4 reasons online networking is valuable for mediators even if your market is local

I know a lot of mediators who primarily market their practices to a local geographic area. If you’re one of them, you may think that developing a web presence or participating in social networking has less payoff than for someone whose work extends beyond geographic boundaries.

You might want to re-consider that conclusion.

In Social Networking and a Small Town Business - Why Bother?, small business blogger and consultant Becky McCray calls local marketers to attention with,

If you’re looking for local people as customers, you might be tempted to think that social networking is not going to work for you. WRONG! More of your potential customers are online than you realize. More importantly, marketing is only one reason for using social networking tools. I can think of four other big reasons to invest the time and effort.

Becky goes on to list and describe those four other big reasons and I think she’s completely on the mark. Her second reason, “To connect with vendors and other partners,” stands out for me because my social networking has yielded valuable and important business alliances.

I connected with David Airey, who designed my logo and business stationery from his studio in Scotland, because I started reading his blog. I found Brian Gardner, on whose terrific design platform I built my blogs’ look and feel, after a business blogger I respect recommended him in a post. And I’ve found partners with whom I’ve collaborated on conflict resolution projects through social networks I tap. The list goes on.

For more of Becky’s wisdom, you can find her at:

• Small Biz Survival
• Small Biz Survival Podcast

And for more I’ve written in a similar vein, check out:

• How Blogs Help You Market Your Mediation Services
• Yellow Pages Going the Way of the Dodo?