Whilst inbound marketing in the UK is proven to be an effective way to turn strangers to customers, have you asked yourself where your money go each time you buy some goods. Or, do you really care where the profits really go? For some people, the values of every business matters while others simply ignore it.
When a certain business is making profit in order to provide benefits to the community or society is called a social enterprise. If you want to indulge yourself in a social enterprise using your expertise on inbound marketing, there are several factors you need to consider.
Organisational types and focus
Although people today are already aware that the technology advancement via social media can leverage a hefty amount for the business, there are always a large number of people who values the products or services more.
Granting the fact that social media provides the audience to interact, in most cases, the audience are still singled out as members instead of conversation partners. They tend to spend more on talking rather than listening. You must never forget that inbound marketing is about mutual relationships. It is not about something you sell or something you say. This must be used for interactions such as listening to others ideas; hence, you must think that it is not all about you. Communications must be focus on WITH, instead of TO. Using the social technologies effectively, both the business and clients can benefit from it.
Organisation size
Most individuals are easily discouraged because they always think that social enterprise comprises large corporations only. The most important thing in social enterprise is not about the size of a company, it is about physical locations of every individual and how workplace boundaries are defined and maintained.
In order to properly function as an organisation, all the members should work in the same location, similar working hours, and spend at least little time working outside the workplace. In certain cases, an organisation can also be productive using the social technology, despite the conflict on geographical locations and working hours. But, this kind of situation only works for some and this is not effective for start-ups.
Organisation age
Needless of saying, a huge majority of the younger populations are fully engaged on social technology. But, this does not mean that older populations may have difficulties of becoming social enterprises. Although this might be easier for the younger people, older individuals tend to have more listening skills whilst the younger ones are often times impulsive and risk-takers. In order to involve in a social enterprise, a person or an organisation must be mature enough to understand the concept.
Financial resources
Social enterprise only needs small capital investment. In fact, small organisations can leverage more on the latest advanced technology today and it is very easy to obtain as well. Not to mention the fact that social media is free to use, however; several organisations are investing on other web-based applications and services such as Basecamp.
That is why financial barriers in social enterprise are minimal, but this does not also mean your social enterprise is also low. Meanwhile, capacity is also important in social enterprise since social media engines are fuelled by the time, effort and human’s expertise. Hence, an organisation also need to allocate human resources and give them training, support, and space in order to be successful.
Workforce characteristics
Typically, one of the most common problems with people is being not a digital nomad. You must keep in mind that technology is also important in social enterprise. They don’t have to be experts, but at least, have the knowledge to access and utilise the technology. Remember, you are already in the era of digital age, so don’t be left behind.
Finding The Right Path
For a social enterprise that uses an inbound marketing strategy, finding the right path can be effective if you know which direction you are going to take. Thus, you must define your goals, issues and resources. If you have limited set of resources, you must start at small and take one step at a time. Motivate on something that is more important for your business; be realistic. Make sure it is attainable and measurable.
Then, start organising your workforce. Make sure you have informed your employees and let them involve. Always evaluate your business and get to know if it is doing well. You must also need to determine if there is a need in hiring new staffs for the improvement of your business. It is best recommended to hire millennials as your workforce as they are capable to make a social change.
If you want to take the right path, communication is very essential and you must also be transparent with your actions. In order to get a viable feedback, you must provide clear and accessible reports for your stakeholders. Sharing is a good way to show what you have done.
Lastly, weigh in your action and measure the impact. Have you done the right thing? Did you get your goal? By evaluating your actions, you may be able to know whether you are going to do it again or improvise some of your actions. In this way, you will determine if you have gathered the right amount of feedbacks from the audience.
Social Enterprise Using Social Media Optimisation
Running a social enterprise is not an easy feat since you will also have to admit the fact that you are competing other organisations such as charities and purely commercial businesses. However, using the social media can be the most effective way to do better than others.
Aside from doing your market research, idea testing, establishing a strong brand, managing your staff and monitoring your cash flow, you must also be flexible and open to try new things such as utilising the social technology. Use the millennial workforce to integrate in social media and get older people’s comprehension skills, then combine them together to market your social enterprise into the social media.
Using social media is among the most effective inbound marketing strategy for social enterprise these days. All you have to do is learn to embrace it.
Source:
For a social enterprise that uses an inbound marketing strategy, finding the right path can be effective if you know which direction you are going to take. Thus, you must define your goals, issues and resources. If you have limited set of resources, you must start at small and take one step at a time. Motivate on something that is more important for your business; be realistic. Make sure it is attainable and measurable.
Then, start organising your workforce. Make sure you have informed your employees and let them involve. Always evaluate your business and get to know if it is doing well. You must also need to determine if there is a need in hiring new staffs for the improvement of your business. It is best recommended to hire millennials as your workforce as they are capable to make a social change.
If you want to take the right path, communication is very essential and you must also be transparent with your actions. In order to get a viable feedback, you must provide clear and accessible reports for your stakeholders. Sharing is a good way to show what you have done.
Lastly, weigh in your action and measure the impact. Have you done the right thing? Did you get your goal? By evaluating your actions, you may be able to know whether you are going to do it again or improvise some of your actions. In this way, you will determine if you have gathered the right amount of feedbacks from the audience.
Social Enterprise Using Social Media Optimisation
Running a social enterprise is not an easy feat since you will also have to admit the fact that you are competing other organisations such as charities and purely commercial businesses. However, using the social media can be the most effective way to do better than others.
Aside from doing your market research, idea testing, establishing a strong brand, managing your staff and monitoring your cash flow, you must also be flexible and open to try new things such as utilising the social technology. Use the millennial workforce to integrate in social media and get older people’s comprehension skills, then combine them together to market your social enterprise into the social media.
Using social media is among the most effective inbound marketing strategy for social enterprise these days. All you have to do is learn to embrace it.
Source:
- What Factors are Relevant to Becoming a Social Enterprise?, Business2Community.com
- 5 simple ways to boost your organisations Social Impact, Social Enterprise Marketing
- Let's capitalise on the social enterprise boom, Independent