about Boomers as consumers.  Today’s post is about both.
Donya Schweizer markets her Beyond Chocolate products using Facebook. 
What is Social Media? First, I need to define “social media.”  It’s one of those “if you don’t know what it is, I can’t explain it” kinds of things.  Social media involve the Internet and mobile technology (iPhones, cell phones, blackberries, that kind of …read more

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As a blogger on b5media, I’m very aware of social media.  And I’m wondering if other baby boomers are too.  I recently read a blog post about boomer women using social media to promote their businesses.  And I’m wondering, do a lot of baby boomers use social media?
It’s pretty overwhelming, even for someone like me who has been around the Internet since the days of Mosaic and Pine Mail (pre-GUI – really!).  Apparently, many baby boomers are going to social media sites like FaceBook and LinkedIn (41 percent of us) and streaming video sites like YouTube (61 percent of us).
So, …read more

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