Many business owners I speak with say they are disappointed that their social media efforts are not working as they expected.
They have set up their Linkedin, Twitter and maybe Facebook profiles, they may even have a blog.
The reason it does not work is simple – they have no plan!
Here is what you need to do to make your social media work for you:-
- Determine your target audience Who are your prospects – no it’s not everyone – you must really stop and think and determine who the people are who need what you are offering. When you have decided who those people are think about where they hang out online. Do they visit certain forums or blogs – do they prefer Twitter or another social site. Now when you know who they are and where they are you also need to know what they want and need, what their likes and dislikes are. You could try writing a profile of your ideal customer – right down to their age, education, hobbies etc. This will allow you to target your networking more effectively.
- What is it that your ideal customer really wants? What information does your customer need from you. Provide that information for them – they will love you for it. Keep them right up to date with news relating to your products and services and direct them to relevant and timely information. Identify the benefits of your products and services and make sure your customers know these benefits.
- Plan your content creation Where are you going to find all this great content for your readers and followers? You can trawl all over the internet or you could set up alerts like Google alerts. Do not forget to retweet interesting posts on Twitter. Set yourself a time limit for your social media maintenance and use that time – do not forget that time can so easily run away with you!
- Write down your plan I love mindmaps and you can get free downloads of Freemind or Xmind and try it out. Or create a calendar where you can see at a glance what you need to do and when. You can use Google docs for this. Don’t forget to record the keywords you will be using in your social media plan.
- Schedule and automate the content Decide on your schedule of content creation and schedule and automate as much as you can. Be very careful when automating not to create a loop of duplicate postings. Twitter, Facebook and blogs all have the ability to post to each other so map this out. Also always do a certain percentage of live tweeting and updating, because you can often tell the difference.
So you really do need a written plan. It will never work if you are randomly posting here and there, and have no objectives set. Knowing your target audience is also crucial so that you can find the right people to follow – the ones who will be interested in your products and services!
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GetSocial For Business
August 10, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Hi Sue
I am currently doing a coaching course with one of Alex Jeffery’s pals and enjoy looking and learning from other people’s sites. Thank you for a clear detailed informative post. To achieve our goals you are so right we must have a plan.
kind regards
Dawn
.-= Dawn *Oz* Riley´s last blog ..Building a List =-.
August 13, 2010 at 1:20 am
Hi Sue
I think you are right.
Many small business owners really dont know who their customers are.
They think everybody is a prospect… and that doesn’t work.
Henning
August 13, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Hi Sue (great name)
You have written a really informative post. Too many people will never write down their plans and wonder why they fail.
A little about me – My name is Sue McDonald and I am a student of Mark Terrell and I am actually going through the course a second time – by invitation. I love it and know if I do all he says, I will be successful. I am Australian but the US is my second home as I have family there and visit quite often. This is why I started Internet Marketing so I can travel whenever I want and have the money to do what I want.
Well I hope you are doing well and you become very successful. I would love you to come visit my blog and leave a comment.
Kind regards
Sue
.-= Sue McDonald´s last blog ..Week 3 of the Newbies Course =-.
August 14, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Hey Sue
I have just come for a visit to your site. How are you going?
Yes it’s Mark and I am following my students as they post on other peoples blogs. They don’t know that I am always checking to see they are getting results. I am passionate about helping them achieve and then they are able to make some money online exactly the same as I am doing. It is not really difficult as long as they are willing to put in the effort.
Always pleasing if I can see some of my students have posted comments. Keep up the good work.
Regards
Mark
.-= Mark * Coaching Newbies* Terrell´s last blog ..Coaching Newbies 20 Launch =-.
August 16, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Thank you!
Just last week I signed up for LinkedIn. I already have a Facebook page but have never properly utilized it.
Now that I’m building an IM business I starting to understand the potential of social marketing.
Great info!
Lesley
.-= Lesley “Wes” Klatt´s last blog ..Week 3- Generating Traffic =-.
November 7, 2010 at 4:09 am
Thanks for your comment Wes
November 7, 2010 at 4:10 am
Hi Mark
Thanks for stopping by – I like your dedication to your students.
Sue
November 7, 2010 at 4:12 am
Hi Sue
Great to hear from you – will head on over to your blog right now.
You have the same attitude as me – this business allows you to work from anywhere in the world!
Regards
Sue