Social
Media Marketing is a conversation. That's it. You don't have to be a
techno geek to participate, it is just a conversation. Let's look at
its components.
Social:
According to Webster, social is: “(1) friendly companionship
or relations” “(2) living or disposed to living in companionship
with others or in a community, rather than in isolation.”
It seems
that everywhere we turn we hear or read the words social media,
social networking, social platforms and the list continues. You know
they all exist “out there” yet what are they and what do they
mean to you? Despite their varied and often very strange names, they
all have one thing in common.
What
they have in common is a way for people to connect; it's that simple.
Ever since the first humans started walking on earth, they wanted to
connect and communicate with each other. Social media and social
networking are the current evolution.
Recently
my friend Kimberly Castleberry was awarded quite an honor. Her blog
http://just-ask-kim.com
was named, by voters, “The Best of the Best” and came in #1 on
the Top 50 MLM Blogs list. Though the category was NWM/MLM, Kim's
blog goes way beyond that topic. Her blog is an excellent resource
for all things about social media. Her explanation of What &
Where is Social Media and How to Use it for Marketing is excellent
for newbies and the experienced alike. Janet
Social
Media (SM) has lately developed a lot of buzz for anyone looking
either to promote something (often themselves) or to stay current on
the latest news trends. The questions most often asked are: “What
is Social Media”, “Where is Social Media”, and “How to use
social media for Marketing.”
Social
media marketing changes so quickly that this article could well be
called “3 Social Marketing Tips of the Hour.” Within the past
couple of weeks, Facebook changed its profile pages, twitter reached
100 million users and Bing 90 million users. Mashable's list of
“what's new” is about 30 items per day—and those are just the
major items.
While
the “how to” will change, the basics are remain the same.
Simply
put, social media is a way of people communicating online. Using free
tools and platforms, people connect 1-to-1 or 1-to-many. People use
social media for both personal and business reasons.
With
social media, what used to be word of mouth quite quickly becomes
World of Mouth. Studies show that people trust peer recommendations
78% vs. only 14% for advertisements. Let's look at how this works in
action with social media.
In this article, Jackie speaks from
experience—and it shows! She built a large business from home and
online in a company that would normally be considered a “party
plan.” Her common sense approach and clear writing style will help
“newbies” as well as be a great reminder who those who may have
become lazy with their Facebook relationships. Janet
How many times
does it happen to you (or do you
DO it?) You get a random friend
request from someone you don’t know; they have a picture of their
dog; their wall
is blocked from the public and
they don’t send a personal
message saying why they want to
be friends?
ARGH!?! What is
up with that?
Facebook and
Social Media sites are NOT the place for Drive By connections! If you
want to use Facebook successfully for your business, here are 5 key
tips for making real connections with people.
1. Send a
personal message
2. Use
your REAL picture
3. Invest
time in making sure you are networking with people who share your
values
4. Keep
your wall clean
5. Engage
regularly
Tip #1
– Send a personal message.
If you don’t really know someone, and
you want them to accept you as a friend, take the time to make some
type of connection for them. Tell them why you are requesting their
friendship; tell them who and/or what you have in common; share
something about them that makes you interested in not just adding
them to your “posse” but connecting with and getting to know
them.
Tip #2
– Use a real picture.
You’ve probably heard this before, but is
it called FACEBOOK
for a reason. I don’t know about you, but I have no interest in
connecting with someone’s dog or bottle of juice in cyberspace.
That’s not a connection. You don’t have to be a supermodel; but
you do want to be smiling; dressed appropriately; and preferably by
yourself in the picture so we know with whom we are accepting a
connection.
Tip #3
– Invest time in making sure you are networking with people who
share your values.
Personally, I check out the profile and wall of
everyone who makes a friend request, and of those who I make friend
requests of. I’m not interested in profanity, your politics
(within reason) or how wasted you got in Vegas last weekend. And, I
am not interested in your Farmville, Mafia wars or Blingie things
either. What things will I see immediately on your wall or profile
that let me know we have things in common?
Tip #4
– Keep your wall clean.
People will make an immediate judgment and
evaluation of you within seconds of landing on your wall. What
impression do you want them to make?
If it’s filled with nothing but opportunity ads and game scores,
what do you suppose that perception is going to be? Your wall
represents you, every bit as much if not more than your picture.
Visit your wall regularly and make sure it is “representing” well
for you and that others aren’t cluttering it up, either.
Tip #5 –
Engage regularly. Adding a “friend” is one thing; developing
a friendship is another.
Make
it a point to get to know people. Send a personal message; visit the
profiles of friends regularly and just say hi; start a conversation;
get to know them. Your goal in social media marketing is to stand out
from the crowd; to be memorable; even more, to become unforgettable!
This is done by having a voice and engaging it with others!
Facebook is an
amazing tool for finding others; connecting and developing your
business when used correctly. I hope these tips have been useful.
Michelle Corteggiano, a leader in Social Media Marketing and Online Branding, consistently delivers a clear, concise and compelling message. All too often we don't want to tell people about ourselves yet we want to see everything about them. Somehow that doesn't seem “fair.” Michelle truly lives her signature line “Be as you are.” - Janet
Because of Social Media ....Transparency is a BIG word these days. A word that everyone needs to get used to fast. Crazy thing is...in an era where transparency is becoming the norm, most people are scared to death by it.
Why?
Simply put: We have been conditioned for pretty much our whole lives to stay guarded and protect our "personal space".
But....How can we step outside of the transparency box that we have lived in forever?
Try this:
Go to a playground and watch children playing. Pay close attention to them when they come into contact with another child that they have never met. Just a tiny bit shy at first and within 5 minutes the communication flood gates open and they are best friends...right?
That's because they haven't been stripped of their transparent tendencies.
Now, I think we could all take a lesson from kids on how "being transparent" is a very effective tool in building solid networks! Bottom line...If kids ran the business world, everyone would be friends and trust each other, sobering thought hunh?
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr Suess
Dr Suess is a household name and children learn from him every day....maybe it's time us adults take a look at what he has to say.
People often ask what it takes to be successful in Network Marketing. I have a short, simple answer…
All you got.
Fortunately it doesn’t take more than all you got. But it does take all you got. In fact, I’ll suggest this business will be the hardest one you’ll ever do, period.
And I’m qualified to make that statement.
I’ve been president of the Chamber of Commerce, worked in the corporate world, run distribution companies, managed medical centers, launched HMO’s, started restaurants & clubs, Internet marketing, information entrepreneur, owned a hairstyling salon, and published a magazine. I’ve consulted with literally hundreds of other entrepreneurs in all kinds of businesses. And can assure you, Network Marketing is harder than all of them!
Why?
Quite a few reasons. First, the essence of the business is leadership development. Not an easy thing to learn. Or teach. This takes tremendous people skills.
Because of that, MLM requires large amounts of personal growth and self-development. And working on yourself is tough work!
Other businesses you can get by on just skill, just talent or just money. Here you need heart. Guts. And love.
With Network Marketing, you have to go all in. You can start it part-time, you can start it with a limited commitment, you can start it not even believing it will work.
But to succeed at it, at some point you’ll have to move from kindergarten to the big leagues. You’ll have to go from a night or two a week, to four or five nights a week. You’ll have to commit and you’ll have to develop belief.
Here’s why…
You can’t really get anyone into our business. It doesn’t work that way. You can only commit, develop that belief and become so passionate that people want to be a part of what you’re doing.
MLM is like golf. The only person you compete with is yourself. The enemy isn’t other companies. It’s not negative prospects. And it’s not government regulation, high prices, or backorders. The real enemy is your doubts and fears. It’s what’s between your ears.
Most people today doubt their beliefs and believe their doubts. You have to be different. And that means daily self-development. Keeping your dream in front of you. And making sure your dream is bigger than your fears.
Yeah, you can probably win a free cruise, get a bonus car and rake in some nice bonus checks. That would probably motivate you to go to a job every day. That would probably motivate you to do any one of those other businesses I named. But it’s probably not enough to get you to do Network Marketing.
Because our business is a lot tougher than those. Our business means contacting prospects, driving to work with long distance lines, and sacrificing lots of pleasures early on for the long term. It means really getting out of your comfort zone and growing.
So your dream has to be even bigger. It has to include other people’s dreams. Taking your eyes off of just yourself and looking how you can contribute in a meaningful way.
It’s going to mean facing rejection and maybe ridicule. Facing your fears. Dealing with dropouts and no shows. Negative publicity, misperceptions, and adversity.
We know every adversity has in it the seeds of a greater opportunity. But that opportunity is not automatic! It is there only if you make a conscious choice not to be a victim; a conscious choice to learn the lesson and find a new door to walk through. And remember, every room has a door.
Network Marketing is HARD. So why do it?
Because it will be the most rewarding business you ever do in your life. Yes it can give you those trips, car and bonus checks; it can get you free. But it also does so much more…
The confidence you develop, the skills you learn, the satisfaction you gain are priceless. Who you have to become to be successful in our business makes it all worth it.
And the joy that can only come from contribution…
When your new team member calls you screaming with excitement because they’ve sponsored their first person. The breakthroughs you witness when someone buys their first suit, makes their first presentation, or calls that prospect that scares them beyond measure. When one of your people conquers their fear in any way, it will bring you rewards you can’t get anywhere else.
In our business you reach success by helping other people reach success. That is what gets you up at 6 am to do self-development, that is what gets you to pick up the phone, that is what keeps you awake driving home at 2 am from a meeting for a new person on your tenth level.
So yeah, it doesn’t take more than you got. But it does take all you got. Just know it’s worth it.
So find someone you respect and make them a promise that you will do what it takes to win. Ask them to hold you accountable. Then make yourself the same promise. After that, make a public declaration below in the comments. Are you up for that?
Then tweet this post, “like” it on Facebook, blog it, or email a link to everyone on your team. Bookmark this and come back to it whenever the seed of doubt creeps in.
Start EVERY day with positive self-development. Don’t answer your phone, answer the door, or leave the house until your consciousness is vibrating at thermonuclear level. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you are worthy.
Then go out and be amazing!
