Once a business owner understands the basics of social media, the next challenge is implementation. The challenge here is making, then learning to manage, the commitment to consistent engagement.
First, you must understand three basic points for successfully implementing social media:
1. Social media does not operate in a vacuum in and of itself.
2. Social media was not initially intended for commercial use and contains inherent etiquette protocols that must be followed.
3. If you're a business person serious about using social media for business, you must first prepare.
OK, to elaborate on these points:
1. "Social media does not work in a vacuum... "
This means you can't just create your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, abandon them and expect this to help your business. Social media involves "socializing" with people.
Social media accounts help you communicate and engage in conversations with your prospects and customers. Once you begin talking with people, to walk away is rude. This applies to social media just like in the physical world. Thus, you can't simply establish the (social media) accounts. You must engage in them, WITH your followers and friends. Consistently.
YOUR CHALLENGE
This certainly can be a challenge for busy, business people. How are we supposed to fool with that stuff everyday while trying to run our businesses?
It's a challenge that business owners typically either foresee and decide to avoid by not involving themselves in social media at all, or don't foresee and become overwhelmed because they don't know how to manage it once they get started.
The thing is to realize that social media is the new marketing ingredient that can't be ignored. It can make your marketing efforts much more economical and effective once you understand and embrace it.
YOUR SOLUTION
The solution is to PREPARE, PLAN and SCHEDULE your business time with social media. That preparation includes creating profiles and content in advance and selecting options that "automate" the process for you. An obvious, highly effective and increasingly popular option with "in-the-know," savvy business owners, is outsourcing. Dedicate staff or hire social media consultants to get the job done for you or a social media coach to work with you.
In any case, at this point, if you're in business, your business must be involved in social media or your business will be left behind.
POINT NUMBER 2: "Social media was NOT initially intended for commercial use... "
OK, since social media was all about the "socializing" online and building of like-minded communities where people could congregate, share and have a good time online, nobody wanted to see commercials or anybody trying to sell them something in those spaces. They still don't. But information and creativity are highly sought after.
All these people in all these online social "communities" are still human, they still live in the physical world and they are all, still consumers. So, while it's rude to push sales in social networks, it is understood that people do want and, subsequently, buy things. The trick is to "inform," serve and provide. THIS is how you engage in business using social media. You have to BE there with your prospects and customers.
ANALOGY
Imagine, if you're at a party and someone at the party mentions that they are looking for a plumber... and you happen to BE a plumber, then it's OK to promote your service. Isn't it?
OK. Let's look at another analogy. You're at the bookstore... and the woman standing next to you asks you if you know a good recipe book because she can't decide from all the titles in front of her. On talking with her further, you discover more precisely what she needs and you are very knowledgeable on the subject. Consider that in this instance everyone in the book store more than likely has an interest in books. Everyone standing in the cooking section with you and your new acquaintance is interested in cooking. You're there too and you just happen to be author of a series of cookbooks. NOW, you can see when it IS OK, expected and WANTED- for you to raise your hand and say, "Hey I'm here and I have what you need!"... can't you?
SOCIAL NETWORK ETIQUETTE
This accepted behaviour is opposed to simply joining a social space and beginning to list your sales "specials." Proper social network etiquette is simply, sharing, befriending and serving. This is "engagement," and yes, you can do it through your business.
With social media, you need to be there -or at least- show up on a regular basis. Join the conversation and contribute either, expertise, information or resources. This is how you and your business gain. It's relationship management and strengthens incrementally, over time.
CONTENT IS SOCIAL GOLD
One of those resources is the practice of providing "content" for your audience. This dramatically speeds up the process, and increases your credibility and your edge over industry colleagues and competitors. Providing content allows you to increase your visibility, appeal and VALUE that ultimately results in increased business. This way, you're not struggling to have one-on-one conversations with everyone in each of your social networks, instead you're engaging with them by providing them something they need and/or want. Done correctly, sharing your content builds your friends and followers trust, that you're the person -or your company is the business- they should do business with.
OK. POINT 3:
"The serious business person must first prepare to use social media for business... "
As with anything else, preparation is 'a good thing' that improves your efficiency and chances of success. Preparing for social media for your business includes the following:
1. You should have a marketing plan already. Now you need to at least outline where your new commitment to social media falls into that mix. If you haven't done this, get it done first.
NOTE:
If you've never done this or need a "quick-start" strategy, simply list all the marketing methods, outlets and media you will be deploying, then schedule when you will implement each and their respective costs.
2. Write a "key person" bio and a business profile. Edit each one of these pieces so you end up with at least three versions including 200-word, 500- character and 200-character versions.
3. Write your business tagline.
4. Conduct keyword research then list your keywords so that you have those -READY- to place in the keyword and/or "tag" sections of your accounts.
5. Write a brief "keyword-rich" description of your business. Include what you sell, who you provide it for and the benefit. Again, create multiple versions so that if you run into word count limits, you already have it PREPARED.
6. You'll want a company photo of the owner/president or the representative of your choice. Understand that social networks are about people. If you don't do this, you'll greatly diminish the opportunity to present your business as "transparent" and build long-term trust. Thus, your business needs at least one face. Have it ready for your social network accounts.
7. Company logo.
8. Produce an initial introductory press release that can be provided at a moment's notice if need be. Don't attempt this if you don't know what you're doing. Pay a freelance publicist or journalist to write it for you. Format it for e-mail and PDF so you may use it as necessary, when necessary. This business "content" is an extra option that places you ahead of most. On occasion, review this release, edit and update as necessary to keep it current.
9. Prepare a selection of photos and images you can use when needed. These might include customer logos if your business services or sells to other businesses, or photos of your retail space, office building, and products. You get the idea. If you're a photographer or designer produce a digital portfolio for immediate presentation when requested.
10. Because you actually ARE in business to sell something, prepare your sales materials specifically for online "social response." Produce your product or service list. Include features, benefits and pricing. Create your contract or invoice forms. Last but not least, produce the sales "pitch." Again, if you aren't skilled at writing (sales) copy, hire a professional copywriter. At least understand that this material is best written by marketing and sales pros NOT journalists. It's a completely different discipline. Even better, hire an SEO copywriter. If you must do it yourself, before you begin, use Google to research copywriting, sales copy and writing for SEO.
11. When you are engaging with your prospects and customers in your social networks, your ultimate goal to gain the sale, is to send them to your business destination. While they're online, and you are holding their interest, you need to be able to send them to your Web destination. Thus, you should have your Web site up and running BEFORE you go full speed ahead with your social media marketing. Not only does this enhance your credibility, it also allows you to transact business online which, as a business person, is the whole purpose for your social media engagement.