After reading the blog post by allison wu, i find that social media is a very effective way for small businesses to promote their businesses and i totally agree with the original writer;s opinion that “using social media to open small businesses is low-cost and low- risk”.

Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, is becoming more and more important in our life, not only social life but also used between family and academic area. Because of this, small businesses can promote their companies through social media with low cost and fast spread. Social media also give a large space for small businesses to show their personalisation, which could be an important competitive advantage for them in the market. Small businesses could also attract more customers through the existing customers online by social media.Social media also create a useful way for business direct communicate with their customers, and feedback for products and service return to the companies very quickly.

“Call action”  is very important for online advertising. Small businesses should add the direct web link or obvious brand name when they are doing advertisement. There are lots of information come out one time when people go open the website, an obvious name and link is very effective for the advertisement.

resource: Picture from google.com.

Christopher Ratcliff, How small businesses can make the most of Twitter

http://econsultancy.com/ca/blog/63850-how-small-businesses-can-make-the-most-of-twitter

Shopping online has became really popurlar in China. The biggest online shopping website is Taobao Mall, which change their name to Tmall recently. The sales for one recently activity on the website is over 10 billion in 13 hours.  The traditional commercial mode is challenged while the internet developed rapidly.

Taobao Mall was established by Alibabab Group in 2003. The website business includs C2C and B2C two big parts. Its market share  in chinese market is 80% in 2008 and still increased these years.

Taobao Mall is kind of a social enterprise. Taobao Mall not only makes profit itself  but create a platform for the individual business and the customers. It creates a large number of sales and also provides the job opportunities for the people who want to strat their eassily online. There is a group of people making money through open online stores on Taobao Mall. In China one third of the Chinese express delivery every day is because of online shopping. The online shopping gives the express more chance to make money.

As the internet developed, IT system seems more important for companies. It helps to improve business innovation and provides the connection between customers and companies. Although not every company is like Taobao Mall that specialized doing the online shopping, every company needs their own website to introduce their company or sale their products online. This will introduce their company to more potential customers and get more infomation about the industry quickly.