By Wayne R. Karlins, President of Reed Social Media
Are you active on your social media pages? Do you create posts, events, and upload photos and videos? Are you nurturing you connections? Do you add value or extract value with your connections? The answer to these questions should be: "I am nurturing, and I am adding value to all my connections."
Don't have the time? I will tell you how to handle that later in this blog.
Being active on LinkedIn, Facebook, or any other platform you are on, can help attract your fans and customers to your business, fan page, groups, and company page. When you post from your business page, do you add an offering for your business to it? If not, try doing that once out of every 4 or 5 posts.
One of the best ways to help your business is to post business stories, (most people love a good story) and then add a photo or video along with the story. When picking a photo for your post, keep it simple, focused, and to the point. Own the pictures you share. For videos, keep them short (about 15-20 seconds) and on the one subject of your business story.
We have said this before in past blogs, it is not all about just posting. Do not get me wrong, posting is important, but nurturing you connections and adding value is the full package when running a social media platform.
Here are a few things that will help you do a better job.
First never be annoying and make sure your posts include relevant content from you or your business. Posting too often or too many post in a row or back-to-back can be seen as annoying.
Reach out to your connections when they have a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or new job. If they respond, respond back even if it is just to say your welcome. Better yet, if they have responded back to you, you have their attention, so use this time to get a coffee or meet.
Do not be annoying by sending a sales pitch after getting their attention, because you are most likely going to lose that opportunity if you do that.
Speaking somewhere, going to a great event, or you're running a networking event? Invite your connection to meet you there or suggest a great event they should attend.
Just came from a networking event, expo, or anything where you collected cards? Within 48 hours send out an invite to these people and remind them where you met. You may want to tell people as you're collecting their card that you will be sending an invite to connect with them in a few days.
Be a great listener at events and meetings, and make value-added introductions to your connections. This is a win-win situation for you and them. It is important to note that introductions can be made on your social media platforms or in person.
When posting share value-added content. What do your followers want from you is more important, at first, than what you want to tell them about you and your business. Learn what they want. Then, you can add in more about how you can be a benefit to them.
Always check your messages and respond. Followers and fans love businesses that respond back sooner rather than later, but regardless, responding is key; even if you're a little slow to respond.
Fill in your profile fully. Include where you work, volunteer, and what organizations you belong to. Have a picture and if it is for your business, a professional picture, no puppy or couples pic.
There is much more that can help you become a great networker. Look for more social media blogs from me on our website www.reedsocialmedia.com.
So you think you do not have the time for this? That is not a good reason not to do it. Most people you give a card to will at the very least check LinkedIn and Facebook to see more about you. What is their first impression going to be?
Either set yourself a schedule to work on it yourself or let us do the work for you. We manage most social media sites, making you the trusted advisor and thought leader, building your current client loyalty, and making you the go-to person in your industry. We can also help your website's SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Just the time it takes to find or write the content you want to post can take hours out of your day. We will save you that time to get more work done and spend more time with your loved ones. You are the expert at what you do, let us make you the expert on social media too.
Still want to do it yourself? We will consult and train you to do it better.
Check out our website to learn more about how we can help you manage your pages.
Other Services: Ghost blogging, editing your blog's writing content for your newsletters or website so you keep your own SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on top. Also, don't forget creating, managing, or updating websites, and Google AdWords.
Do you have questions or comments for me?
Feel free to email me at info@reedsocialmedia.com for questions or advice on social media, or leave us a message and a like on our website under this blog.
Follow Reed Social Media Group on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. New on Facebook? Check out Socially Focused Fan page and like it.
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