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Using social media to make 2009 your best year
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Let's start off with a definition of social media before we discuss why and how you should use it (thanks to Seattle-based Common Craft for the excellent video)
Can you see how your message can reach hundreds of interested people with the same effort you currently use to contact one or a few? Not only that, but the time you spend writing your article, comment, or blog post will keep paying dividends long after you write it as new people discover it. Does that work the same for your face-to-face interactions?
If you invest one hour per day in a social networking strategy it will pay huge dividends for your business. Are you really too strapped for time to do that? Then you can hire a social media company to do it for you, and for a much more reasonable cost than you think.
- 123 Social Media is a Seattle-based company that can help you with your social media strategy. You can browse the website for excellent free articles to help you get started on your own.
- Common Craft has easy-to-follow videos explaining social media, RSS feeds, and various social media platforms like Twitter. Invest in an hour to watch all of their short videos and get a very good social media education at no cost (unless you want to download the videos for commercial use).
There are many platforms in which to broadcast your message. You may not spend all your time on each one, but it pays to have complete profiles on all of them so your potential customers can find you. Here is a starter list:
- Linked In is a professional network that encourages users to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Many people use Linked In as hiring and job search tool. It really is a "six degrees of separation" experiment that often works. Linked In has both free and paid membership options.
- Biznik is a Seattle-based social networking site that stretches all across the country. The benefit to Biznik is that it combines online networking with face-to-face events, many of them free. You can also access hundreds of articles to help you in your business, or even write one to increase your social media exposure. Biznik has both free and paid membership options.
- Facebook started out as an application for college students, but it has quickly morphed into a strong business tool. People like Michael Port are using Facebook to build their brands, showcase their ideas, and get instant feedback from their audience. Facebook is free.
Spend some time thinking about the message you want to promote, the kind of audience you want to attract, and what platforms will best help you do it. If you need help with a social networking strategy we have great resources here in Seattle. And no doubt the comments will fill up with professional and do-it-yourself tips to get started.
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