Just getting started in joining social networks and using tools like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and LinkedIN? Follow these guidelines to jump in gracefully:
- You have to give to get. Listen first, then participate. Share more than you sell. Don’t pitch or sell or spam your network with sales propaganda (even if you call it a ‘press release’) ever.
- Social marketing is attainable, accessible and affordable. Nearly everything is free. The return on investment (ROI) is very, very high. You’ll see results quickly. But you have to invest the time to keep your profiles up to date, build your network and participate. Sticking with social networking is even more important than starting it.
- Don’t hide who you are or what your intentions are. In today’s social networking marketplace … where information travels as quickly as you or I can text or speed dial … nothing stays a secret for very long. People are smart. As soon as you find yourself thinking that they’re not, you’re in trouble. Trust is the foundation of every successful brand.
- You can monitor the conversation but you can’t control it. It’s going to happen with or without you. Listen, contribute and try to correct when necessary. That’s why reputation management is so important. You have to know what is being said about you and your brand … always.
- You are your buzz. Reality is what people are saying about you and what they find when they Google you, your company or your brand. Practice good reputation management to keep your buzz and your search engine results as positive as possible. It’s who you are.
It’s called social media for a reason. Interact with members of the community, don’t just collect their names. There’s no better way to learn about the marketplace. Taking the pulse of your target audience may be just a Tweet or two away … Lori Martinek