subject: Get Savvy With Social Media [print this page] A recent article in emarketer.com stated that a quarter of small businesses now market via social media. However, expectations haven't been met in terms of spreading brand awareness and attracting clients. In fact many feel that their efforts have taken up much more time than anticipated with little reward in terms of sales.
Although there is no escaping the fact that social media is a boon for entrepreneurs in terms of low cost or no cost marketing you might want to revisit your approach if you are not seeing a return on your investment.
Especially if, like me, you are tempted to log onto Facebook and Twitter just for a quick look, only to find yourself emerging a few hours later having checked out some videos, photos, status updates or blog posts...... Sound familiar?
You will make the most of your on-line marketing when you.....
Limit your time spent on these sites by setting a target of no more than say 10 or 20 minutes on social media a day. If you find it's easy to lose track of time set a digital alarm to alert you!
Focus on developing relationships and connecting with others rather than over selling. Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter can be a great way to grow your network of potential joint venture partners or referral sources over the short, medium or long term. Recommend and promote others where you can, comment on relevant posts and share information and resources.
Go for quality rather than quantity in your list of friends or twitter followers. Often it is better to have a smaller number of connections who get to know you and who actually read your status updates, rather than thousands who have little interest in who you are or what you do. That way you can create a more lasting impression.
Use social media as a way to stay in touch with clients - emarketer research shows that 65% of small businesses stay engaged with current customers through social media. By using it as a tool, to follow up and stay connected with current and potential clients, you can raise your visibility and build trust and understanding.
Although social media is now an important part of an overall marketing strategy, the evidence is still not there that this is the route to instant wealth.
So don't hide behind on-line networking - especially if you are a solo entrepreneur. Meeting people in-person, building relationships through different mediums and raising your visibility through speaking, attending events and face to face networking, are vital too!
