3 Winning Moves For Social Media

When you implement and learn powerful ways to boost your Internet marketing presence…You’ll be in the zone of boosting your bank account.  Let’s look at 3 simple things that will lead you to a winning social media strategy.  Also, things to avoid so that you don’t come off as a “Rookie in the Social Media World” of the 21st Century. 

Today, the new landscape of social media has placed the opportunity in front of business owners to be able to network and touch more lives than the traditional local belly to belly stuff that we all do in our businesses.  

Regardless if what anyone thinks of social networking sites, the fact is that they are here to stay.  They’ll continue to evolve as everything in the online world does…but they will exist long term.  Why do you think for the first time in Super Bowl History major advertisers have pulled their spots?  They will put their money into social media platforms instead since there is more value “eyeballs” opportunity to build ”fans” in the social media arena these days. 

Let’s look at three simple ways you can begin or even enhance your social media strategies so that you can boost your presence and bottom line.

1-  Don’t make the mistake of going out and thinking if you collect a zillion contacts via Face Book, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn etc. you’ll have it made.  I see this all too often being taught as a strategy for direct sales and networking online.  Go out and add as many people as possible and get busy sending out messages, meeting invites and tweets.  This is not a good idea…it’s a rookie move for sure. 

Instead your goal should be to build relationships.  If you go to a local networking event and just collect a stack of business cards what do you have?  A stack of business cards   If you collect the cards at the same time share some value with the person you collect  the card from and then send them more value then you’re building a relationship with value in it.  So start to view your contact process on any social site as a long-term relationship.  Ask yourself if you really know the people that are following you on your social sites…or are they just followers that you know nothing about.  I guarantee you that the business person with a smaller list of followers that has taken time to build relationships and value with those followers will have more profits than the business owner with a huge list of contacts and fewer relationships/value established.  Go into to your connection process with the goal of creating “Raving Fans” and see how that changes your overall success. 

Tip-  You can in less than a few minutes time read  a bit about a person in their profile to see what they love to do and what they are involved in now.  Where they went to school, what hobbies they love if they have a family, grandkids etc..  If you have a true connect point in common then let them know when you send them a request.   Don’t just friend request someone you haven’t even looked at in terms if there is a true connection point between the two of you. 

Also, don’t make your friend requests about them looking into what you’re doing they don’t give a rat’s and it’s a turn off to come across like that.  Act professional.  You wouldn’t go into a networking event and approach someone get their card and then pitch them on your idea/attempt to close business on your first contact so don’t do it in the social networking arena either.  If you do you’ll look like a “Rookie” and most likely won’t get a second shot to build that long-term relationship.

2-  I’ll keep this short since I went into detail in item number 1.  Go into your social media sites with a specific purpose in mind.  You will get more business this way.  Keep in mind that you’re not on the social sites for the sole purpose of collecting customers “sales”.   It’s a bigger vision of what can you share in the way of your expertise and value so that others are naturally attracted to you and can learn more about who you are.  People do business with people they know, like and trust.  Use your social media platform to let others get to know you, like you and trust you over time.  This will happen when you build a plan with a purpose that is solid.  When you build a social media strategy with specific purpose you can have it all done in 2 hours a week.  This is just one of the many things I’ve been able to learn and implement in my business that is making a big difference.

3-  Go ahead and get personal…all business all the time makes for a very dull business man or woman.  Chances are you have some interesting hobbies and things that you love to do outside of business time.  Share that side of you so people can relate to you and connect more easily.  If you collect something unique, have a special breed of dog or cat. Something big is happening in your life you want to share…Do it.  Whatever you love to do in life share it and you’ll instantly become more real to your contacts. 

In a nutshell, we are in the midst of a huge social media boom a time where the business owners who experiment and embrace this boom will be a part of the revolution that shapes social media history.  I’m on board with it and having a blast learning and implementing. 

Stay in touch with me by reading my weekly E-Zine.  I promise that it will be packed full of ideas, tips and strategies for you to grow your business faster in the 21st Century.  If you want to implement all of the goodies online today in your business faster vs. slower then be sure to fill out a “Complimentary Business Assessment” and myself or one of my assistants will be in touch to schedule a time with you. 

Cheers to Your 21st Century Success-  Sharon Ann Irwin