Many of my friends and business acquaintances are coming around to recognizing the inevitability of “The Social Network” as key to their future business success. Whether it’s the Facebook movie and Mark Zuckerberg as Time’s 2010 Man of the Year or the predictions of everything going mobile, the time to Get Connected is NOW.
So today’s First-of-the-New-Year post will list my recommendations for becoming part of the Social Nation.
Five 1st Steps to Join the Social Media Revolution
____ 1. LinkedIn: If you have not already joined LinkedIn, then do so ASAP.
LinkedIn is an amazing platform for finding prospective clients as well as information, jobs, suppliers, and partners. Before you can reap the rewards from this site, however, you MUST take some time to optimize your Profile for maximum “find-ability”: check relevant links below.
____ 2. Blogging: If you still feel uncomfortable with the word “blog,” then get over it.
Short for Web Log, a blog is the best example of how every individual and every company can now become a publisher with very little — or no — expense. (A) Writing a blog gives the author an opportunity to establish an online presence as the Go-To Source for an area of expertise, in addition to giving companies a platform for engaging with customers and other publics. (B) Reading blogs has become routine for business people seeking current facts and opinions on news and trends in their industries, as well a the newest “mass medium.”
____ 3. Facebook: If you are still worrying about privacy on the most popular web site on the globe, then you need to understand the business value of Facebook and how to engage with “friends” and “fans” to build and protect your online reputation.
Begin with the knowledge that scores of your prospective customers as well as possible new employees are chatting, gaming, posting, searching, and buying via Facebook. Keep in mind that although we hear about changes and hints of changes on an almost daily basis, getting started with a profile and experience interacting with Friends will prepare you to “roll with the punches” as Facebook continues to evolve into the Place To Be online.
____ 4. Twitter: If you still think Twitter is Stupid, think again.
It may be hard to remember how resistant business was to allowing employees to email in the mid ’90s — and that’s because many of us today depend on letters via computer rather than via post office and messages online where we can access at our leisure rather than phone calls which we either miss or are too busy to answer. Many prognosticators are telling us that email will be going away, or at least will become less useful as people discover the many applications of “microblogging.”
____ 5. YouTube: If you haven’t checked for a YouTube video to teach you how to do something you hadn’t known how to do, then DO It.
And consider buying a flip video or simply take a video with your cell phone and post it to YouTube. You will build your skills as you see how powerful videos are for spreading messages, establishing your expertise, and discovering almost everything you need to know — as well as entertaining you and your friends.
Sharing, not selling, is what the Social Nation is all about . . . and 2011 is a great time for you to start. Remember one important tip, and that is to Take Baby Steps. Start slowly, but start.
RELEVANT READING
Simple Answers to Six Basic Social Media Questions
Worksheet for filling out your LinkedIn profile
Maximize your LinkedIn profile
How to create your own success on LinkedIn
To Blog . . . or Not To Blog . . . that is a good First Question
Avoid these NINE Blogging Errors
Beginning Bloggers Workshop: what should you blog about?
Will a blog help you build your business and other typical blog questions
20 Facebook mistakes you shouldn’t make
How to do Facebook right . . . if you care about your Online Reputation
Twitter Basics workshop “cheat sheet” and other links
Helpful hints for Going Viral on YouTube
and if you’d like to read what NOT to do in social media:
10 Mistakes made by Social Media Newbies
Shari,
Right to the point. I really appreciate that. And some great Newbie advise. Could not have said it better.
Hi Gary, from your own experience, what are the top three errors that social media newbies make? I plan to update a post I did on this subject a year or so ago.
Hi Shari!
I agree with Lesly, I am glad you only put down 5 as it is already overwhelming enough for new online marketers, anything more than 5 would make somebody want to quit. I am glad you kept it simple and easy to follow. Thanks for the post!
Cori
Hi Shari,
I liked that you listed just 5 tips. I am getting a sense that social media is being “refined” meaning that a year ago it seemed like you had to be on every social platform, but you really don’t. It’s picking the best that works for you…. or picking the top rated. I liked your post, thanks!
THX for Reading & Liking, Lesly
🙂
I had wanted to start the new year with a “starting” kind of blog, especially since I knew the first few weeks would be challenging for me — I am in Acapulco at the moment . . . and for the next week, so spending time on the computer has been “compromised” [but in a worthwhile way].
🙂
What would help me out a lot — since you appreciate this kind of “tip post” would be to comment back with one or two specific questions that you think I could answer, and perhaps I could write an entire post as a response.
I don’t think social media is going anywhere. It enables people to connect so easily and quickly. The world is moving so fast it is sometimes scary, but I think the connections we are able to make online are amazing. The main thing newbies to the internet forget is to just have fun and be yourself.
Nicole, I agree that sometimes people do forget the “social” part and don’t have the enjoyment that this whole new environment offers.
🙂
This was fun reading, writing, and “communicating” with a like-minded person, right?
Hi Shari,
You’ve given a much needed jolt to marketers who are trying to avoid social media mania. It’s here to stay so get used to it!
Marketers who put off getting involved in the online social scene are going to lose in the end. I’m especially amazed at how many network marketers think social media is “a waste of time” since industry leaders have been saying for years … “go where the people are if you want to grow a viable network and business”. Well guess what … people are online!
Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year,
Susan
Indeed!
Shari! I aced your Checklist! I am in all of them! I have yet to read your recommended readings one by one but I’m sure they’ll be great.
And I would just like to say that LinkedIn has been really great in driving new business my way. While Twitter has been great in giving me social proof.
More power to you Shari!
love this blog Shari..absolutely bang on the money…anyone who is still weighing up the pros and cons of social media rather than diving in is mad..
We’ll bring them in . . . even if it has to be “kicking and screaming”
:-))))
Hello Shari
Social Media is a great marketing tool to have. Never really thought that social media could ever have come this far and be used for business purposes back then. The possibilities are endless I suppose. There are plenty of social media avenues to take for all intensive purposes for your need. All the ones that you listed seem to cover a unique need to building a business. Enjoyed this very much.
Steven Dean
Steven, this year I’m aiming to write more often . . . and more from my own experience. My first 20 months of blogging did include some of my own opinions, but not enough. I do love this blogging gig, though, as it gives me additional reason to keep learning — and, of course, sharing. Thanks for checking in.