BE LIKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

When used correctly, social media has the power to transform every aspect of your business. It’s not just about marketing but also about customer service and operations.

I heard someone relate social media to the world’s largest cocktail party, where people can listen to others talking and join the conversations with other people about any topic of their choice. Going to a networking meeting allows you to visit with a few people in the course of a couple hours.  Social media, on the other hand, makes it possible for you to have numerous conversations with potentially thousands of people at once.

My intent in this blog is to remind you that social media is a powerful marketing tool, not the only one, but one that has to be taken seriously in today’s world.

Like any other marketing tool, social media has to be understood and worked to gather the maximum benefits it can ultimately provide. One of the keys to success is tapping into the conversation, listening, engaging and then empowering.

Social media is not the be all and end all. A web site and presence on social media are frequently what many new business owners believe will lead them to success. There are several points that a user of social media has to understand:

1. Social Media is not free. For a small business owner time and money are the two most important assets and in many cases, time is more scarce than money. Building a likable presence on social media will take time.
2. Having a presence on social media will not bring success if you don’t understand your target market, their pains and how your product/service can ease those pains. Remember, a bad product/service or a lack of organization in your business cannot be remedied by a presence on social media.
3. I have just completed a six series, small business educational program. In all six sessions I stressed that there is no such thing as instantaneous success, and being on social media does not change that fact.

A key to being liked is to be honest and transparent and listen more than you talk. I always recommend in any encounter with  potential clients, to provide value, yes, even if it’s free.

Quality content and consistency will go a long way to helping you get those “likes”.

Tips and Advice by Nick Petra – CFP, Mentor, and founder of Strategic Duck and BizQuack