No, this is NOT going to be “the” answer to the subject “How social media really works” — only one, but an interesting one.
I just met freelance copywriter David McCauley via LinkedIn when he responded to my post How to increase blog readership. Now we are connected on both LinkedIn and Facebook, and we’ve begun to support one another’s efforts. David’s website Passionate Copy contains articles on business topics from lead generation to marketing via email, video and SEO. Check him out, but first read his Guest Post, which suggests how to best get noticed by paying customers.
Plan for the right discussions if the “payoff” is your goal
Guest Post by David McCauley
Shari –
Your article brings up great advice on blogging, and it reads quite well. The only thing I would add (even blogs like pro blogger miss this one):
“People need to be seen in their Target industry — not Career industry — in order to get noticed by the right ‘paying’ audience.”
Does this make sense?
For example I belong to several copywriting and Social Media groups (my career groups). I constantly see “Experts” talking/promoting either SEO, Linkedin, Blogging or Social Media advice and services.
Unfortunately, they are doing it to each other. What they see is a group like eMarketing or Social Media Marketing that has 310,000+ or 160,000+ members, and start to market their services to those groups.
What ends up happening is that they get caught up in discussions that talk about what Expert or SEO really means, which is fine, if you are trying to learn or have a lot of time to waste.
This is where the problem is – everyone is struggling to market to each other, and no one is listening – or buying.
If one is going to be marketing such services, pick a niche or two that actually needs help, say dentists, veterinarians, sporting equipment marketers, etc. Join those groups if they are business oriented.
If they are private groups then make sure to explain that you are joining to learn more about them and possibly assist them in learning more about Social Media, Blogging, etc.
More than likely group access will be granted. If denied, just move on to the next. Once in, then one can start the process of networking, becoming involved, and getting followers that would eventually become ‘paying’ clients, by following advice you have in your article.
If a person is struggling to find a niche, just write down the top ten hobbies they are interested in, research those groups to see how many marketing directors/ business owners are in those groups, then join if it is a business oriented, move on if it isn’t.
Bottom line – don’t be afraid to get out there. We all get too comfortable in our own environment, but sometimes we don’t realize that our hobbies are as much part of our environment as are our careers.
**
NOTE: David responded via this LinkedIn post:
- Group: Social Media Marketing Mavens
- Discussion:If you blog, how do YOU get readers?
If you are a social media maven, please join us there. We may not “pay” you, but we can share valuable info, and of course support your efforts.