I read something in the Miami Herald the other day by Jane Woolridge executive business editor…
“The key, says entrepreneur Craig Agronoff, is banding together. Too much networking seems to revolve around self-promotion rather than true community building, he says”
I thought this was as true as anything I have read up to this point on the subject of social media.
How much of what you are putting out there is about you and not about your client?
Are you sharing something of value or just asking for someone to buy something from you because you are selling it?
Are you providing a true service or is this just another billboard for you to showcase what you are selling?
Are you building a community or giving someone else an opportunity to share their unique story?
Are you all working together to claim your spot in the world of web 2.0?
I have been doing a lot of research on this subject lately and the people I have found to be the most interesting and getting the most of my attention seem to be the individuals that are actually sharing something of value.
Now by no means am I an expert on this subject, YET. Nonetheless, I have a few opinions of my own. So here they are:
1. Don’t just sell!
One thing we have to remember is that not everyone is interested in our product or service at every moment. So if you tend to only speak about what you are selling, people will tend to “tune out” at some point and chuck it up to another advertisement they did not pay attention to.
2. Build a community!
I love the idea of building a community; I think this is what drew me to social media in the first place. This is something I have practiced for a long time with my students, clients and colleagues. The Idea of creating a network of respected individuals that can share useful information and offer a product or service whenever it is needed always attracted me for some reason.
3. Actually be social!
Is your blog just a stale, strictly business website that tells your audience nothing deeper about you or your company? This is your chance to bring the “human factor” to the fore’. After all, people buy from people. The more they know, like, trust and respect you, the better chance you have of them buying something from you.
4. Extend a helping hand!
I have noticed that the more you help people, the more they are willing to help you. Let’s face it; times are different now than a few years ago. Unemployment is super high, jobs are scarce, people are going through tough times. If we have a chance to alleviate this for someone, or at least try in good faith, why not do it?
5. Share a personal lesson!
You undoubtedly have certain knowledge of a subject that is not related to what you sell. We are all learning new life lessons on a regular basis. Why not share this knowledge or unique experience? Someone may be able to learn from it or use it to their benefit. I am currently experimenting with many different things on my blog right now but I can tell you this, the posts that get the most attention are the ones that are based on personal experiences and situation and how I worked through them. This seems to be what people are interested in.
I will continue to share my experiences from this social media expedition with you in future posts so stick around. Remember, feel free to get involved, post comments, sign up to the blog and promote yourself in order to stay in the loop. I think where we can help each other the most is by staying connected.
To Your Success!
29. December 2009 at 8:21 PM
There are so many excellent points listed here! It is so true about the collaborative efforts and the willingness to help each other. It’s kind of contagious!
.-= Robin Lynn Brooks´s last blog ..Expressing Yourself =-.
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29. December 2009 at 8:41 PM
Jose this is a great post with a ton of good advice – so many people are using Social Media Avenues to basically “spam” everyone they know with their new business and it is extremely annoying. Also helping other people is huge – building a business really is about relationships and how many people you can help. Zig Ziglar said “Help enough people get what they want and you will get what you want”.
.-= Jan Hill´s last blog ..New Patient Machine- How to Develop a System That Will Guarantee New Patients and Raise Your Treatment Acceptance =-.
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11. January 2010 at 10:26 PM
Jose, I really like this post! This is the kind of info that people need to know. I often wonder sometimes if sharing too much personal information is a good thing. But in sharing that information, there is an opportunity for people to learn from experience. Thanks for sharing this important information.
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11. January 2010 at 10:41 PM
What a great post on getting started in social media. What a great collection of advice here! I wish more people would take this great advice when venturing into the social media field. This would definitely minimize the number of spammers that are plaguing social media sites! I hate spammers with a passion! Thanks for posting this!
.-= Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..Safe Hex for WordPress, Why pre-v2.8.6 is BAD for Your Blogs Health! =-.
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11. January 2010 at 10:43 PM
This is such a valuable post, Jose!
I avoided social media for so long because it felt like so much noise that was just too painful to sift through! Whether online or off, building a community, providing value, making a real effort and sharing the love is what will create lasting and fulfilling relationships that not only stick but translate to business!
I look forward to more of what you have to share! Thanks!
.-= Beth Allen´s last blog ..Day 11 ~ Be World Class – Master the Fundamentals =-.
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11. January 2010 at 10:48 PM
You really hit the nail on the head here Jose…so little people know that we have to give back and help each other if we really want to GROW! Looking forward to working with you again on the Tribe.
Beth
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13. January 2010 at 10:37 PM
Hey Jose! What a great post. You say that you are not an expert yet, but you are definitely well on your way. You are definitely putting your own advice into action. Thank you so much for all of the help you have given me!
.-= Melissa Wright´s last blog ..The power of Tribe Syndication! =-.
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9. April 2010 at 12:46 AM
Mahalo (thank you) Jose for this wonderful article. I love it when there are steps to check off. You made it very clear in what we should do and what we shouldn’t do.
Aloha,
Kellie
.-= Kellie Hosaka´s last blog ..Are You Happy & Fulfilled In Your Life? =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Thank you for the visit Kellie. I am glad you found the information useful. Hope to share with you soon.
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23. April 2010 at 9:03 AM
I agree 100%. I work with clients on social media marketing and my number one rule is engage with your followers. Don’t just be a mouthpiece for your message, otherwise they will never listen or pay attention. You have to care about what they are doing and engage in it, share it and comment on it.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..Margate freezes city workers, police officers salaries =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Thanks Andrea,
It’s surprising how much social media isn’t social. I guess there will always be those that “get it” and those that don’t.
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