To Social Media or not to Social Media …
OK, so I have been having this debate with Alexis, she runs our Social Media at ActionCOACH and I think I have finally given in and will no longer be referring to Twitter as STALKER ...
You know I know many business owners are struggling with deciding to use Social Media, some are even attending workshops and paying many thousands of dollars to learn this ...
Brutally honest and most of you know I am, you can learn Facebook, Blogging, LinkedIN, Twitter and YouTUBE pretty easily with just a few days work and about 20 to 30 minutes a day ...
If you have been wavering, then get to it. It's a great way to build a reputation for your profession, to build a library of video testimonials, to build relationships with your customers and team, to even reconnect or connect with personal friends ...
Almost every site now has enough training online to teach you how to make the most of it ...
Some tips for those of you online already ...
1. Keep a balance, about half business and half personal ...
2. Provoke thoughts and comments ... even use great quotes ...
3. Reach out and comment or "talk" to people online, make comments as often as possible ...
4. A picture is worth a thousand words ...
All the Best ... Brad
PS. Be careful to check in often and watch what people say on your page or on your files etc, sometimes people are simply out to use you to sell to your database or worse, rip you off ...
Great post Brad and as ever brimming with your inspirational and wise words!
Absolutely businesses should not hesitate to engage with social media – even if quietly, under an anonymous identity while you familiarise yourself and learn the ropes.
However, sooner rather than later, get online and start building those social networking relationships, the power of which is amplified by their transparency.
We recently delivered a social media seminar for Sally Rainbow-Ockwell’s ProfitCLUB in Newbury, Berkshire UK, and some of those attending we recruited through Twitter! We find new customers for a restaurant almost daily through social media and have seen our newsletter sign up rocket through the same approach.
There is a dawning realisation that social media is a train that is fast leaving the station and heading for future prosperity – get on board now or you will find it increasingly hard to catch up!
Brad is right on content, but the ratio should vary depending on the channel you are using. Twitter and facebook should be around 80/20 personal and relationship building goodies, versus oh so subtle selling – links to blogs, Squidoo pages, online articles you’ve authored, your latest ‘12 Seconds’ video. Build the relationship and they will give you permission to market and the sales will drop out of that ongoing relationship.
Isn’t it a brave new world?!
I do wonder, after the passage of only a few short years, how much of a difference social media could and would make to the powerful ActionCOACH seminar we attended in Las Vegas? Will the next one be Twittered? Will those attending create an online Tribe? Will everyone even be in Vegas (although it would be a shame to miss the energy of Brad on stage!).
Happy social media marketing everyone!
Hi Brad
Nice post, very timely lots of press over here about the use of twitter in business. have just read a great book about the effective use of this called “Twitter Power” how to dominate your market one tweet at a time. By Joel Comm.
Oh by the way any business owner out there who is time challeneged etc in stting up on these sites send me an email and we can get a group of very enterprising young people sort it out for you at a very reasonable investment!
There really is a balance in using Social Media, isn’t there? Using the tools enough to support and grow my business while also maintaining a semblance of privacy. Sure is a great way to keep up with kids away at college, though!
Truly, social media is easy to do. Jump in, post items regularly and you’re off.
I owned three bagel shops years ago. If I wanted to capture more business by offering espresso drinks I had to invest in an espresso machine. I did, and I increased my business 12% in a year, and at a highly profitable rate. But we had to learn the espresso biz first.
Social media. Same principle? You invest (time). You gain revenue. The question is always… is this time spent going to be my best investment on tis day to grow my company.
Loved your Denver Seminar…. come back soon!
Great post. I held off on facebook and twitter as I thought it would be a distraction.
Well, facebook has been a real eye-opener. It’s reconnected me with people I knew and people I worked with 20 years ago! Now that just wouldn’t have happened without facebook being the link.
People are finding me through skype, linkedin, all sorts of places.
So, clearly your recommendation is (as always!) on the money. And I love the responses . . . it’s a new skill to be learned. So, time to tweet I think.
Thanks for encouraging us to make sure we are using 21st Century tools and technology.
Who’d have thought it . . . we can work from anywhere in the world and connect with people all around the world – from wherever we choose.
Mary
on a delightful evening in the middle of the UK.