Social Networking for Small Business

It’s no secret that small businesses need to be on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but our expectations need to be realistic.  Just because we are on the networks doesnt mean we are going to be an overnight success!  But having the right tools and understanding how your customers want to hear form you can help you gain credibility and visibility.

Facebook for example is using new algorithms to make sure your using the platform as its designed for, a 2 way communication tool.  If your users are not engaging with you, they might not even see your post.  So no more sounding board  to push content to uninterested people.

With Twitter, you only have a second, sometimes less, to grab someones attention.  You should have a picture of yourself as your avatar because pictures are easily recognizable by humans right?  And you have to engage with people so they will know who you are in the thousands of pics that are whizzing by.

Quality is another key.  If your not building relationships, you’re wasting time.  If you had a hot dog stand, and 1000 people came in daily, but 950 of them were vegetarians, you have a lot of the wrong crowd.  Make sure you building relationships with the right people.

Social Media is just that, social.  Its not business development, its not ‘get as many followers as possible’.  Use it to make online friends.  People like to do business with people they like.  If your using it because you think its going to generate immediate revenue, your using it for the wrong reasons and likely to give up before you see results.

Be yourself. People like people right?  Put your personality in your post. I’ve talked to people that have 35,000+ followers on Twitter, and I ask them how in the world they do it.  I realized the other day when I was talking with @colderIce at an event here in Atlanta, I like this guy.  He’s funny, he’s to the point, and thats why people like him.

So there you have it, thats all i’ve got right now.  I’m listening and learning.  Use the box just under the ‘Like’ button and let me know your thoughts.