Using Social Media For Your Business
Social Media and social networks seem to be the latest craze.
Everyone talks about it, and you even hear it mentioned on the news, in the newspaper as well as billboards in town.
So, what is this all about? Quite simply it is something that has been around for ages, however it is fairly new to the Internet world.
Anyone that has been in business for any period in time understands the need to be involved in a network to help expand your business.
In the past, such networks existed and still exist of local community groups such as Rotary Clubs and Chamber of Commerce as well as Lodges and Women groups.
However, those were merely limited to local or within the city limits.
With the age of the Internet, came the wave of social networks from the early yahoo groups to Ryze, Myspace, Ning to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
These types of social networks allow you to expand further than your home town.
You are now able to network with individuals in other states and even other countries.
The possibilities seem to be endless.
So, how can you use the advancement of social networks to help your business? Quite simply by adapting the past time methods to the avenues available today.
First and foremost, the importance has been and always will be connections and simply building relationships.
Yes, I'm sure you've heard it all before.
However, with online networks building relationships takes some creativity.
Unlike in-person networking where you can size down the individual by their clothes, their demeanor, body language and talk, online you must work very hard at showing your true self.
So, yes, we must be creative and go out of our way to reach out to others in the form of conversations, Skype chats, tele-conferences, video chats as well as networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
Our target audience must first feel at ease with us, before they will do business with us and it is our responsibility to reach out and build a relationship first.
Although it may be a bit more difficult and perhaps time consuming the rewards are amazing.
The opportunity to work with people in different states and countries is remarkable and very satisfying.
The networking continues and is brought offline in the form of conferences, summits as well as tweet ups and local groups.
So, how are you using social media to enhance your business? Are you reaching out to others and engaging in conversations, perhaps helping with their problems, truly getting to know the individuals you wish to work with? Gone are the days of the 'in your face' salesmen.
People want to build communities and relationships and work with individuals in their new circles, in online communities, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
Once you have shown the 'real you' and reach out to others to simply be friends, the business will surely follow.
Perhaps not by those you reach out to, but from those same individuals, because they will refer others to you.
Build that trust, be real, truly love what you do and it will show.
Bring that passion onto the social networks of today and your business will grow as well.
Try it, it really works!
Everyone talks about it, and you even hear it mentioned on the news, in the newspaper as well as billboards in town.
So, what is this all about? Quite simply it is something that has been around for ages, however it is fairly new to the Internet world.
Anyone that has been in business for any period in time understands the need to be involved in a network to help expand your business.
In the past, such networks existed and still exist of local community groups such as Rotary Clubs and Chamber of Commerce as well as Lodges and Women groups.
However, those were merely limited to local or within the city limits.
With the age of the Internet, came the wave of social networks from the early yahoo groups to Ryze, Myspace, Ning to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
These types of social networks allow you to expand further than your home town.
You are now able to network with individuals in other states and even other countries.
The possibilities seem to be endless.
So, how can you use the advancement of social networks to help your business? Quite simply by adapting the past time methods to the avenues available today.
First and foremost, the importance has been and always will be connections and simply building relationships.
Yes, I'm sure you've heard it all before.
However, with online networks building relationships takes some creativity.
Unlike in-person networking where you can size down the individual by their clothes, their demeanor, body language and talk, online you must work very hard at showing your true self.
So, yes, we must be creative and go out of our way to reach out to others in the form of conversations, Skype chats, tele-conferences, video chats as well as networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
Our target audience must first feel at ease with us, before they will do business with us and it is our responsibility to reach out and build a relationship first.
Although it may be a bit more difficult and perhaps time consuming the rewards are amazing.
The opportunity to work with people in different states and countries is remarkable and very satisfying.
The networking continues and is brought offline in the form of conferences, summits as well as tweet ups and local groups.
So, how are you using social media to enhance your business? Are you reaching out to others and engaging in conversations, perhaps helping with their problems, truly getting to know the individuals you wish to work with? Gone are the days of the 'in your face' salesmen.
People want to build communities and relationships and work with individuals in their new circles, in online communities, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
Once you have shown the 'real you' and reach out to others to simply be friends, the business will surely follow.
Perhaps not by those you reach out to, but from those same individuals, because they will refer others to you.
Build that trust, be real, truly love what you do and it will show.
Bring that passion onto the social networks of today and your business will grow as well.
Try it, it really works!