A Simple 3-Step Approach to Using Social Media

Hey there -

Are you a small business owner? Has the buzz about Social Media and Social Networking piqued your interest? Are you underwhelmed with the idea of letting people know what you had for lunch, but see some value in extending your professional network online? Okay, do you want a simple approach to get started with Social Media?

First, get the notion out of your head that Social Media is complicated and just about conveying what somebody had for lunch. Think of Social Networking as the same thing we do in person – shaking hands, meeting people, gaining trust, building relationships – except you’re doing it electronically. Social Networking is the same thing you’ve always done to promote your services and brand: it’s just word-of-mouth … through a keyboard.

Second, if Social Networking is the same stuff you’ve been doing, hey, you’re already a pro! Think about when you’re at an onground networking event. What’s your elevator pitch? Who’s a good referral for you? What’s the best value you bring to a client? How can you transform their lives or business? This kind of self-promotion shouldn’t be new to you – and it’s exactly how Social Networking works online. See? I knew you’d be great at this.

Third, getting started is easy but it helps if you can create some structure for yourself. A lot of experts on social media have some complicated advice. Well, here’s an easy three-step process that I think anybody can use to get started building their online brand.

1. Create a Destination.

Got a website? If you do already, fantastic! Go to step two! If you don’t, go on to Facebook, register for a username if you don’t already have one, and create a Page for your business. That Page allows you to market and talk about your business to prospective clients. It serves as a great destination with plenty of advertising and marketing tools to help you extend your Social Networking campaign later on. Just, for now, you need a destination.

2. Join a Social Network.

If you followed my advice and joined Facebook already, great! Stop here! Go to Step Three! Perhaps you’re already on Twitter, Linked-In, Facebook, or Buzz, and either are okay. What you’re trying to do is connect to a community of potential or existing clients in your local community who’re interested in you, your business, and who you are as a person. As business people, we all keep a stack of business cards of friends and associates so we can make timely referrals. Joining a Social Network is no different.  Just picture these things as a huge Rolodex with a zillion business cards.

3. Socialize, Promote, and Listen.

If you have a blog on your Destination, write! If you made that Facebook Page, start a Blog under the Page. Post some updates. When you post to your blog or write an update, use the Social Network to link back to what you wrote about. Think about using the Social Network – literally, a connection to people wherever they are – to draw people back to your Destination. Promote your destination whenever you can. Meanwhile, make two posts a week on your Destination. Keep the posts under 200 words. Think: “I’m going to write about the same darn stuff I talk about when I’m doing social networking onground.” It doesn’t have to be extensive, profound, or “professional” sounding – heck, the best bloggers ditch professionalism in exchange for personality. That’s what keeps people coming back – you!

What this will do is create a piece of intellectual property – real estate – that you own on the Internet. You then will interconnect yourself into an online community of like-minded business associates and customers in your area who’re tuned-in to your channel, and are listening to what you have to say. Finally, you’re leveraging those connections by saying something.

By just getting started using this simple approach, you can start leveraging Social Media in the same way you leverage social networks onground, and, set up a good practice for participating in an online world.

Plus, this helps with Search: the more content you create gets indexed by search engines, who then point back to your Destination when returning relevant results on your specialties, expertise, or business niche. The more content you create, the more relevant and important you can appear. And that could mean real business when somebody goes searching for you online.

And finally, remember to Listen. Social Media is a two-way, interactive media. People will respond to what you have to say. This could be an opportunity for you. Listen to others and engage and acknowledge them.

This ain’t hard and it’s not anything you haven’t done before. Get out there and start networking!

R

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