Persuasion, Selling and The Art of Social Media
If you’ve been in business longer than a week, you’ve heard the maxim, people do business with people they know, like and trust.
And, it’s true, success is built on who you know and who knows you.
To build those relationships you can join the Chamber of Commerce, networking groups like BNI or Le Tip and go to countless card exchanges and coffees. Getting to know people IRL (in real life) is important.
Yet, one recent statistic stated 57% of people talk to more people online than offline.
It makes sense to be where your prospects are spending time whether that’s the Chamber or Facebook.
Social Media Saves You Time
Adding social media to your networking mix can cut the time it takes to get comfortable with someone dramatically because you can keep the conversation going online and get to know different aspects of them. Plus, the tools allow you to connect with others globally.
You never know where your next client will come from or who knows someone at your dream client’s company. It only makes sense to devote a couple hours a week to building your online relationships.
Here’s how you can put these tools to work for you to build your relationships locally and globally.
1) Connect with people online you meet in person.
Do more than just add them to your Linked In account and forget about them. If you’ve met a few times and feel comfortable with them, you can add them on Facebook too. Get to know them on another level. Facebook is the perfect way to learn about things others’ care about.
Another way you can use Facebook to build your network is to start a Facebook group and invite people to join. It can be topical or geographic specific.
At least one local entrepreneur has created a Facebook group geographically targeted to one small town. In just a few months, he has over 300 people on the page interacting with one another. They share community events, ask for referrals for good plumbers, landscapers and other service providers and members chime in to offer recommendations.
It’s an online version of hanging around the local diner every morning. Yet it’s a LOT more convenient because you can participate on your schedule from wherever you are.
2) Have more conversations online.
You know the overeager guy who wants to shove his business card at everyone before you’ve even introduced yourself? It’s a turn off right?
Some businesses treat social media as the equivalent of a bulletin board where they post flyers. Every post is a promotion. That’s NOT effective social media marketing.
Remember, it’s social. Have conversations with people about real, everyday stuff, just like you’d do at a party or your kid’s soccer game. You can talk about your business in a conversational, low key way from time to time.
3) Understand the different tools.
Facebook is very social. Twitter is like the water cooler and Linked In is closer to a business card exchange. The types of posts you make should reflect your understanding of these differences.
You wouldn’t talk about your kid’s soccer game on Linked In but you could talk about it on Facebook or Twitter.
The Secret to Understanding Social Media Marketing
The art of using social media is exactly the same as using your real life social skills. It’s simply a different medium.
If you regularly connect with local people through your online network such as Facebook, you’ll be amazed at how much quicker your relationships grow. When you see one another in town or at an event, the ice is broken because you show up in one another’s worlds regularly on Facebook.
Sound silly? Remember, people do business with those they know, like and trust. In today’s busy world, online networking on your schedule is convenient and helps you get to know people to know, like and trust.
Want to better understand social media marketing and how it can bring you more business? Sign up for my newsletter Social Media Tips and get the free report “The 5 Social Media Mistakes You’re Probably Already Making that Will Doom Your Business”
Next time I’ll share some key strategies you can use to network on Twitter.
