Women Entrepreneurs: Afraid of Online?

According to the Wall Street Journal article, "Women Business Owners - Afraid of Web Marketing?" most women in business today do not engage in online marketing. This was the reported result of a Microsoft Live Small Business report.

What?

With a majority of women blogging, I'm a bit confused about how any report can say women in business don't engage in or use web marketing. Blogging is a form of marketing. (Did you read Mary Schmidt's post yesterday - everything is marketing!) Only 600 women we involved in this study, mind you, so let's not get our socks in a knot. But, I have a problem with the opening stat that says, "...nearly 40% say they don't have a Web site."

Who are these women? They may be really new business owners or entrepreneurs who were eager to attend the Vision to Venture conference Microsoft was offeirng in their local city. After all, anything Microsoft must be good, right? The conference, with info at the link here, looks well worthwhile, but...once again...I"m going to take women executives to task and say...

Within each of those cities that Microsoft is offering this conference, what are the top female executives doing to help their sisters in business???? I'm not talking about NAWBO (great resource for women; my local chapter is outstanding), or NAFE (definitely worth looking into), or local groups like our RWN (Rochester Women's Network).

I'm talking about the major CEOs and top executives who could be creating monthly seminars or luncheons (like the Microsoft Vision to Venture conference) to share their valuable experiences and advice, with the women in their region. I'm talking about taking time once a month to advise women who are full of the entrepreneur spirit and eager to start something new - in their own community! I'm talking about people with the talent and experience actually giving back - to the local community.

We've just begun, here in Rochester. Our Womens Entrepreneur's Blog at Simon (sponsored by the Simon Graduate School of Business) is a first step in opening doors for new, small business owners like the women described in the WSJ article. We're taking questions and offering insight and advice on a blog. We're eager to help other women succeed. And, I hope, someday, we'll get to that point of face2face meetings, where we can meet the women asking the questions, and they can meet each other, and women adopting web marketing won't be a topic for a WSJ article. It will be a moot point.

Comments

[Erica]

In reading this blog, I do agree that more women should use blogging as a marketing tool for their businesses. If any women are interested in becoming mentors in this area, I highly suggest checking out www.herfuture.com. Also, the site provides the chance for young women to receive mentorship and guidance when it comes to entrepreneurialism and skills. It’s a great site and you cant go wrong by checking it out.

[Sue]

I'm setting up a website for my new, small business and want to get more into blogging. Right now, it seems a bit intimidating.
I'd like to be able to sell my product online and get feedback from customers, discuss uses, problem solve, etc. I agree that some might think it's impersonal, but many times, people can then be more honest, communicate when they want, and for how long they want.

[veronika]

I have found most women understand they need a website... but they still don't "get" blogging.
Recently Trisha Torrey, EveryPatientsAdvocate.com and About.com contributor, gave a great talk about being seen as an "expert in your field" at a local event sponsored by WomenTies.com and the MV Business Women's Network.
When she asked how many of the 50 women entrepreneurs in the room blogged only a couple women said they did. Listening to a nationally-known speaker seemed to spark interest in the world of internet social networking and marketing; since then several women have contacted me to be guest writers on my blog for women entrepreneurs.
We really have to be clear on the benefits of being online as many non-tech-savvy women are easily intimidated by technology and aren't open to the idea as they have a lot of preconceived notions: it's expensive, it's time consuming, I have to write a lot, it's hard to do, it's impersonal, no one cares what I think... etc.
Try engaging non-bloggers (and those who don't market online) in non-techie terms and offer them baby-steps like LinkedIn and posting on other people's blogs; once they have some success they'll be more confident and eventually inspire other women... that's what it's all about!
To your success!
V-

[Scott Fox, Author of Internet Riches]

Great points, Yvonne.
The opportunities for women online are huge - just as they are for any class of people who have traditionally been left out of the "establishment's" support systems.
I recently wrote about this here in a post titled "3 Breakthroughs for Everyone's Success - The Most Level Playing Field in History" (http://www.scottfox.com/2008/05/3-breakthroughs.html)
Thanks also to the team for the new review of my book, Internet Riches here on Lipsticking.com.
Scott Fox

[Tanya M]

Hey Kris,

I'm so glad you posted about the V2V conference. I think it was a huge success and an opportunity for many women to realize the huge potential of maintaining an online presence. I think most small businesses in general have a hard time understanding what a valuable resource the internet can be. Let's hope this trend continues and more women continue to find success in online business ventures.

Currently, I'm an official Microsoft ambassador and right now we're really trying to scale up our connections with influential bloggers like yourself. I'd love to share with you some of the stuff we've been doing in the last couple months to help women entrepreneurs; we're really committed to providing all the necessary resources to help women start, grow and expand their business.

We just wrapped up a women's entrepreneurial tour across the US called “Vision To Venture;” the response and turn-out was great!

I'd really love your take on these offerings we have right now; I would have contacted you via email but I didn't know which was the best way to reach you.

Thank you so much, I hope I didn't overstep my bounds by directly contacting you. Definitely get back to me if I’ve piqued your interest-- I’d love to share more info with you.

Best,
Tanya M.
Official Microsoft Ambassador
t-middleton@live.com

[Yvonne DiVita]

Kris, that does seem intuitive in today's marketing world. I truly think these were very new business owners. Although, I do meet my share of gals who don't do business on the web - they think it's too impersonal.

[Kris]

In response to the 40% statistic:

I just don't understand the concept of NOT having a site and/or blog if you are a business owner, author, or whoever, trying to promote yourself and your work.