5 Dangerous Myths of Social Media

Business Building Action from Terry Brock

Social Media is now being accepted by even some of the previously most ardent detractors. Any businessperson with half a brain (and even a few politicians!) are recognizing that Social Media is not a fad. It is fab-ulous.

But, you’ve got to use it properly to achieve success.

To do that properly, let’s kill some of those nasty myths that are still floating around which can hold you back and hurt your work.  I recently read a post by the amazing Jeff Bullas about this and wanted to build on top of it. These myths are very dangerous to your business and need to be stopped.  Let’s look at these myths and replace them with business-building action steps which can help you.

1. 

   It is easy. No, Social Media is not easy, but it is simple once you have your plan in place. More and more I see that true success with Social Media requires a plan of action that is customized to your needs. No, it is not just about sending out a bunch of blasts. It is about choosing and investing in what is going to be most beneficial to your  business. This focuses on that group of carefully selected friends/followers/connections (whatever your platform calls these wonderful people who chose to be around you in the digital world).

2. It is free. Social Media can be done for the cost of only an Internet connection and a device of your choice. However, there is a big cost. Your Time Your time is valuable and you can’t afford to waste it. (Link to time management course)
3. It is about the Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/LinkedIn (or whatever shiny bright object is hot at the moment).  No Social Media is about building relationships and your reputation online. This takes work and diligence. Whatever the tool you use, Social Media is about connecting with real people in a genuinely helpful way.
4. It is about blasting your message out there. No! Social Media is about connecting with others and being a resource, not a broadcaster. You can usually tell who is the newbie on Social Media who just doesn’t get it. In contrast to the “newbie,” they are usually the “oldbie” (I’ll make up my own words from time to time!) who has practiced blasting a message out through email, television, radio, newspaper, etc. etc. They think this is just another way to push your message. No! Social Media is not about push. It is also not about pull. It is about pleasant persuasion. That is how you win fans today who then convert ultimately into paying customers.

   

5. It is about “me.”No. No. No. It is about THEM — your customers, your clients, your prospects — all those wonderful people who have the ability to pay you money for the products and services you provide.

Those who get it will prosper. Those who don’t will remain frustrated. Get the answers you need and smash those time-sapping and sales-destroying myths.

Get the answers you need in the highly-acclaimed Digital Learning Kit, “Time Management for Social Media.” Find out how to formulate the right, unique strategy for your business, get results and generate serious bottom-line benefits. Use coupon code savetime2012 and go to  http://bit.ly/savetime2012 to find the secrets of getting business with Social Media. Bonus for you— listen to NY Times best-selling author and self-made multimillionaire Larry Winget talk about how he uses Social Media to get business results. (Not available anywhere else!)

Social Media is a revolutionary way to practice pleasant persuasion (nice alliteration, huh?). It is about connecting with people in a meaningful way providing value to them, not just a sales pitch.Don’t let the myths about Social Media hold you back. Understand them. Get rid of them. Build your business with what works.

Picture Credit: flickr.com/photos/lightknight/1405327858/