3 Steps to getting started and staying active with Social Media

I'm going to cut right to the chase: if you're not using social media for your small business or company, a competitor is. You're missing out on a crucial aspect of connecting with your customers and potential customers.

Getting started with social media could seem like wading into the Amazon rainforest without a machete, so let me give you some pointers and tools to get you started. Below is a three step list to getting started and staying active with social media.


1. Dedicate your time to a few services. Don't spread yourself too thin, especially at the beginning. A Facebook page and a Twitter account are great places to start. Don't feel like you need to bog yourself down with a tumblr, Pinterest, WordPress, and Google+ account. Start simple and dedicate all of your time to those services. Focus is key.

2. Create a solid base of real people. Ask your Facebook friends to "Like" your new businesses page, but don't proselytize like some sort of door-to-door salesman. Tell them that, as a friend, you would appreciate it if they supported your business. You know those people that you're friends with who have 2,000+ Facebook friends? Get them on your side. Also, Follow people on Twitter who are in your area and start to communicate with them on a daily basis. Everything happens in the context of real, authentic relationships.

3. Post relevant material, at least once a day. Have a real estate company? Post relevant news stories and other material about the housing market that your followers and friends might find interesting. Own a bakery? Post a picture of your new menu, or even one of happy customers giving thumbs up! Don't feel like you have to make it all about your own company; the key here is to engage people in discussing, and sharing your material. If you were a customer or potential customer, what would be interesting for you to read? What would you ignore? Post accordingly.

Leave questions in the comments! Have a great day.

Colin

Q & A from the Austin Hill Show: Small businesses on Facebook?

Yesterday I was on the Austin Hill Show. Austin and I had a great discussion about the role of social media in small businesses. He asked me three key questions. Below you'll find his questions, followed by my responses.

Q) Why should a small business owner or even a self-employed person be marketing themselves on social media websites?  What are they missing if they don't?

A) Social Media services are, first and foremost, a way to connect with people. If you are looking to connect with your customers, provide an easy way to get information to your consumer base, or even get feedback from people who use your service or company, social media is the way to do it online.

 Q) What is better for our businesses - Twitter or Facebook?  How do these two things work in conjunction with one-another?

A) Facebook is, overall, better for businesses. As far as sheer numbers go, Facebook’s user base is far larger than Twitter’s. That being said, they are two different tools.

Facebook is an ideal tool for creating events for your business, sharing videos and professional photos, as well as being a hub for connectivity with your customer base.
Twitter is ideal for sharing short updates, uploading pictures on-the-go, and personally connecting with individual customers.

Q) On Facebook, specifically, what "type" of page does a business need? Facebook offers personal pages, "fan" pages, "group" pages,...when we go to Facebook.com, where do we navigate from there to begin marketing our business?

A) To create a page, go to Facebook.com on your internet browser. If you do not have a Facebook account, creating one only takes a few mintues. From there, on the left of your facebook home screen there is a “pages” sub-header. Click the word “pages.” This will bring you to a list of all the pages you have created. On the top right there is a large button that reads “create a page.” Click that to get started.

Facebook separates their types of pages into six categories: local business or place, company organization or institution, brand or product, artist band or public figure, entertainment, and cause or community.

Local businesses will want to  choose the “local business or place” category. Facebook will then ask what kind of business you have, what its name is, where it is located, and a phone number where your business can be contacted. After filling in this information, you will be prompted to upload an image to represent your business, and to invite Facebook friends to “Like” your page.
 


Colin