Social Networking: Building The Likeability and Trust Factors to Build Your Business


Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn have become the new internet marketing buzzwords. It seems everyone is interested in finding more about these phenomena, how to use them and especially getting to know how to do use these sites to get business through their door.

So, if you're interested in using social media in your marketing mix (which you definitely should) the next question is where do you start?  Below are several tips that will help you use social media to generate business:

First and Foremost Remember:  These are SOCIAL media sites!  They ARE NOT direct sales forums!  I cannot believe how many people just start blasting out direct sales messages expecting to see people rushing in to buy and soon realize they have become outcasts.  All social media sites are for building RELATIONSHIPS!  The key here is to be seen as a great resource for a ton of useful and helpful information.  You must truly first give to eventually get when incorporating social media

1) Don't expect to see clients immediately. The Social networking game is a long term strategy. It's all about relationship building. The more people see you adding and giving information and content to others in your network, the more people get to know you the more they will want to do business with you.

2) Start by picking the most popular sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Myspace) and focus on building your networks here.  Be sure you set up your profiles and choose followers you would like to do business with!  Don’t just take anybody and by all means don’t start posting about your baby throwing up or what you had for breakfast this morning!  You can set up different profiles (business and personal) so be sure your focus is business related information and good content.  

3) Link your social networking sites together. Utilize sites like http://www.ping.fm to help you manage your social networking sites and link them all together. By doing so, when you post on one particular site, that post will automatically be posted on the others saving you a tremendous amount of time.

4) Research several topics in your field and start by writing 30-45 great informational posts that would be of interest to your potential prospects.  Once you have done this you will have a solid month to month and a half of daily posts to send when you first get started.  You should be posting at least once a day.  Need content?  Subscribe to online news feeds, RSS feeds, etc in your area of business and post on these or give links to your readers on where to get the information you have found for them.

5) Write as much content as you can. Post your articles, give your opinions, express your views on topics in your field and be CONTROVERSIAL – there’s nothing better than creating a buzz or convtroversy to get attention and draw the right kind of people you want who express your viewpoint.  Provide tips and advice on a variety of topics that your reader would find helpful and useful – position yourself as the expert who gives great advice

6) Use tools to automate the process.  Tools like http://www.tweetlater.com to set up your posts in advance and automate the process. This will enable you to come on one time and make your posts, set the time schedule on when you want them to go out and your done for the day.  It is highly recommended to set your first post to go out at about 8am EST and one at 8pm EST – most business people check their social media sites before or after business hours, so that's when your posts should arrive.

7) Focus on other people.  Survey them with questions like what’s the biggest challenge you’re currently facing?  What are things that keep you up at night in your business?  Ask what they think about certain topics and you’ll soon discover what information you should be looking for to pass on to them. The more time you building these relationships, the more likely your followers will want to do business with you. Join groups that relate to your topic or field

8) Direct them to your blog.  This is where you continue the educational process.  Continue to provide more relevant content and information – Use videos!

9) From your blog is where you start to direct them directly to your site or sales page.  You’ve established the relationship, given great information, established yourself as the expert in your field – now its time to put them in the sales funnel and tell them what you specifically have to offer to put it all together in making a change in their life.

Need help putting your social media program together? 

Don't know what tools you need to put together an effective social media campaign?  Let us at Performance Marketing put together one for you!  We'll help you set up your profiles, give you sound advice as to where to find you content, when and how to post, and develop a plan for building your networks to develop more business.

Contact us today at 920-435-1995 or email Jim directly at webtipsguy@gmail.com for more information or to get started now.