Archive for March 17th, 2010



Google Buzz for Small Business

March 17th, 2010 by Erin Posted in Small Business | No Comments »

I was skeptical when Google Buzz launched last month.

I thought – and wrote – about why the world would need yet another social networking site… especially one that is so similar to Twitter and Facebook.

I gave it a shot and hated it.  I found it muddled, disorganized, confusing and just plain odd.

I guess Google Buzz’s own saving grace, for me, was its integration with Gmail – easy access.

While Google Buzz hasn’t found a place in my loyal heart yet – social media experts are touting its unique subtleties. According to some, Buzz is a great small business marketing vehicle.

Who knew, right?

According to American Express Open Forum, here are 5 reasons why people should use Google Buzz for small business.

1. Gathering Customer Feedback

Like Twitter, Buzz lets you post a message to a group of “followers” that subscribe to your updates. However, there are a few differences, namely that messages can be longer than 140 characters (and include supporting images and links) and that replies are all grouped under the original message.

This makes conversations easier to track and follow up on. -

2. Engaging With Others

If you use Gmail, there’s a good chance you already have a built-in network on Google Buzz. The service helps you get started by letting you connect with those you e-mail or chat with frequently.

Once you’re following some people, clicking the “Buzz” link from Gmail’s main navigation will let you see their most recent updates. You can comment on them, “like” them, or follow up personally with an e-mail or chat message.

3. Collaboration

Buzz can be used both for broadcasting a message to all of your followers and to select groups of them. If you’ve already set up Groups in Gmail, they’re already available in Buzz. If not, you can create new ones on-the-fly.

Posting a private message on Buzz works exactly the same as posting a public one – you just select the Group you want to be able to see it, and then only those people will be able to view and comment on it. It’s instant, private collaboration.

4. Marketing

It’s too soon to tell whether Buzz will have the type of impact for brick-and-mortar businesses that services like Yelp and increasingly Foursquare have had, but it has a very similar feature set. Users can “check in” at business locations, in turn notifying their followers of their whereabouts. Thus, encouraging your customers to check in on Buzz (and other location-based services) can be a way to drive free word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

5. Sharing Content

Just like Twitter and Facebook, Buzz has the potential to be a powerful medium for sharing content. You can use it to share blog posts, special deals, or interesting links related to your niche. Just like other social media services, you shouldn’t overdo it though – you want to mix promotional messages with a balance of other useful information and conversation for your followers.

The downside to Google Buzz for business?

There are no business accounts and it’s not mobile.

Nonetheless, experts suggest you get familiar with Buzz’s features and functionality… because the site could become immensely valuable in the future.

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