A friend of mine has a small fashion business based in Brooklyn, where she makes clothes, accessories, and bags from recycled items. She is very talented, if I do say so myself, and I feel for her and others who are in business for themselves and trying to stay afloat during these difficult times. Before the recession hit, she had three full-time employees; now she has only one part-time seamstress. My friend has designed for several fashion shows, but she has not garnered any significant business, or even been paid any sum of money for her participation in them (the latter, I hear, is commonplace). I cringe to think of the money and effort she has put into making her vision a reality, and the continuing drop in sales.

The situation is far from hopeless, because she continues to build relationships with designers and boutiques in New York City and beyond, using traditional networking and marketing methods. Even with the economy being what it is right now, I know that more can be done to help boost her profile, reputation, and overall sales. While I am no expert, I have learned (along with millions of others) how important an online presence is for small businesses. My friend is also aware of this, and even though it is an overwhelming feat for her, she is learning the more about the power of social media for business. For example, she has a Twitter account for her business, but she has not spent enough time finding and following other users and replying to their posts. When I told her that this was necessary to help expand her networking and marketing possibilities, she was both surprised and intimidated by the process.

To help my friend overcome her micro-blogging fears, I encouraged her to attend the Webgrrls Workshop: How to Use Twitter for Business on July 29 in New York City. I know there are many entrepreneurs like her who are unaware of the power of social media, and its networking and marketing advantages. Some are so overwhelmed by other aspects of their businesses that they have given up, or won’t even attempt to enter, the world of social media. My friend knows she cannot afford to be afraid anymore, so I know she will soak up as much as she can from the upcoming WG Workshop.  It may be cliché to say it, but “knowledge is power,” and we all need as much of it as we can get.