The Internet has changed the way we do business, including small business chat rooms which are a valuable tool for small business owners. We are no longer limited to working with people in the same office, city, or country. This electronic age means we have opportunities available that previous generations could not even imagine.
People are more likely to do business with people they "know," even if they only have an online relationship. Consider the chat room to be a sort of virtual 'cocktail party' where you have the opportunity to mingle with other like-minded people.
Why Use Small Business Chat Rooms
There are a number of ways that you, as a small business owner, can benefit from small business chat rooms. Here are some examples:
Network with Other Business Owners
In business, you should constantly work on networking and developing contacts. People you "meet" in small business chat rooms may become customers, while others may become mentors and business associates. It's possible that you may find the perfect business partner for a new venture in a chat room, and you are constantly honing your business communications skills.
Establish Yourself as an Expert in Your Niche
By participating in discussions held in small business chat rooms, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge about your product or service. Over time, other participants will come to rely on you for advice and are more likely to buy from you because you have credibility.
Host Events or Seminars Online
Book a Chat: Some small business chat rooms will allow you to "book" a chat room to host a special event or conduct a seminar. Your special event may be the launch of a new product or another announcement. Invite people on your mailing list to visit the chat room and invite other interested Internet users as well. This is an opportunity for you to share news or get exposure for your product that you may not otherwise have.
Instead of sending out e-mails that your list members may or may not read, if you can get them into the chat room, your message reaches them immediately. Your list members also get to "meet" other Internet users, which can only be to their benefit.
Virtual Seminars/Workshops: Hosting a virtual seminar or workshop is another way to make small business chat rooms work for you. You do not have to incur the cost of renting a meeting room and traveling to the location. Your guests can attend from anywhere with an Internet connection, so they do not incur transportation costs either.
You have a larger pool of potential attendees when the only prerequisite is that they need to be available to enter the chat room at a certain time. Offer people attending the seminar or workshop a discount or free gift for taking the time to attend. This type of special offer may be enough to persuade someone to sign in to learn more about you and your business.
Examples of Small Business Chat Rooms
Visit these sites to participate in chats with other people who are interested in business topics:
- BusinessChat offers chat rooms for insurance, investments, stocks, project management, and human resources topics.
- Campfire allows up to 60 people to chat at one time. A free trial is offered and pricing depends on how many people you are chatting with and the number of chat rooms you want to create for your business needs.
