| Did anybody
notice the dawn of Web 2.0? The rise of user generated and shared
content... Well actually the Internet started as
a bulletin board for geeks to share information, but that aside, Social
Media (yes that means Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter, MySpace etc) is the
latest, latest thing.
If you have had a play around with any of these things
you may be inclined to think that they are just places to hang out while
the boss isn't around instead of working, or a great place to pick up
dates etc... and you might be right I suppose.
BUT, anywhere there are masses of eyeballs
there is a business opportunity. So how do you do business in a social
environment? 'Chutzpah' (look it up)
Social media gives you an ideal opportunity to
transform your client list into a list of friends, 'you mean actually
talk with them and build a relationship?' Why yes, who would you rather
do business with Joe Blow from the yellow pages or someone you have
built a relationship with?
One of the most useful pieces of information I have
heard about how to use Social Media in your business is to treat your
communication with your list of Facebook, Twitter, or whatever, friends
like you were at a party. Be social, be useful, tell them interesting
things, tell them about interesting things that you are doing (perhaps
not everything you are doing).......Don't overtly sell anything straight
up...You don't want to come off like the Amway person at a Party.
Ok so which Social Media sites should I be using?
Depends on your business and who your customers
are....
- Facebook - tends to be Gen Y Gen X crowd, very
social audience
- My Space - younger audience
- LinkedIN - more serious, business networks,
professionals, good for talking about work and business
opportunities
- Twitter - (for twats?)
Most likely you would be best to develop a strategy
for using several of the social media platforms. Sounds like a lot of
work doesn't it?
Well not if you do it effectively....
Here's what I recommend:
A Social Media presence - open an account with
Facebook, Twitter etc and set up a page for your business that lets
people sign up as your friend. Link to this from your web site.
Develop a publishing regime that posts useful,
friendly information to your 'friends' on the social media sites on a
regular basis, AND occasionally mentions specific things that are
happening in your business, e.g. We have an event in Brisbane on 25th,
all my Facebook friends are invited etc
You can even use an
OUTSOURCING SERVICE like
ODESK
to find a person to write and even post the information on the Social
Media sites for you.
If you would like some help to set this
up, and get Social Media working for your business, then you can
Contact ME. |
