I think that newbies to social networking need to learn how to sort out the mumbo jumbo. So this post is dedicated to eradicating the social networking mumbo jumbo that you hear and turning it into something useful.
In order to do that we need to demystify the myths over the social networking mumbo jumbo hotline (Please note that there is no real mumbo jumbo hotline!)! This is a compliment to yesterday’s Social Networking Optimization where we discussed how to optimize your social networking for ultimate effect.
Social Networking Mumbo Jumbo Myth 1
You need a Facebook Personal and Fan Page, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Foursquare, Digg, Delicious, and Stumbleupon account to just be taken seriously in social networking. Hmm! Let me think! WRONG!
The fact is that you need to use the social networks that help your business. If you feel you need all of these accounts by all means go ahead. I have helped numerous clients add themselves to these social networks. At the same point choose the social networks that are right for you.
For example, financial professionals can probably avoid Twitter, definitely need LinkedIn, and might want to consider Facebook and Youtube. At the same time I have a Foursquare account for my business, but that is just for effect. The good news is that I am mayor. The funny part is that it is my personal residence and no one except family members ever come by.I am also the mayor of the “Curb in front of Rod Blagojevich’s house” as well!
Social Networking Mumbo Jumbo Myth 2
You built it, why have they not arrived yet gosh darn it! Instead of wasting my breath on something that I have covered in depth before check out Social Networking Consistency or You Have To Be Stubborn Enough To Never Quit!
Long story short, you build it and they will come only works in the movies! The reality is that you build it, market it, and then they come! Ohh!
I just hit 6500 hits per month on this blog. That did not happen overnight or without a smidgeon of work.
Social Networking Mumbo Jumbo Myth #3
“But I have great customer service!” If that is what makes you stand out, in social networking it is time to reinvent yourself. Let’s face it with around 1.1 billion accounts on the different social networks you need to have something that makes you memorable.
Otherwise, you blend into the crowd. When I was starting out in this business people started calling me a guru or expert. I could not stand either of these two names for myself. So, I rebranded myself into the social networking schmoozer, because it embodied everything that made sense in what I was doing. Social networking is about communicating and that is what a schmoozer does best!
Heretofore, I ban all business people from saying that there customer service makes them stand out. That should be assumed. Not in your highlight reel!
Social Networking Mumbo Jumbo Conclusion
Speaking of highlight reel, this post sort of has the feel of a highlight reel with all of the old blog posts included. Sorry, they just fit into the story. In the meantime, remove the social networking mumbo jumbo myths out of your social networking to up the ante on your social networking business referrals.
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I love your schmoozer approach! I understand exactly what you said and it is simple enough that I can understand it! Great job! I also appreciate the fact that you shared how you came to be who you are on line, because you didn’t want to be the expert or guru, You have chosen a great brand. Thanks for the tips about where I need to be and only when it works best for what I do. I like that, as I wasn’t really introduced that way when I started.
Holly,
Thanks!
Glad you appreciate my schmoozer approach and how easy it makes it to learn about social networking.
Andy
Another great article Andy … and congratulations on the impressive stats for your blog? I wouldn’t apologize for links or references to archived articles because you will always have new readers and even those of us who follow you regularly appreciate a relevant reference. Thanks!
Marquita,
You just rock..and are absolutely correct. It is good to reference previous articles.
Thanks!
Andy
Hello Andy, I totally agree, too many people are led to believe that they must be active in many different social networks to “make it” and stand out online. Not so. I think the best advice I ever heard was to pick just one major community (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter) and master the ins and outs of it. If you are in business, work that one network until you are getting a steady stream of leads, then go master another one. There aren’t enough hours in the day to be everywhere at once.
Eldon,
Definitely agree with a major network! The one thing I would add is to find a secondary network related to your industry or that can serve as part of a smaller community. For example, Bloggers-TSA; Internet Marketers-Warrior Forum; MLMSocial-Network Marketers.
Andy
Hi Andy:
I really like your first point. So many people think that they have to be on every social networking site. It’s just not practical! I tried for a while and quickly realized that I needed to focus on the networks that were actually working. This has increased by visibility in a few networks versus having limited to no visibility in a bunch of networks.
Kevin
Kevin,
I made the same mistake. I still am on a lot of networks, but focus my time on 3-4 networks that do the most for my business.
Andy
Thanks for debunking these myths – especially the one that you need EVERY social media platform to be successful. I think a strong presence on just a handful of networking sites is better than scattered (and less active) memberships on every available outlet known to the internet.
Laurie
Laurie,
No problem! I learned that lesson the hard way!
Andy
Andy, you are a true genious. This is great and I love your sense of humor. I just had someone ask me 3 days ago why she was not getting traffic on her site less than a week after she set it up. She was under the same misconception of “You build it and they will come” . Totally agree with you, build it, market it then they will come. I also agree we do not need to operate 100 social media platforms to effectively market on social media. You could pick a few that are relevant to your niche and make it happen with those few. Of course there is power in the numbers but sometimes people spend all day on social media trying to keep up with everyone and they end up with zero results. Great post Andy.. just followed you on twitter and added you on fb. Thanks
Liz,
Use more words like that and it might get to me! 🙂
Thanks! Glad you have a similar attitude that people should not just expect instant results as they spread themself thin on 100 different social networks.
Andy