Google rolls out real time search, making small business social networking even more important

Are you sitting there wondering why you ever bother with using social networks like Twitter? Well, here’s the news you’ve been waiting for.

Google’s finally rolled out their ‘real time’ search results. What that means essentially is that if someone searches for something, it won’t just bring up the usually list of link, videos, images and local search results… there’s a new module that displays breaking news and tweets related to that topic.  Sweet.

The relevance of this new development is that the online world (and search) is only becoming a reflection of what the consumer wants. And what the consumer wants is not out of date, poor content but what’s happening right now.  There’s a real hunger that’s growing for instantaneous information, for social thought and sharing and Google’s roll out of ‘real time’ search results is just that start of satisfying this hunger.

So why is this relevant for small businesses?

It’s important simply because, you could spend all day pouring your enthusiasm into making/developing your product or service but if nobody’s talking – nobody’s listening.

Making time to promote yourself on social networks like BT Tradespace, or Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn – is becoming increasing crucial to making yourself visible, generating buzz and seeing the rewards of doing so.

Interestingly what’s becoming glaring is that even as these developments continue to spiral in the online world, there seems to be a lack of support for small businesses in teaching small businesses to use these channels effectively.

I saw this in the recent ‘royalty round table’ BT Business held the other day which saw the likes of Internet moguls like Facebook, Econsultancy, LinkedIn, Google, the British Chambers of Commerce a couple of small businesses and of course our very own Ivan discussing digital marketing for small businesses.  It was obvious. There’s an over riding need for the industry biggies and the government to make small business marketing easy, effective and fun – which is simply our mission here on BT Tradespace.

What made for interesting discussion also provided some gems of wisdom which I down for you….

A website is just not enough to market yourself

Despite the recession, digital marketing has given small businesses more opportunities than before.

(John Dunsmure, Managing Director, British Chambers of Commerce)

Small businesses need one point of information to help them get and make the most of online.

(Claire Young, The Apprentice and Entrepreneur)

The rise of social media empowers small businesses to create powerful messages for themselves.

(Ivan Croxford, General Manager, Digital Marketing Services, BT Business)

Consumers who are worried about budgets are researching more online before buying.

(Matt Brittin, Managing Director, Google UK)

Rules are the same for big and small businesses when adopting social media. You don’t wait for three weeks before doing a 26 mile run; you do a little bit every week to build it up. It’s the same online.

(Alex Hoye, CEO, Latitude)

It’s not just about getting leads; how you handle the post sales experience is of equal importance.

Gareth Jones, UK and Ireland Regional Manager, Cisco/Flip Video

How you adopt social media is a matter of understanding the context of what you’re in.

Kevin Eyres, MD Europe, LinkedIn

So that’s what the big wigs think – but what do you think? Do you think the government and industry should do more to reach out to small businesses? How can they make the Internet easier to grasp for small businesses? Leave a comment and let us know!