Marketing Methods Archives :: From the Desk of Janet BarclayFrom the Desk of Janet Barclay

Building Relationships through Social Media

Categories: Marketing Methods, Networking Nuggets

Tags : business networking, social media, social networking

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When I started my business in 2002, social media as we know it today didn’t even exist. Now, less than ten years later, it has become an essential marketing tool for businesses of all sizes.

Unfortunately, some businesses don’t understand the difference between social media marketing and traditional advertising.

Traditional advertising is a one-way street. You put up a website, distribute flyers, or pay to advertise somewhere to let people know what you have to offer and how they’ll benefit from buying your product or services.

What makes social media marketing different is the opportunity to network with the people in your target audience. Just like attending professional networking events, social networking is not about making a quick sale, but about making connections and building relationships which may lead to opportunities down the road.

It’s quick and easy to send out promotional messages to your friends, fans, or followers on a regular basis, at little or no cost, but if that’s the only way you’re using social media, you’re missing out on its full power. When you supplement your promotional messages with links to articles that you’ve read or written, comments on current trends and events, and other useful information, you not only position yourself as an expert in your field, you give others a chance to interact with you by commenting or asking questions about what you’ve said.

To be really proactive, don’t wait for others to come to you. Take time to read what the people in your target market are talking about and engage with them by sharing your own comments, tips, advice, or congratulations.

People need to know that you’re good at what you do, but ultimately they want to do business with someone they know, like and trust. Letting them see your interests, your values, and your personality can give them insight into who you are and help build a connection, even if you’ve never met.

Think about it. Are you more likely to do business with someone who pops in to quickly drop off some flyers at a networking event while they’re on their way to somewhere else, or someone who takes the time to get to know you and the other people there?

Actively participating on social media sites is a great way to keep your name in people’s minds in between live networking events, so when they’re ready to do business, you’ll be the first one they think of.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Categories: Blogging Bits, Going Green, Just Jan, Marketing Methods, Motivational Moments, Networking Nuggets, Productivity Pointers, Tech Tips

Tags : blogs about blogging, meme, recommended reading, social media blogs

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Two years ago, I was interviewed by Erika Liodice about how I chased my dream of quitting my job and starting my own business. We haven’t really stayed in touch since then, so I was surprised to receive an email from her recently, letting me know that she had nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Of course, I know it’s not a real award, not like the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award I was nominated for in 2009. It’s really just a meme, but memes can be fun, so I’m happy to have an excuse to use one in my blog, and thank Erika for thinking of me.

There are four simple rules for The Versatile Blogger Award:

Post a link to the person who gave you the award.
Tell your readers seven random things about yourself.
Award 15 newly discovered blogs.
Send them a note letting them know you nominated them.

So, here are seven random facts about me:

I won second prize in the Discover Mississauga Photo Contest several years ago for this interior shot of Mississauga City Hall.

(This is a photo of the photo, through the glass of the frame, so doesn’t really do it justice.)
I usually carry the same purse for months, and sometimes don’t even switch with the change in seasons, but I love shopping for purses. Shoes, not so much.
I love to play trivia games and am pretty good at them too.
I was a matched Big Sister for many years, and am still friends with my Little Sister, who is now all grown up and recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
I have signed up for Google+, but haven’t yet figured out what, if anything, I will do there.
I was into Reduce-Reuse-Recycle before it was even a trend.
I make my own granola.

And here are the 15 blogs I’m nominating for the Versatile Blogger Award, in alphabetical order:

LinkedLearning by Margarita Ibbott: Help with using LinkedIn and other social media.
Daily Blogging Ideas by Michelle Shaeffer: Wonderful inspiration for both personal and business blogs.
Fabulous After 40 by Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler: Fashion advice for those of us who aren’t as young as we used to be.
Garious Blog – Up to date information about social media.
Grow with Stacy: Tips for personal development, as well as blogging and social media.
The Lady Bloggers Society headed by Stepfanie Cuevas: Once a week they hold a Lady Blogger Social Tea Party to give readers a chance to share their blog posts – a great way to connect with other bloggers!
Marian Schembari: More goodies on social media and blogging.
MS Outlook for Business: Valuable tips for using email and discovering features of Outlook you never knew existed.
The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels: Explores the emotions connected with making changes in your life.
Site Sketch 101 by Nicholas Cardot: A wealth of information about blogging.
Solo-E.com by Terri Zwierzynski: Articles on all aspects of running a small business, including marketing, productivity and more.
Sunday Stealing hosted by Judd Corizan: A great place to find out about different blog memes of all types.
Teatime with Tina by Tina Chase: All about food and cooking.
Virtually Yours by Joanne Burgess: Fabulous tips about social media and small business topics.
WordPress Jedi: Information about WordPress themes, plugins, and security issues, as well as SEO and social media tips.

If you enjoyed this post, why not nominate yourself for a Versatile Blogger Award? If you do, please leave a link to your post in the Comments, so we can learn more about you and the blogs you read.

Five Ways to Make the Most of Your Social Media Time

Categories: Marketing Methods, Networking Nuggets, Productivity Pointers

Tags : delegation, information management, networking, productivity, social media, social networking, time management

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There are literally hundreds of social media sites with many different purposes, and you could easily devote your entire week to exploring new sites, maintaining your connections, and updating your profiles! Unfortunately, although effective social networking can and does lead to business opportunities, you can’t make a living at it, so it’s important to use your online time effectively.

Here are five tips to help you do just that.

1. Identify the sites that offer the most value for your business

If you use Facebook mainly to play games and reconnect with old friends, limit your visits to non-work times. You can still share your blog posts, post your business events, and link to your website, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that the time you spend on Facebook is helping you grow your business.

2. Connect with people in your target market

It’s great to network with other people in your industry – you can probably learn a lot from each other – but keep in mind that this should not be your main focus. If your goal is to find new clients, you need to connect directly with people in your target market, or with people who can introduce you to potential clients.

3. Choose your contacts wisely

Remember that networking isn’t about numbers; it’s about relationships. Don’t feel you have to accept every connection request you receive, especially from people who don’t explain why they want to connect with you. If you’re afraid of closing the door on a potentially valuable relationship, initiate a conversation. If the person does not respond, they’re not really interested in getting to know you, and you don’t need them on your contact list.

4. Create a schedule for your social networking

Unlike live networking events which may conflict with your best working hours, online networking can be done at any time of the day or night. Schedule specific times to visit high value sites. For some people, it may be 15 to 30 minutes at the end of each day; others may prefer to block half a day every week. The important thing is that you don’t allow it to cut into your billable hours.

5. Hire a virtual assistant to help you stay on top of things

Although you can’t really outsource relationship building, there are many ways a VA can reduce the time you spend on social media, including setting up your profiles, locating appropriate people for you to connect with, and logging into your accounts on a regular basis to deal with routine items and let you know about those that require your attention.

If you’ve avoided social media because you think it will be too time-consuming, you may be missing out on a valuable marketing tool. When you strategically select your sites and contacts and use your time wisely, you will be pleasantly surprised to see what can happen!

Today’s Question: How do you keep yourself on track when using social media?

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