Business-Action from Terry Brock
What attracts people to you in social media? There are several ways that you can get attention. There are several types of entries that you can make in Facebook or Twitter specifically.
1) You can send out personal information. This would be something like “I’m going to the store today and have an ice cream.” It could also be a picture of a place you are visiting. It could be how you feel about something. It might be someone that you’re meeting. All of these are more personal in nature.
2) You can curate information from others. This is a great way to become more prominent in the role of resource and educator. You increase your influence in social media when you read a post or a blog that is packed with usable information and share it with your friends on Facebook and your followers on Twitter. Your audience, your tribe, learns to associate good material from a variety of sources as coming from you.
3) You can post content-rich material directed toward your niche market. This can be your own content that you create (text, audio, video or pictures). Show how your readers can solve a problem by embracing good practices and good products. Yes, this is where you can share information about your products and services. Do it in a “soft sell” way for maximum effectiveness in a “spam-aware” marketplace.
Undoubtedly, you need a combination of these three. However, from a business point of view you want to make sure that the preponderance of what you put forth is from areas two and three. Facebook leans more toward the personal side as shown in category one. On Linkedin you definitely want material almost exclusively in the areas of two and three. For Twitter you need the right combination to go whichever way you choose to brand yourself. From a business point of view, on Twitter make sure that the bulk of what you do, is 80 to 90%, in areas two and three.
Make it your practice to regularly share what you do and how it can help — and always in a pleasant, helpful manner. Somehow, someway, you want to reference your products and services to get sales coming in the door.
Social media requires a strong social, helpful presence. That means you don’t want to use the traditional “pushy” sales approach. Instead, offer serious value that others will want to acquire. Many successful social media users have found that a good combination consists of 80-90% giving great help and 10-20% talking about your products and services. Focus on giving and good naturally comes your way.
From the perspective of your Klout Score, you want what will generate more interaction from others. You can do this a number of different ways on Facebook and Twitter (the primary platforms for increased Klout juice). Curate great information that people like and can use to make their lives better. Your Klout Score will increase based on the reactions of others so it serves as a good “measuring stick” to find out how well you’re doing.
Social media is a different way of doing business than before. It is about caring and helping, much more than overt selling. Make it your goal to constantly find ways to brighten the lives of others. Think of yourself as a resource of great information in areas related to what you offer for business. The good results will naturally flow to you from that.
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© Copyright 2013. Achievement Systems, Inc. and Terry Brock. All Rights Reserved. Terry Brock helps organizations leverage technology like social media and mobile devices to connect with customers and increase productivity. He is the Co-Author of the McGraw-Hill upcoming book entitled Klout Matters which is about succeeding in social media and generating business. Visit his website for a free report on how Twitter can help you boost sales – http://tinyurl.com/twitter4sales. He can be reached through his website at www.TerryBrock.com or on Twitter – @TerryBrock _____________________________________________________
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