[viral-downloader align=”left” configuration=”3330″ facebook_message=”Share on Facebook And Receive 10 Things Not To Do On Facebook”]
The headline was just to grab your attention. A cheap trick, I know. The point is that nothing about social media is simple, except to set-up accounts on each of the networks. To actually grow a network to the point of profitability, it’ll either kill you or make you stronger – in the words of the staff saddled with the weight of inhuman (but profitable) demands Steve Jobs used to make.
You aren’t important, they are
For once, your ego has to be kept leashed. When you first start out on Social Media, you’ll realize that you are virtually unknown. While LinkedIn at least allows you to connect to people you’d have worked with or your customers, etc., Facebook and Twitter can look like empty deep-freeze compartments. That’s when you know you have work to do, don’t you? On social media, it’s not about you anymore; it’s always about others. You give your best to share, contribute, learn, teach, educate, humor, and opine. Pay your respects with love and you’ll get both back in spades.
Flattery is profitable
Re-tweet, follow, praise, flatter, and like the content that others in your network share everyday. They are doing it (if they are doing it right, that is) so that you learn something new. You respond by doing any one or all of them above. After you do that, you can let them know that you did it. This part is something like closing the sale in Social Media. While you don’t really sell anything, you do grab their attention.
Imitate the biggies
Make a huge list of all the people in your niche who have followers like they are going to form a government. Make sure that these social media leaders are in your respective niche. Of course, you’ll follow them. Then keep a close eye on their activities. The more you observe, you will begin to notice trends, tricks, and all the tricks in their bag that got them where they are today. Learn and implement. Evil, isn’t it? It’s nothing new though since this is a primary mode of learning since ancient times.
Tools – use them mercilessly
Social is big. Yet, you’ll have plenty of difficulty trying to narrow down on tools to make your efforts more effective, productive, and profitable on social media. Your head will spin, careen, and crash before you decide which tool works best for you. The key is to pick up something simple, a tool that taps into the main networks you are active on, something that allows you to start for free and play with it. I found Nimble CRM and HootSuite to be good to start with. If you are an advanced user, Think Up also seems to be promising.
Maintain meaningful, encouraging small talk
It’s surprising that we call it “social media” and yet we barely make the effort to connect. Think of a dating scenario, guys meets girl and starts small talk. He establishes a frame. He guides the woman to think about him in myriad ways. Alternatively, think about natural socializers offline: they are approachable, warm, friendly, charming, naturally inclined to connect, aren’t they? Well, the big secret on social media is to do just what a socializer does offline.
Social media is all about digital seduction. You woo, entertain, inform, educate, and earn trust.
That’s all there is to it.
What do you think?
Author Bio
Ashwin Satyanarayana (Ash) is a nutty Content Marketing strategist, Internet consultant, Freelance Writer, Corporate Trainer and Business Coach. When he isn’t writing he is traveling. Sometimes he is found doing both together. Find out more about him at Fetchprofits – his company blog. Follow him on twitter (@fetchprofits)
Learn More At... Get a Copy of Your Writing Partner
Must admit your title did catch my attention! But you’re right. Social media is truly important for websites and brands. Taking notice of other people besides yourself is important and you have to know what they want instead of doing what you want. We have to learn from everyone else who has made it big in social media. We need to do what they want to make it big in social media.
http://brandyousocial.com/2012/01/10/how-to-build-a-blog-following/
Brenna,
Social Media has taught us that we can not live in a vacuum. For that alone, it is a crucial tool.
Andy
Brenna,
It’s a simple reminder about the art of getting by ‘giving’. The more love you give away, you get that much or more back.
Instead of tweeting ( tooting?) our own horns, It finally makes sense to toot (tweet) others’ horns 🙂
Thank you for dropping by 🙂
Candice,
I have to admit it isn’t as easy as it sounds. I am sure you know that too. If you and I have to do what the biggies did, there’s no doubt as to where we could go with that.
My results so far? I am exhausted. I want to give up already 🙂 But nah, I ain’t going to do that. Just saying….
I’d love to hear what you have to say after you try, I’ll wait 🙂
Ashwin,
While it is not always possible to 100% imitate the biggies, we can always take lessons from what they are doing. I have a buddy who was in Glazer-Kennedy for over a year. He told me that after about 6 months he had the most important information, however, it was watching the speakers do their pitch month after month studying what they say and how they say it that was really valuable to him.
In essence, sometimes it is not about what they do and sell, but how they sell it.
Andy
Hi Andy, I would agree to Brenda too. you title really catches my attention! As you can see, Social media has a big influence in our entire society now. That is why we cannot ignore every steps that can be related to Social media!
Thanks! you are preaching to the choir TracyAnn!
Imitate the biggies you say, I could honestly say that it is such a good idea. It would certainly be great if I will put this wonderful idea into action. I will apply this and let’s see how good the results will be by the end of the month.
Hi Andy,
Excellent, realistic article on Social Media. It is big and it is a completely different frontier than “regular marketing” One really great point you made to summarize Social Media is “do just what a socializer does offline.” You are right….seems simple..eh??? Well as you know it takes a lot of work and effort.
Using tools to help manage the whole thing really helps too. Nimble CRM and HootSuite really help and I would suggest anyone starting out to download them and use them! You are awesome Andy and your posts say a lot about your expertise and experience as a marketer. Great points!
Raena Lynn
@Kevin — You are right. We took the social out of “social” and I pray social media doesn’t go the way of yellow pages and newspaper classifieds ( although I don’t think it will happen) 🙂
@Dewane — Lol…Yeah, we marketers have it in our blood, don’t we?
Hi Ashwin:
It is funny and ironic that many have taken the social out of social media. We have to be willing to go the extra mile to connect with people – RT, share, comment, etc.
Thanks for the great tips!
Kevin
Andy,
It’s all about focusing on them (your audience). Know what they want, need, like, and solve their problems. It’s really that simple. Us marketers make it much more difficult that it has to be lol
Your right social media success is not really easy. I am really amazed how you come up with this 5 simple secrets because its really work. Keep up the good works.
Thank you very much!