I spoke to the Rancho Santa Fe Business and Professional Women's Association last week about blogging and social media. This is a diverse group of business owners, including real estate professionals, with a broad range of knowledge and experience about on-line marketing (and a fabulous group to network with if you are in the North County San Diego area).
I talked briefly about social media and how it worked to start, and then shared some notions about:
WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA WILL NOT DO!
- Transform your business if it is crummy ( a Linda Davis "almost"quote from Bloggers Connect)
- Make you a great business person if you are not
- Bring you business overnight
- Operate without your participation
- Remain the same
Because of time limitations and the broad audience I decided to share my top tips (not really in any particular order):
My 17 Tip Tips
17. DO SOMETHING - Your clients, prospects, and competition are, so you need to understand social media and how it can and is being used. Don't join every website or spend every waking hour involved with Social Media, but do SOMETHING
16. MAKE A PLAN - You need a plan about what you are going to do and when. Focus on WHO you are trying to reach - your target audience. Needs to tie into your overall business plan and goals.
15. DON'T LIMIT YOUR THINKING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ON-LINE - Don't get into the trap of thinking social media will not work for MY business. Think of how you can create and foster relationships like you would off-line
14. GET A FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE - With over 300 MILLION on Facebook now, if you are there create a business page. If you are not on Facebook, get there.
13. CHECK OUT TWITTER - Create an account and follow me - @JDowler - so you can see everyone that is following me or who I am following and howTwitter works. Add followers as you can.
12. GET ON LINKEDIN - If you are not there create an account and add your profile/professional resume. Look for people you may know who are there to connect with. Search by schools, businesses, cities and names.
And here are some more
11. START A BLOG, OR KEEP ON BLOGGING - Great for SEO and pulling up your rankings on Google, making it easier for people to find you and your website. If you have lots of information to share with consumers blogging may be right for you, and you can use this as your website if you don't have one.
10. PARTICIPATE AND ENGAGE - It takes 2 to tango and social media is a two-way street. People won't engage if you don't. Let people know you are there and be part of the conversation.
9. MIX BUSINESS WITH SOCIAL - It's OK to do both - you're human. Business all the time works against you - folks want to get to know YOU not just your business.
8. BEHAVE YOURSELF - Can you play well in the sandbox? Watch the bad language, slander, sex talk, jokes, confidential information, being critical, racial slurs, and innuendos. Some folks seem to forget where they are and what they are doing and saying on-line
7. REMEMBER...THE INTERNET HAS A LONG MEMORY - The Internet doesn't forget. You can't just hit delete and make it go away
6. HAVE FUN - Social networking can be great fun, but if you don't enjoy it, or act like you don't, people will know.
And these aren't too shabby either
5. NO SPAMMING - No mass tweets, connecting with people just to build numbers, and sending email blasts to folks randomly. Don't promote YOURSELF in responses to others' tweets or comments on Facebook.
4. GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND - Have you Googled yourself? Do it regularly. Google your prospects and competition. Suggest potential clients Google you.
3. KNOW WHAT YOUR ON-LINE REPUTATION IS AND MANAGE IT - People WILL talk about you, refer to you, mention your name, and so on. You NEED to know what is being said on-line so you can deal with it. Use Google Alerts for your name and business (and variations)
2. DON'T HOPE SOCIAL MEDIA WILL BRING YOU BUSINESS...KNOW THAT IT WILL - attitude is key
1. DON'T STAY BEHIND THE COMPUTER - Face to face is still important. And don't give up what is already working for you in your business.
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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com
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