Social Media Marketing - What in The World's Going On?

Social Media is one of the biggest buzz words out there in the online world right now. What is this thing and where’d it come from? It has taken the world by storm and it’s not quitting any time soon…

“A long time ago – in a Galaxy far, far away…”

We’ve always needed to share ideas with each other, get advice, let others know what we’re doing and thinking of doing, or just sharing what’s on our hearts. “ The issues of life” as King Solomon so aptly states in the Book of Proverbs…

These “issues of life” or issues of the heart are those things that are most important to us.

Whether they’re dealing with the way we make a living, our connection with the universe, or anything else affecting the human experience, most of us want and need to share these things with other people.

What do we usually do when we need to make an important decision?

We run it by someone whose opinion we respect or trust. We humans, for the most part are social creatures and our connections with other people are very important in just about every area of life.

If you take this concept, and add it to the internet, your ability to grow and expand your social networks has skyrocketed. That's what's happened with sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. They are essentially sites for building giant networks with others who share similar interests, passions, hobbies, or businesses.

Social Media and Your Online Business

Social media has taken this same concept and grown it to a level that never before seemed possible.

Through sites like Facebook and Twitter, along Blogs, E-zines and many other online avenues, people reach out to each other through social media and have the potential to connect with millions of people who would have been impossible to connect with before.

Now, you can connect with and get advice from people far outside your physical circle of friends and acquaintances. And not only that…

These conversations are saved out there on the internet for anyone to access at any time. The amount of information out there on any subject or interest is just mind-boggling.

With the social media large scale communication networks, everything’s become far more efficient and powerful. Online relationships are just like in person - or any other type of relationship - in that they're built upon trust. And because of this, the term “Trust based Networks” has become popular.

Trust based networks, or “Association Networks” are a place where people can hang out in a low risk environment, and begin to bond with and develop trust in others without the pressure of face to face encounters or phone calls…

The same way as with any other group, certain people begin to develop credibility and what they have to say carries more and more weight.

Credibility is everything in a trust based network…

But, what causes this trust and credibility to form? Is it technical knowledge, social status, bank account?

Maybe some of these play into it, but the primary thing is that people get to know, like and trust you. And they grow to trust you by the value you bring to the table.

How valuable is what you’re saying to someone else? Does it give them useful info about their business?

Does it make them smile when they’re having a tough day? Does it inspire them to hold onto their dreams until they become a reality?

Does it give them the knowledge they need to succeed?

How is someone’s life better by their interaction with you?

Okay, that’s great – let’s all be happy, cum bayah… but how do I grow my business and brand myself on theses social media sites?It’s important to understand the different roles in the network when you’re trying to grow and develop your business.

The key is to establish expertise, trust and the sense that you're a "real person".

I know that we’re all “real people”, but you’d never know it by some of the stuff you see on Facebook and Twitter. No matter how big and sophisticated the online world gets, we have to always remember one thing:

There’s a real person on the other side…

Some people are using these social networking sites the "wrong" (in our opinion) way. They talk all about their business and what they're selling. Every post is about them and how great their opportunity is. They seem to forget that they are communicating with other people. It's kinda' like this:

How would it make you feel if you had just met someone and invited them to your house… they show up with their cat without informing you ahead of time, and the cat spits up a hairball on your nice white carpet?

Would that make you think “yea, they’re really cool – I want to get to know this person better”?

It’s no different when the first Tweet or Facebook post you get from someone blasts right past you with their “once in a lifetime” – (aren’t they all?) business opportunity and their link so you can “sign up now”.

Do this and you’re done before you start…You’ll never gain the credibility you’ll need to make this work for you.

You might see others doing this, but I can bet their businesses aren't growing like they could be. These types of marketers don't understand social media, and how they can harness this power to grow their business. Social media is not for flooding your followers and friends with mini advertisements. A few drops of advertising is great, but most inexperienced marketers use a flood instead.

Social media is not a quick fix for free marketing in a bad economy, or an excuse for bad marketing in any economy.

95-98%% of the people out there don’t have a clue about what you’re being taught today. If you really get it, it will pay you many times over, both in real relationships and real money.

5 Hidden Truths to Success in Social Media Marketing

So, even though I said it's not about you - in a sense it is about you. People want to know "you", not sales hype about your company.

Sometimes there's a fine line between marketing your company and being a genuine person that others like and trust.

I’m sure that you’re a great person, and you probably really do have a good product and business opportunity to offer people.

The only problem is: Nobody cares… See our article Internet Marketing for more on this.

2. If you want people to follow you (Twitter) or be your friend (Facebook) – follow them and send friend requests to them first - they’re not just going to flock to you like you’re a rock star.

Show yourself friendly and people will want to be friends with you.

Again, online is no different than off-line in this respect. Some people think that because this is the internet, that they have the right to be rude and pushy – it doesn’t work here any better than at the local bar (or wherever you like to hang out).

It's a little better online, because you don't have to worry about someone taking you outside and teaching you a lesson : )

3. Be consistent. Just like with anything else you do, if you do the right thing, and you keep doing it over and over without giving up, you will be successful.

Twice a week or a couple of time a month doesn’t cut it. Personal branding takes consistency and consistency takes time and effort.

4. Along with your targeted contacts, have contacts outside your industry. Expand your experience and become a more interesting person.

Someone outside your industry could end up becoming a good friend or your next customer. Don’t discount anyone.

The most unlikely person could be the one that joins your organization and helps you explode your business.

5. Don’t spam…PLEASE… Sorry for yelling, but this will kill your credibility faster than anything we know of.

Remember the cat analogy? Enough said… If you don’t know what spamming is, then Google it, and make sure you never do it.

Many people Spam, but they really don't understand social media marketing, or how they are perceived - not only by their friends and potential customers, but also by the Industry Gurus who may be reading their posts. If you're fortunate enough for these people to happen to read your posts, you don't want to alienate them by blabbering about your great business opportunity.

Maybe you don't care what the gurus think? That's fine, but don't blabber at your friends either : )

If you follow these 5 keys, you'll be successful and have a lot of fun with your social media marketing.

Please see our articles on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about these powerful social media tools.

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