As I speak to more and more SMB (small and medium business) owners I see a very cool thing happening when they are truly interested in marketing on the Internet. Those who really see the value and want to make the commitment of funds and time necessary for success have mini epiphanies of sorts.

Considering Internet marketing in all of its forms including search (organic and paid), blogging, social media, local etc, etc makes the best business folks look at their marketing as a whole. This is a great exercise and can yield incredible value for the business owner or marketer. Even if they don’t use my services I think more often than not people walk away with a new perspective. Sometimes that’s all that is required for change and the success it can create.

Some areas that are ‘enlightened’:

• Wasted marketing dollars identified. When an SMB owner can see the potential that is available online they often cast a more critical eye on how they currently spend valuable marketing dollars. Oftentimes that newspaper ad they have run forever or Yellow Pages money they spend year after year comes under real scrutiny. After being put under a microscope rather than being ‘grandfathered’ into marketing budgets year in and year out the true performers are allowed to continue and the others are eliminated.

• New marketing money found. As a direct result of cutting non performing marketing efforts the SMB can now see how that money can be used in new ways. So the idea of new money is a tad misleading. It is really taking the idea of injecting new life into that existing marketing spend. With all the talk of steroids I need to resist the concept of ‘pumping up your marketing dollar’ but it’s not easy.

• New energy generated. It’s amazing how someone can light up over things that they have known for years. Many business people I talk to about blogging suddenly realize that they are experts in their field and there is so much to put out in the marketplace. The fear of what do I write about is replaced by the thrill of breathing new life into their business.

• Hope is rekindled. It’s no secret that times are tough. It’s also no secret that it is easy to fall into a rut and be dragged down by the constant pounding of bad news. By having the opportunity to see their business in a new light there is a spark of hope and optimism that can be generated. We all need that and many times it requires an outsider to bring a fresh set of eyes to help them see opportunity rather than bleakness.

So is working with me some kind of great awakening? I am chuckling just at the fact that I had the nerve to write that last question. The simple answer is no, it is not. SMB’s, though, live a very cloistered life because of the great responsibility they shoulder daily so anyone that can be of assistance to get them to come up for air can help them see these things. Most SMB’s are passionate people and they just need a little shove in the right direction to get going again. If you work with SMB’s encourage them to keep fighting and they will appreciate the sentiment.
FT Takeaway: Looking seriously at Internet marketing almost always creates a renewing of the mind for small and medium business people. It’s this new angle on their business that can oftentimes be enough to get through some of the rough patches. New thoughts. New energy. New hope. New outlook. All lead to new opportunity.

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About the Author: Frank Reed's blog Frank Thinking About Internet Marketing provides practical advice and insight for Internet marketers from local SMB's to Fortune 500's. Frank provides Internet marketing services through FT Internet Marketing, Inc. In addition, Frank is a regular contributor to Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim and Mike Moran's Biznology blogs.