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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Social Media Craze

Social media is all the rage these days and I believe it is here to stay, just like telephones, fax machines, and the internet. If you are not using social media in your business you are missing an opportunity for FREE marketing. If you are not using it in your personal life you are missing out on connecting with family, friends, old school buddies, and long lost acquaintances. But hey, I understand it is hard to keep up with all the new technology and trends.

Social Media 101

Where to post
Each social media place has a different personality. For example, FaceBook is a mix of business and personal, whereas LinkedIn is strictly business. Twitter is primarily business and limits the number or characters you can post in a single "Tweet" to 140. Plaxo is a networking/address book site. There are many more social networking sites available. FaceBook, LinkedIn, and Twitter seem to be the most popular.


What to post
Do you wonder what is appropriate to post on social media? Industry leaders recommend posting tweets and statuses of four equal types in equal parts: quotes, tips, pitches and personal. That way you're pitching 25% of the time. If you pitch all the time, no one will pay attention. Tie the topic of a quote to your business, you can get these by Googling for quote sites. Tips should be specific to your niche and be useful information. Pitches can include your latest client testimonials, special offers, questions that help clients prospects realize that they need what you do, upcoming events, etc. Always include some personal posts so clients and prospects feel like they really know you!


When to post
Some businesses/people post daily. Some even post the same status update early in the day and then later in the day to catch the attention of those who may have missed it earlier. How often you post is a matter of how much you have to say and how much time you have. There is more to social networking than just what you post. Think of social media as a conversation. In addition to your posts you also need to interact in the conversation by commenting on other member's posts. Just as in conversation you need to speak, listen, and interact.


How to post
Each social media site has an empty box to type your post. In FaceBook the box is labeled, “What’s on your mind?” In Twitter is says, “What’s Happening?” LinkedIn says, “Share an idea, article, question or update.” You can set up your social media to post a comment to one social media site and have it post to the other sites. Software is also available to set future posts. And there are virtual assistants and companies that will manage your social media for you.

How to get started
Ready to get started on social media? Here’s a free gift from Susan Payton, the Marketing Eggspert and owner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations. It’ll help you figure out social media in an hour a day. Download it now.
And if you want even more help on setting up a facebook Page and marketing it to grow your sales, check out Susan’s Facebook for Business ebooks, Setting Up Your Page and Marketing Your Page. At just $30 per ebook, they’re the cheapest, fastest way to teach you hands on how to use social media to grow your business. You’ll be social media savvy before you know it!