I've noticed that a lot of companies who are beginning to use social media networking as a marketing tool repeatedly urge new users to post regular entries to their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and/or Blogs. While that sounds like the right thing to do, I think there's something fundamentally more urgent: Developing a network! Frankly, if you don't have an audience, it doesn't MATTER if you post - No one is going to see it!!
If you're interested in spreading your message, you absolutely MUST develop an audience. Here are 5 ways to help you do that:
Start with people you know.
Invite your personal friends and customers to join your business network - not so you can use your network as a megaphone to shout sales pitches at them - just to be able to engage and stay up with things. Here's a hint about Facebook: Once you have 25 fans (likes) on your Fan Page, you can customize the URL, ie., facebook.com/AGMarketingCompanion. This makes it really easy to post links to it in other places. I really encourage you to set up a separate Facebook page for your business, rather than use your personal profile for business purposes.
Reach out to people you'd LIKE to know.
When you invite them, include a personal note about why you'd like to connect. Please, though...don't write someone a note saying "I want you to be my friend so I can sell you stuff." Just tell them something you appreciate or admire about them, and that you'd like to stay in touch. You'd be surprised how many people will respond to your sincerity. If you're on Twitter, find people who interest you and follow them. Many of them will follow you back.
If you're interested in spreading your message, you absolutely MUST develop an audience. Here are 5 ways to help you do that:
Start with people you know.
Invite your personal friends and customers to join your business network - not so you can use your network as a megaphone to shout sales pitches at them - just to be able to engage and stay up with things. Here's a hint about Facebook: Once you have 25 fans (likes) on your Fan Page, you can customize the URL, ie., facebook.com/AGMarketingCompanion. This makes it really easy to post links to it in other places. I really encourage you to set up a separate Facebook page for your business, rather than use your personal profile for business purposes.
Reach out to people you'd LIKE to know.
When you invite them, include a personal note about why you'd like to connect. Please, though...don't write someone a note saying "I want you to be my friend so I can sell you stuff." Just tell them something you appreciate or admire about them, and that you'd like to stay in touch. You'd be surprised how many people will respond to your sincerity. If you're on Twitter, find people who interest you and follow them. Many of them will follow you back.
Include your social media sites in your signature.
Whether it's your email, your business cards, websites, or brochures - Anywhere your name or company name appears, your social media sites need to appear also. If space allows, invite people to follow you. Perhaps you can make a special offer, such as exclusive discounts, free e-books or guides, etc., that are only available through your social media site.
Whether it's your email, your business cards, websites, or brochures - Anywhere your name or company name appears, your social media sites need to appear also. If space allows, invite people to follow you. Perhaps you can make a special offer, such as exclusive discounts, free e-books or guides, etc., that are only available through your social media site.
Respond to Blogs and Discussion Groups.
Everytime you post a brilliant comment on someone's Blog, include your own social media URL. People who like what you say will want to follow you. The same premise applies to Discussion Groups on LinkedIn. When you participate and engage with discussion threads, you will find yourself networking with people who will either request to connect with you, or will respond to YOUR request to connect. Either way, you're building a network - an audience!
Post links to all your social sites on other social sites.
Here's how this works: (1) You post an interesting article on your Facebook page. (2) You announce it on Twitter, including your customized Facebook URL in 140 characters or less! (3) Now, go over to LinkedIn, and announce it on your update status, along with the URL. (4) While you're on LinkedIn, visit one of your discussion groups. Start a news discussion about your Facebook page, and include...you guessed it...the link! LI will allow you to add your other discussion groups to the distribution list, and within moments, you can be in front of thousands of people. Seriously!
Here's how this works: (1) You post an interesting article on your Facebook page. (2) You announce it on Twitter, including your customized Facebook URL in 140 characters or less! (3) Now, go over to LinkedIn, and announce it on your update status, along with the URL. (4) While you're on LinkedIn, visit one of your discussion groups. Start a news discussion about your Facebook page, and include...you guessed it...the link! LI will allow you to add your other discussion groups to the distribution list, and within moments, you can be in front of thousands of people. Seriously!
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OK - that's enough for now! There are other tactics you can use, but if you just start with the first two listed above, you'll be making a great start! THEN you can feel good about posting your updates, because people will actually SEE them!
Advanced networking can be time consuming, so just start with what you CAN do and don't fret about what you can't handle immediately. This is a process, not a deadline. If, on the other hand, you want to ramp up your social network marketing, you can certainly hire people to handle it for you. If that's something you're interested in, you can always contact Sherry Perry at our Park Cities location (214-363-1101 or sperry@alphagraphics.com) and she'll be happy to discuss it with you!
Let me know if any of this is helplful - I like hearing from you! Tell me what you'd like to know more about, and I'll include it in a blog entry for everyone.
Mary Beth Smith
The AG Marketing Companion
