The times are changing, are you? Transparency in your business and in your life allows you to connect more authentically with your clients. Social Media is turning the tables with the way we connect online. At the same time, I think the transition from real world to social media has people often confused. Here are 5 key things you should know about social media to get more customers
1. Larger number of followers or “Likers” does not equal more sales.
“Connecting” is still key… there is a big myth out there that more is better and that larger number of Fans (on FB) or Followers (on Twitter) is better.
But the key is still that you want qualified leads that are either within your niche OR that are raving fans of what you sell and can connect you to a lot of people in your niche. At the end of the day it is still more valuable to have fewer fans that absolutely love what you sell than thousands of people that will never buy from you or don’t rave about what you do to their friends.
2. The grassroots of marketing still are King…Connect, connect, connect!
This is really a continuation of number 1. Social media is just a tool to get people to “know, like and trust” you. It definitely expedites this process because of the transparency (see #3) you find online, but at the end of the day, you need to reach out and have conversations with your list and see how you can be of service. This is called connecting.’
Through social media you are able to see what interests or hobbies your fans/followers may have and connect versus just a blatant sales pitch. Essentially you are able to “speak their language”.
3. Being real and transparent will go a long way.
You may be noticing a trend here! Everything is building on the next thing. Connecting with your clients requires you to be more of who you are and be transparent.
The Apple vs PC Computer ads are a perfect example of the changing times. People are no longer looking for the stuffy big corporation or the hands off approach. Customers are looking for people that are real, personable and human.
Finding your authentic voice is the only brand you should have in your business. It is the best way to guarantee your uniqueness and attract the clients who are meant to work with you.
4. Being online doesn’t give you the right to be a pushy sales person.
Please read that again! There is a fine line that is often crossed in social media. As soon as some one friend’s you, they are on your page posting what they are selling or directing you to a sales page via a direct message.
This would be similar to walking into a store and the minute you smile at sales person they say, “Do you want to buy my …fill in the blank!”… GROSS! That just doesn’t happen! They usually say, “How’s your day going, the weather is quite nice eh?” (if they are Canadian! 
).
And from there they would let you browse around the store (your site/page) and then get into conversation with you to see how they can be of service. There should be no difference online. You need to build rapport with your fans and followers and have them find that what you have to say is of value to them before you begin your sales process.
5. Make sure you still give customers a way to buy from you or get more of you.
Now, I know this sounds like it is completely opposite to #4, but it actually goes hand in hand. I see so many people on social media not give enough ways for people to buy from them.
Business is still about making money and you can only transform people’s lives and make money doing that when you make them an offer and let them know that something is for sale.
One of the biggest mistake is that solopreneurs assume that having their website listed in the info tab is enough to get people to buy. You need to make it easier than this my friends!!!
You can have welcome tabs that offer free gifts that would attract your target market so they don’t have to make another connection to your website. Every marketing campaign that you roll out should have tweets and fb posts with direct links to whatever you are trying to sell.
This gives people a way to actual buy what you are talking about if they are interested in what you wrote. Directing them to your general home page of your site will not get them buying if they have search your website to find what you are talking about.
Social media is constantly evolving and changing as the general population gets wiser and more real online. If you have made any of the mistakes up there, don’t beat yourself up over it. The reason I know they are mistakes is because I made them too .
It’s time to pick yourself up and start again now. That is the beauty of social media, you are able to connect with literally billions of people out there if you choose. The most current social media techniques is always a KEY part of all my coaching programs as it is essential in building a leveraged business model. Let me know how I can help.
With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,
Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”
PS. I’ll be sharing some key obstacles that are holding people back and other strategies that you can implement in your business today on June 15, 2010 at my Free Teleseminar on “How to Save 2010 and Live your BIG Purpose”. I hope you will join me. Click here to register your spot today
Comments on this entry are closed.