Getting Started on Social Media For Business (pt3)

You know Social Media Platforms are great tools to keep in your marketing arsenal.  If you’ve been following along, you’ve looked around at some of the Social Media sites out there, you’ve seen some of the movers and shakers, and you’ve developed a plan or goal for what you hope to accomplish with these great tools.

Now it’s time to:  Participate!  Interact!  Engage!  Make friends!  This is Part Three of Getting Started with Social Media for Business Series.  If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 and Part 2.

Choose your favorite Social Media outlet whether it be Twitter, MySpace, facebook, LinkedIn etc… and set up an account.  Most profile setups are similar in that they ask for your name, a profile name, e-mail, city and state and so on and they also walk you through the process.  Your profile name is what people will see you as, use whatever profile name you’d like, whether it is your business name or real name.  Choose a valid e-mail as this is how the site contacts you for profile validation (to make sure you are not a bot or spammer) and this is how you will be notified of connections made (friends, followers etc…) You do not typically receive unsolicited emails for the site nor do they typically advertise your e-mail to visitors unless you specifically tell them.  There are optional fields on the setup screens, so put only what you want people to see.  It might be a good idea to detail your location, after all you do WANT people to find your business.

There is some debate on what to use as your profile picture, but we recommend using a personal picture, not a logo or product.  Remember, this is about engaging your customer, humanizing your business – not about direct advertising.  Many of these sites offer picture galleries where you can show off your marketing collateral, graphics and logo.  Put a face to your business and use your own picture.  If you require some anonymity, crop the picture to show half your face or some other crafty adjustment, but not so much you are completely unidentifiable as a person (Email me if you need help with this).

As far as layouts go, choose something basic the site provides for you.  The layout is the background look of your profile.  No need to go crazy on customization at this point.  Once you get comfortable using the site, you can revisit the layout and change it at any time.

Once you’ve gone through the setup process, you will usually need to check your e-mail for a message from the site and verify that you are real.  Click the link within the e-mail and you are all set.

Next, work on your profile so people who visit you can get to know you. Upload pictures (people LOVE pictures!), logos too if you like.  Then input some things about you and your business, your hobbies, favorite movies or quotes.  List anything people might be interested in – you’d be surprised the connections you make from weird associations.  I once got a lead from a golfer because we had the same last name and he saw a golfing picture on my facebook profile – two items not included in my overall marketing strategy that a customer used to connect us.

Once the pictures and “About Me” type sections are complete, it’s important to make sure you update the micro-blog as applicable.  Twitter, MySpace and facebook all have these available.  In short, the micro-blog is a limited text area to tell people what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, cool links you’ve found etc…  Update as often as you like, the more the better!  Be wary of trying to sell here!  You need stay away from pushing your product, services, website or blog and instead talk about you!  It’s fine tell people you posted to your blog or have a special going on here and there, but make sure the majority of your updates are personable.

Here, we’re going to take the first step in connecting with other people.  An intuitive act, and not altogether a no-no, is to add every person you know that also uses the social media site.  Use some caution here:  I have added “friends” from college that like leaving comments about their party habits that don’t really fit with the image I’m trying to portray.  If you have a drunken uncle (we all do) or college friends that might leave a visitor with a bad impression of your business, by all means, don’t add them to your friends.  Otherwise, add people you know – it’s a great way to get started and feel a part of the community.

Assignment

This assignment entails you seeking out those “movers and shakers” you’ve admired thus far and adding them as a friend.  Each Social Network is different: Twitter allows you to follow someone without reciprocation whereas MySpace, facebook and many others require you to request a connection from someone before you’re allowed to view their profile, updates etc…  Don’t be afraid to send a friend request!  We love getting friend requests.  It’s like validation!  For better results, send a message along that resembles:

“Hi, my name is Awesome Aggie and I’d like to connect with you.  The interesting information you provide is great and you really help me out with X, Y or Z.”

Flattery always works, you know that.

Getting acquainted with people you know and some you don’t (yet) should keep you busy for a while.  Shoot me any questions you have and don’t forget to subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss more Getting Started on Social Media for Business tips!

Related Posts:

• Don’t Take My Word For It: An Informal Social Media for Your Business Investigation
• Getting Started on Social Media For Business (pt2)
• Getting Started on Social Media for Business: Beginners
• Testing a New Mashup

Tags: business tools, marketing strategy, small business, social media, Social Networking   Posted in Social Networking, marketing strategy