Research shows that the majority of people are not active users of social media and the BIG FOUR: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube, and most small business owners and entrepreneurs are struggling how to accomplish more for their business through social media. My role, is to help you vision the why, determine the values, overcome the limiting beliefs that hold you back, and develop a system that accomplishes visibility and sales! It’s easy to learn “how to tweet” when you see the value of being online. Being amazing, and achieving what you want doesn’t have to be hard, you just have to be smart! I mentioned that social networking has increased my ability to grow my business, and find more new customers than ever before! Here are ten tips as simple starting points! Maybe you have made these changes, maybe you have not, check the list:
1 – If you do just one thing: Blog. Blogging increases credibility, authority, and ultimately sales!
2- There are TONS of “social media” sites out there. Choose to participate where your Target Market is, as well as where you will get the greatest exposure. Remember: Social media isn’t just about customers; it’s about referrals, raving fans, press.
3- Actively participate by commenting on discussions and starting your own discussions. At the same time, don’t be the person that only shows up to market YOUR stuff! When you do that you are NOT being social.
4- Social Networking is about showing up for others! It is social first and networking second. I firmly believe that good networking techniques work. Worry less about the sales and more about relationship building and sales will follow.
5-When you create your accounts make sure your name is the same for all account and you completely brand your page/profiles. Different names don’t help Search Engine Optimization.
6- Get a quality picture (head shot, known as an avatar) of yourself and use it – it will post everywhere you post! People always tell me they can feel my positive energy from my picture. (AND if you know me personally, not on the internet – that is MY personality!) A good picture should showcase your energy. Also, if you change how you look you need a new one!
7-Do not use a system that merges all your social media accounts and posts the same thing to all of them. Yes, great for time management, horrible sales strategy, which I teach my clients sales strategy without being slimy on the Social Networking Coaching Club.
8- Change how you feel about the word “friend” – it’s different online. Could that person be a raving fan, a referral source, a potential customer? Then friend them.
9- Make sure you set up your settings to get email reminders if people comment or leave messages for you! You do not want to forget, and you want to be prompt, and it’s a good way to remember to check out what’s going on, especially until you are in the habit of logging in everyday.
10- Lastly, Show up! Social networks will not help you grow if you do not show up! Plan to be on the site your customers are most on daily. 30 minutes is all it takes.
What things do you need to step up and do more of to improve your social media presence?
In October 2008 Ann created the Social Networking Coaching Club, a forum where you get personalized support to learn how to stand out among all the chatter online and sell more without being a slimy pushy salesperson!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Great tips and ideas as always. How did you get to be so good?
Julie Labes
Fierce over 50, fells much younger, lover of travel, blogging, the internet, wings & beer and LIFE!
Last night I just “unliked” a so called marketing expert’s fan page for 2 reasons: One, because she was using twitter to populate her facebook stream, and two, because she pushed the exact same info on her personal profile as her fan page – so why did I need to follow her in both spots? Also, she never engages – ever!
I’m so glad I met you to teach me all of the above. You have enriched my life beyond words because social media for me is fun and a way of life. In order to step up I really need to learn how to make Twitter work for me – still struggle with that, but sure I will get there. Thanks, Ann!
Sharon Hiebing
Follow Your Dream Compass
Don’t you just love those marketing experts that don’t engage at all? Kind of like the dentist with bad teeth or the hair dresser with bad hair.
;D
Yes, Darcie, major turn off!!
Check, check, check, check. I think I am doing all of these because I decided early on in your bootcamp that what you teach makes sense and I would do EVERYTHING that you recommend. Guess what – it works! My AuPiar business is growing rapidly thanks to your teaching. Thanks so much for inviting me to coach what I have learned from you Ann – I love telling people how it all works!
Louise Edington
Facing Fears and Frontiers Over Fifty
http://louiseedington.com
Thanks Ann for this great list. I can already see that I have lots to do. I love social networking but I can see that there are ways of effectively leveraging this and that’s what I’m not doing yet. Setting intention to tackle this bit by bit. Thanks for the guidance. Yes, how did you get to be so good Ann?
Yes, I really need to do #6 (avatar) – comprehensively and consistently – (here I used my twitter image). It made it a ton easier to find Lisa and Fione’s comments among the spam in my blog because they had set up an avatar – so another reason . Regarding #7, I sometimes post the same time to both twitter and facebook, but sometimes I don’t. Do you never post the same thing or is there a percentage rule that you follow?
To your question, no I never push the same (well I might reword it significantly, never word for word and at the same time), partially because of what Sharon said below, but the bigger reason is I teach sales strategy, and long term that doesn’t create sales…quickly. It slows the buying process. Hey Kathy Alice! I love the pic!! YAY!
All great advice, Ann; I need to be more consistent and dedicated about being visible and available. Have to overcome my natural tendency to stay in the background and learn to reach out more. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!
Great tips…I’m so excited when I meet someone online that has gone through your training because I know they are there to build relationships first.
Darcie Newton
Empowering Women to Use Real Estate to Fuel their Retirement
http://mywealthspa.com
I really thought this was a great post — some things I knew, others I didn’t, and I am soaking up all the learning. thanks
Ann, great list, and a great reminder. At the end of the day you are spot on, you have to show up, provide great content and give to others. It takes time and effort, but doesn’t anything worthwhile? I love those people who put a blog up and can’t figure out why no one comments for follows. Those people need you! Thanks for all you do. Glad to have found blogger monday.
Janet Fish
Dog Bandana Store
http://www.dogbandanastore.com
Awesome list Ann…I need to take time to get active with your Social Networking Coaching Club, so I can improve (and make more efficient) all my social media efforts…after next week, I have time in my schedule!
Pat Zahn, Photo Solutions Superhero
http://www.patzahn.com
What a great list! I am happy I am not at square 1, but I have lots to learn and improve. This is a post worth saving and rereading several times over.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
Ann — When I heard you say to get on YouTube back in September it confirmed a plan I had in mind but had not followed through on. I was already blogging, on FB with a Fanpage and knew I needed to add Twitter and some videos. I began tweeting just a few weeks ago and I only have 2 videos posted on YouTube. I have already attracted 3 new subscribers via YouTube, a blogger has contacted me about a joint promotion and I just heard from my team leader that someone contacted her about my video — IT really works and so quickly if you are doing it for the right, non-slimy, reasons. Thanks so much for all the guidance and help!
Yvonne Hall
http://www.facebook.com/wildforwildtree
Thanks for this checklist Ann. I realize that I am rarely mingling with my target market on social media. I do believe that our first priority in social media should be to add value to the other person’s life–enrich or enhance their life in some way. I also realize that without promotion a terrible thing happens–nothing.
Rachel Lavern
http://www.rachellavern.com
Personal Transformation, Enlightenment and Development
Thanks for this checklist Ann. I realize that I am rarely mingling with my target market on social media. I do believe that our first priority in social media should be to add value to the other person’s life–enrich or enhance their life in some way. I also realize that without promotion a terrible thing happens–nothing.
Rachel Lavern
http://www.rachellavern.com
Personal Transformation, Enlightenment and Development
Great list but I love your comment: ‘It’s easy to learn “how to tweet” when you see the value of being online.’ The same for FB, linkin, u-tube. Until people recognize the value (as shown by your list) they won’t make the energy to learn. Understand the value and the ‘how-to’ becomes easy!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
Ann all your sharing is spot on, and always timely. Something I have been thinking about is the social aspect of Social Media and how I love it. To think before I met you that I thought Facebook & Twitter was a waste of time. What a fool I was. Not only is it incredibly powerful, the people I have met amazing (most of who I would never have met if not for SOME) but I can learn and share so much. I laugh I cry I connect and am touched daily by all the fabvelocity and kindness. Thank you so much Ann and if I may add a caveat all mistakes I make are my own. Still growing learning & laughing.
Jennifer Duchene
The Home Makeover Mixtress
http://home-decorating-makeovers.com/
Where do I need to improve my socail media presence? How about all of the above. My problem is balancing work, being a full-time student, a babysitter for my grandson, oh yea and a wife and mother.
Jean Bentley
Connecting Lives…One Card at a Time
http://www.ConnectingLivesWithCards.com
I’m an artist. I started blogging in May and am slowly getting around to many of these other things on your list. I’ve notice an increase in business and creative opportunities. I’m also more engaged in my creative practice if for no other reason to have something to blog about. I guess what I’m saying is that the social networking has also increased my passion for my offline work.
Thanks for the reminder about blogging. My blogging has slipped behind my other social media activity and I can see the consequence of that. I’m back to Blogging or if nothing else blog commenting.
Lisa Ann Landry
Vibrating Positive Energy
http://www.imagedevelopmentgroup.com
Hi, Ann. You made some great points in this post.
First, show up where your target audience is – not just whatever the hot site seems to be. Each social media network seems to attract a different audience and have their own etiquette on how to use them.
Second, automate wisely. It’s great to be available on multiple platforms for your clients, but they actually expect you to be there when you are there. Feeding the same post to 50 networks doesn’t work. Those who see the same posts will know you aren’t really paying attention to them, and often what’s fine for one forum is spam on another.
Thanks for the great post on improving our social media presence the right way.
Thanks for the tips, I am encouraged and realize how important making relationships is. I think being an entrepreneur is really about time management on the vital areas and social media is obviously one of them! Glad I bumped into this site…I appreciate your savvy expertise.
fantastic!!
Ann, this is an amazing post. I started an eCommerce website recently and I have been lazy to engage my customers. I have been engaging offline but I think its time to expand online now.
Specially with what I have been reading about Pintrest and the traffic it is driving, I think thats would be the best place for me start with. Any insights?
As always, Thank you so much!
Jess Pierce
http://designerdogbandanas.com/
I beleive in starting where your market shows up, or where YOU will show up! hahaha! no seriously, if you never post, doesn’t matter correct? BUT if who shows up isn’t your market, who cares either?
Hey Ann,
Great post! I have experience targeting people of FB through PPC and extracted UIDs. But my problem is I am not able to identify a more organic growth. Should I be encouraging a specific type of post to be shared? Say offers? Or regular old “shocking news” in the industry kind of thing?
Regards
Vikcy
http://www.grouptable.com