Wyrd Ways Business

Today, when you surf the internet you can always come across discussions on topics like that of a social media strategy. Well, this thing is nothing new. This is a remarkable development due to the booming of various social media networks in the worldwide web. Everyone in the world today has become intensely enthusiastic about or preoccupied with connecting and collecting to friends all over the world through personal accounts in Facebook, which I think is getting more popular than its counterparts like Friendster and Multiply. And most of the brilliant minds in the marketing industry think that there is a good marketing potential here as people from all walks of life are now into this hype.

As an agent of a marketing firm or maybe someone who is getting into personal marketing business, why not consider this as an alternative way to market your ware? Using social media as your avenue to the world of business can open up so many chances to grow and establish your name or the brand that you are now representing. You may have tried a lot of ways already and have spent thousands on your marketing campaigns. But you have seen only a very minimal effect out of a very stressful and costly marketing applications. Now it is time to add to your usual marketing techniques something that you can enjoy and at the same time make business with a broader audience. Why not get for your brand a free account on Facebook and begin to explore the many chances of meeting people and groups who can be your prospect clients?

Every now and then, you will hear people mention about their Facebook account. From time to time, you can receive people’s invitations to connect to them or join their group or participate in a game or activity on one of those social network locations on the internet. Obviously with social networks, you will no longer have a hard time looking for people or target customers because they just come to you even without your invitation. Remember, it is a network. It is like a virtual web that connects you to others and others to you. So with just a few people on your list, you can have as many connections as you can by just sending out and receiving invitations. In business, that could mean a greater chance to make many people know what your company is up to. Even with or without your paid advertisements, you can still have ways to come out and be noticed.

One thing that can be so true why social media marketing clicks is that people by nature simply has the longing to connect or to belong. And social media networks have somehow given the answer to what people need. So with the social networks that abound on the internet, one can finally find a refuge even just temporarily. This is the reason why social media networks get bigger every day. And where people go, there can always be doors and windows for business opportunities. This must be your reason to try social media strategy for your business to work.

Social networking sites where originally intended to be merely online communities where people can gather and share interests and opinions. Due to the growing popularity of many social networks they soon caught the eye of the internet marketing community. A social platform with a large membership base represented fertile grounds for marketing goods and services.

Now many entrepreneurs have flooded these social sites for the purpose of marketing online.  The splash they have made however has often times been awkward and unwelcome by many site members. The need to keep in mind that these online communities are really intended for socializing is crucial. There is a way to effectively conduct your business in a way that is less awkward for you and more welcomed by site members.

Here are 3 points you’ll need to keep in mind when approaching any social platform for the purpose of marketing online:



You Can’t Please Everybody

If you’re use to hiding behind copywriting then the interacting can be a bit of a shock. Guess what, that is why they call it ’social’ marketing. Remember this is how you interrelate with people offline … has it been that long?

Expect a healthy amount of ‘give and take’ in and amongst site members. This interaction should also include you and don’t expect that everybody will agree with your views or opinions. What makes social marketing so effective is the immediate feedback you can expect and this likely will be directed right at you. Take nothing personal and learn to benefit from any criticism you may receive.

Engage in Discussions



When I mention engaging in conversations I don’t mean listening in on them. Make yourself known and offer input where you feel you can contribute in a positive manner. If the subject is popular yet you’re not that familiar with it then listen up and learn.

Don’t be afraid to ask a question being this is a great way to meet and bond with others. The person you ask questions of today may be your customer or even mentor tomorrow!

Don’t Overextend Yourself

As you become more comfortable interacting on various social networks you may be tempted to join some others and you should. However do keep in mind that to get the most out of any one site will take some time and effort on your part since you need to be building relationships with the other members. Be reasonable with the number of sites you choose to become active at so that you don’t overextend yourself thereby diminishing your own efforts.

To conduct business on any of the social networking sites you first need to gain the acceptance of other members. Participating in discussions and making positive contributions with your comments or opinions is a key first step. Social sites are based upon the members building relationships.  If your initial focus is business any future marketing efforts likely will be ineffective. So make yourself comfortable, make some friends, and then use this base to grow your business into the future.

With Facebook recently overtaking MySpace as the number one social networking site, it is definitely worth taking a look at if you are in business.

According to a study done recently by the Aberdeen Group companies are using sites like Facebook to improve the interactions they have with their customers. The study showed that companies that use social networking sites are 17 times more likely to improve customer satisfaction than companies that don’t use them.

If you already have a profile on the site but aren’t sure how to leverage it for networking, brand visibility and gaining feedback–check out these top tips for boosting your reach through this hot social tool.

1) Take special care in filling out your profile: You will want to take the time to thoroughly fill out your profile, especially making sure to include your website address and your interests and activities. People appreciate this type of insight into the person behind the business.

2) Join and contribute to groups: Joining groups relevant to your niche is a good way to reach your target market and share your knowledge. Be sure to comment in the discussions and post helpful tips and links.

3) Start your own group: Taking the group idea up a notch, why not create your own group? Be seen as an authority while forming relationships with other members you have invited. Encourage conversation and participation and include a way for others to find out more about your business when you fill in your info as the administrator for the group.

4) Update often: This doesn’t mean you need to spend hours on the site, but for the time you do carve out, update your status and add relevant, helpful links, photos or information to your profile. Because these types of updates show up through the News Feed function for others, you are creating a viral spread of information that helps build your brand and create familiarity.

5) Suggest, recommend and introduce: If you know people you think should be introduced, then facilitate that. Recommend and suggest resources to others. All of these activities create community and contribute to the awareness of both you and what you have to offer.

6) Import your blog posts: You can use the Notes application to pull your blog posts into your profile. NetworkedBlogs is another application that is great for giving your blog exposure.  The posts you import with this app appear in others’ news feeds, adding to your expert status and credibility in your particular niche.

7) Create a Page for your business: Facebook Pages are a nice option because it allows you to have a whole separate profile for your business. You can invite others to join the page, post relevant items, hold discussions and “naturally” promote your services or products. The best thing about it? Facebook is ranked so highly in the search engines that by giving your business a page, it helps your business rank highly as well!

Personalize your friend requests: It is a good idea to add a friendly message when you are making a friend request. People are more likely to remember you and it’s just a good relationship-building practice.

9) Promote your events: If you are holding sales, teleseminars, courses, live events or anything of the like, you can create invites for your friends to receive with all the relevant information included. This is great for increasing participation and driving traffic.

10) Place targeted ads: “Social Ads” as they are called on Facebook are another option. This can be a powerful way to increase brand awareness. With these ads you are able to select targeted demographics for your campaigns.

Remember, it is about relationship building, not “push” marketing. A few cautions: make sure you never do anything that could be seen as spam. Take time to explore the privacy options on your profile and keep in mind how all of your Facebook activities may be perceived by your potential clients and customers.

Once you really jump in and get involved I think you will find Facebook to be a fabulous tool for both networking and visibility. If it is overwhelming, take it one step at a time–but don’t stand on the sidelines any longer. After all, it’s not just for college kids anymore!