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Posts Tagged ‘Social Spaces’

There are a lot of social media marketing companies popping up all over the internet these days. You are probably seeing a lot of their ads IN the social media spaces, like Twitter and Facebook. “Get thousands of Twitter followers….”, “Automate All Your Social Spaces!” But, the bottom line with these types of companies is this, You Get What You Pay For.

Social Media is all about networking, relationship building and connecting – one human to another. Too much automation will not give your business the “real time” and human presence you want. Now, I’m not saying some pre-scheduled tweets and Facebook posts aren’t helpful, since we can’t be online 24/7 and there are great free online tools such as SocialOomph and HootSuite for that. But, I would strongly caution against using those companies that are offering dirt cheap pricing for social media marketing assistance. You want the person (not a spambot) managing your social media spaces so that you can not only find, but connect with targeted, quality Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers. An automated service cannot provide the human element so critical for social media business success.

All businesses need a social media marketing presence in today’s world. Your customer is looking for it on your web site, catalog and email they receive from you. They want to be the first to know about your specials and coupons and are looking to you for your knowledge in the industry or just the right tidbit of information about the product or service you provide to get them to buy. Though social media is very important, it should be just one element of your marketing strategy. Traditional marketing is still necessary and the smart business owner would choose a social media marketing firm that is solidly rooted in traditional marketing basics, such as direct mail, email and press releases to ensure that a well unified campaign is executed.

Again, with social media, you get what you pay for and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re ready to launch your social media presence for your business and want to make sure the person who manages that effort also has over 15 years of experience in direct marketing, brand building, and designing targeted marketing plans, give me a call. I can help!

For those who know how to use it wisely, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for lead generation. It’s not just a place to put your resume or a job board, though most people tend to learn about it when they are job searching. It’s a very effective tool for targeted, free, online networking and lead generation.

LinkedIn is the largest online business networking site. Using the power of “who do you know,” you can make great connections and generate leads for your business, but, you must get involved to do it. This is the way all the social sites work, Facebook, Twitter, etc… You can’t just open an account and let it lie. Participation is key.

LinkedIn has approximately 45 million members, where Facebook, by comparison, has 300 million and Twitter is reported at 32 million. Just looking at the numbers alone, you can see that if you do not have a presence on LinkedIn, you are missing a huge opportunity to connect with potential customers and connections that can help further your business objectives.

Here are 7 tips to follow to optimize your profile, get involved with the community and connect with some experts in your industry in a targeted way:

1. Fill Your Summary with a Keyword Filled Story:
   That first section before the laundry list of every job you’ve had is the place to tell a story that is filled with keywords about you and your business. Always add a call to action at the end.
2. Add Your Picture:
   Social spaces are about connecting with people. You must add your picture to your profile. The human element is how people want to connect with you. Plus, if someone is searching for you specifically, this helps them identify you.
3. Give and Receive Recommendations:
   Just like references on your resume, get your top clients to recommend your work with a glowing review. And, do the same for them.
4. Participate in “Answers”:
   Read the status updates of your friends, and browse relevant groups to answer as many questions as you can. This keeps your name top of mind, just like a marketing campaign. Plus, all your answers appear on your connections’ home page.
5. Post Questions:
   This is a great way to connect with people and it helps reinforce your name as a “go to” person in your industry.
6. Join Groups:
   After you’ve added everyone you know, make new connections and keep building your network by finding groups that interest you and fit with your industry. Find out who is in your group and reach out to them. This is the most targeted marketing you can get!
7. Add LinkedIn to your Auto Signature:
   And, now that you are actively participating in this incredible social network, add your profile URL to your email auto signature. (And be sure to add any other social media space sites as well, like Twitter and Facebook). You want people to be able to connect with you on any and all social spaces they are using.

You can connect with me at: linkedin.com/in/joannwhetstine

Social Media Marketing is such a dynamic environment to reach people and get the word out about your business, and it’s really hot right now! If your business does not have a presence in the social spaces, like Facebook and Twitter, you are leaving potential new customers behind and missing the chance to build on your existing relationship with current clients. When your business is using Twitter and Facebook, it can also help you find other businesses and networking connections to help your business grow. Plus it also serves as a way your existing customers can communicate with you. The stronger the relationship you can build with a client, the better because everyone knows it’s much harder to get a new customer than to keep one and when the ones you have are loyal, they will provide repeat business and referrals.

Just the other day, I was working in Twitter for my client, UGLeepen.com. I was searching keywords in Twitter related to ergonomics, because he has an ergonomic, comfort pen. I found a business who sells ergonomic products and furniture but not pens. Through just a few messages (known as “tweets”) in Twitter, I found a great lead for my client and they are in discussion to have his pen sold in their store. This is just one example of the dynamic and exciting environment Twitter can provide for your business.

I was also in Twitter for my client, Scripps Ranch Dermatology & Cosmetic Center. She has a brick and mortar business and is looking to connect with people locally in San Diego, so, I conduct keyword searches for her based on the city. As I found San Diego locals, I saw that one the people I “follow” for her repeated (or as it’s called in Twitter “retweeted”) one of our messages. Her tweet also added “this is my dermatologist”. Now I can have conversations with this client directly in Twitter. This builds the relationship and keeps the Dermatology Center top of mind so she can refer a friend or stop in for additional services herself.

Are you using Twitter or Facebook for your business yet? Contact me for a free consultation.