Does social networking improve our business?
Though I have been building a lot like minded people into my professional network, I rarely get inquiries from my contacts related to business. Am I missing something? Should I make more efforts to build my business using these contacts?
Expert Answers
Sort by Date
Sort by Votes
Oct 17, 2014
Hi Kalai
Most definitely!
But remember though that social networking is one part of your marketing plan. Albeit an important part, but one part just the same.
When you start to investigate it you'll find there are several media to social networking, with each playing a separate role to reach out to prospects according to their interest.
My suggestion are:
1. Do a little bit of research into social media and understand how others use them. For example, Facebook is a useful marketing medium for lifestyle products, whereas LinkedIn is a useful brand building tool for professional services firms.
2. Based upon your research, develop a social media marketing plan. It doesn't have to be long. Perhaps a page or two. By having a plan you can benchmark your efforts
3. Get started. Don't create a task that is too difficult to maintain. Most entrepreneurs attempt to publish weekly and quickly run out of material and find the writing demands overwhelming. My suggestion is for you to publish as often as you feel comfortable to produce the material. Say an opinion every two weeks.
4. Analyse your results - ie number of openings, number of "likes". Based on this analysis, adapt your strategy to improve your results.
Contact me if you'd like to learn more.
Mark Thomas
Inspirational Leaders
Oct 17, 2014
Greetings and thanks sharing nice and valuable question -the same we,worldwide people who think about climate change ,innovative idea but same problem as the question mentioning!Greetings and Best Regards.
Oct 17, 2014
Hello Kalai, a network of like-minded people is generally your "friend circle". They will help spread the word to some extent. But if you want to sell, you'd rather network with like-minded businesses (of course not your competitiors!). This means, you network with potential clients.
Oct 17, 2014
I built a tool to analyze social media engagement. I would say it depends on the type of brand and the services provided. One client of ours has fashion stores all over the region. They spend money to gain the right followers and they also invest in community management to ensure at least 20% active engagement which is showing very positively on sales.
Oct 17, 2014
Social networking gives you the leads.. This is mediator and not the ultimate market.. But to build the business thru Social Network.. I simply doubt..
Oct 17, 2014
I think what you may be missing is this is one of those questions looking for a one-size-fits-all answer that everyone can apply. Such a solution does not exist.
Social media, broadcast, print, outdoor, direct mail...all types of media improve business. Ranking which mediums are most effective for your particular business depends on many factors. Variables such as what you are selling, who you are selling it to, whether you are a local, regional, national or international company, whether it's a product or service, B2B or B2C, you are the category leader, number two or new entry, whether you are low priced, mid priced or have high end premium pricing, not to mention client demographics and psycho-graphics.
I have clients that get great ROI from social media and others that don't need it at all. I suggest you seek expertise from media experts, NOT social media experts. Just as a print sales person will sell print as the best solution for everyone, a social media specialist will do the same for their niche.
Oct 17, 2014
More than 100% true but there are two or three types of social networks ,one is e-social networks e.g Facebook, linkedin, and second direct or one to one relation, and third use middle man and make relation.
Oct 17, 2014
You need to create the need for what you do. Otherwise, you are just part of their network, but not offering anything they actually need.
In the other hand, the fact that you have a like-minded people network, that does not necessarily mean that they are your ideal market.
It would help for you to really clarify what your Value proposition is, and then determine who needs your VP the most, so that you can engage them by creating the need.
Oct 17, 2014
Yes it can help you and/or your business exponentially. You mention both social networking and your professional network, first you need to define your goal and what you hope to accomplish with the people you have in your network of influence.
The purpose of a professional network like LinkedIn is to share information typically through group memberships, establish a reputation, and possibly find opportunities for career advancement. You may even find a few “sales” type opportunities there if that is what you are looking for and are in a business that caters to your professional network. The best way to do this is to scan your groups for questions about your “Widget” or “Skill Set” and become the expert in your field that is everyone’s GO TO person when they have a problem or question.
Facebook and the other true “Social” type networks are much easier to get the word out about whatever it is you do. When you do a post to your timeline everyone that is a friend or follower can read that post. Don’t get so advertising oriented that you have people get upset with the number of posts you create.
What you really want to do is create a “BUZZ” about your product or service that includes past customers; nothing makes a sale like a testimonial.
In addition to just postings you should also have your own blog and post to it regularly. Post not only ads and sale prices but give out useful information people can use. I personally know of an appliance repairman in my area that posts videos on YouTube on how to change belts on dryers and fix certain things on other appliances. He also very low key has a link from the video to his website, which includes a forum where he also answers questions but also books appointments for service and sells parts mail order. He has a thriving business that he worked hard to create a “Social Buzz” and it works for him.
Other major companies do similar things, take Lego for example. There are numerous Lego forums where extreme enthusiasts talk about products. You can be sure a Lego employee is a member and is contributing and also explaining any bad press they may get, even if it is something so simple as “We at Lego, are aware of this problem and are working hard to resolve it.”
So make sure you are in on the “Buzz” about your company. Good or bad you can’t help the situation if you are not aware of it and communicating with your customers.
So what do we do?
1. Define your social networking goal
2. Start using all the social networks out there just to begin creating your “Buzz”, especially the current top 4 or 5.
3. Start a website or modify your website so it doesn’t only sell products but also puts out great information that your customers and potential customers can use. Post to it helpful articles 3 or 4 times a week.
4. Use the search engines to find websites where you are mentioned and how. If they are places that allow postings then jump right in and introduce yourself and start talking. I was doing some consulting for a very large connivance store chain and they were amazed that there were hundreds of thousands of mentions of their stores listed in one of the main search engines. As I investigated further I found that the vast majority were just using their locations to give people directions. “Look for an XYZ store on the left and make the next right.” The company was extremely happy, their name was getting our everywhere.
5. Don’t just start blasting emails to all your contacts, but do set up an e-mailing list and ask people to join. Once again like YouTube and the content providers asking for you to please to add their channel, ask your contacts to join your newsletter.
6. This last point is a wait and see if I am correct statement, but…. Plan your sites to be primarily mobile in the very near future. Have a normal web presence, however if you have to devote money to one or the other choose mobile.
I hope this helps someone. I do seminars on social networking and search engines, this is just a tiny portion of what I go ever during the seminar.
Oct 17, 2014
It does; but takes time...because social media is a place where you build relationships and not a marketplace.
Some people may try to use it as a marketplace.. and may be they have some short-term gains, though I doubt even that ( not counting the cheats!)
Oct 17, 2014
Social networking works if you are social and make an effort to connect with people. Just being on a site doesn't cut it. You need to personalize your approach to each site and help people get to know you. It's all about establishing trust, much like any other networking situation.
Oct 17, 2014
Thank you so much for your whole hearted suggestion...most of them suggested to go for blogging, that's a great advice.I really appreciate all the members who have actively participated..Keep up the good work...
Oct 17, 2014
Here is an article I just published based on this question. You may find your answers here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141018015257-136193771-500-connections-now-what?trk=prof-post
and yes, I wrote this article less than an hour ago, you inspired it! Thanks, great question!
Oct 17, 2014
Social networking connection can give you business depending on how you relate to your connections. If you consistently offer value, your connection will find you as a " go to person". Invariably you might need to do paid advertizing of your social media, to accelerate results.
Oct 17, 2014
No, you're not missing anything. A lot of those connections are caught up in the "Like" and "Follow" numbers game. You can distinguish yourself from them by reaching out to them.
You have the connections, use them. What's the worst that could happen? You lose a connection, it wasn't worth anything to you anyway. Start sending out blast emails and links to a final destination you want them to visit. Use your connections for what it really is and that is a network. Television networks have commercials, it's time for you to build your own commercials via email or message.
Oct 17, 2014
It sure does!
Building a relationship and an eye-catcher will attract those interested. I have joined a new kid on the block social media network that have never been heard of nor seen or done before. Check it out: http://smooth.paycation.com.igrowtour.com/lcp9/
Oct 17, 2014
Kalai: The next step is to publish value content to your contacts so they get involved. Then you should create events and workshops were they learn and know you are able to help them.
Oct 17, 2014
Hi Kalai,
Ms. Aguiar has given you the key. Not that everyone else's comments are not useful but Ms. Aguiar gives you the keys to the kingdom.
Why should anyone leave a social network to do business with you?
What reason did you give them?
What do you have in your portfolio that's useful, relevant, valuable and meaningful to THEM?
Yes, blog.
Your blog allows you to expand your topic about anything that attracts your audience away from the social platform and into your marketing funnel/pipeline. It's known in the world as a free social share with a purpose.
Yes, you begin with your blog but have a purpose, a point, a goal, a plan, a direction.
What you are missing is the art of attraction. Even if you are unemployed, you can attract an employer to you with the right social mix like creating a Revenue Generating Resume giving the audience something to hold onto.
I would check out Ms. Aguiar and learn the missing element and go from there.
Hope this helps.
Oct 17, 2014
Networking does indeed improve your business. Make it a priority. Although it seems like you're not getting a great ROI, you most definitely are. Networking develops relationships and relationships develop trust and trust develop business.
My clients have shared with me that seeing me at so many events indicated to them that I was serious about my business and dedicated to growing it.
Yes, make more efforts. it will pay off. Wishing you much success and prosperity.
Oct 17, 2014
Social Networking has been a useless exercise from my experience, particular in the area of employment.
There are a great number of sites, and certainly I have found that the average application exceed 50; and you rarely get a reply. Further there are issues relating to possible impersonation and identity theft, and I really do not trust the likes of Face Book and similar sites in terms of security of my data.
Timing and follow up are issues which need to be dealt with, but the problem lies when the address of the advertiser is not published and there is no alternative method of contact.
I have made applications through the likes of Linked-in and other sites of the same nature, but have found on the whole that these are exchanges of ideas or answers to other peoples' problems, and rarely does the sort of issues which I require, answered. It seems to be more a glorified chat room, in the same way as Face Book, than a serious marketing tool.
That may upset the likes of Linked in, who I have also noted are an American based operation, and many of the advertisements or commentry is totally outside the bounds of English/British requirements due in part to the cultures and also the geographical locations. As I have found when an advertisement is placed, you suddenly discover the post is actually based in the USA, at best Europe.
It has its uses, but mainly alien to the average British worker/self-employed seeking new contracts. Further with the severity of unemployment in the UK, the other sites such as Face Book and the specialist Job Boards, it is often found that there are over 30 applications within 24 hours; more to the point you never get to talk to a human.
I still prefer Agencies and direct applications to potential employers and although use Linked in, it is secondary to other site which are availble. Perhaps what this proves is that because of the lack of human contact, these sites become totally impersonal and again you have no idea who you are really dealing with.
Oct 17, 2014
Definitely. I am a Director of Touch Marketing in Auckland NZ and I'm also doing a Masters in this very topic. My research tells me that Social Media done properly increases traffic to a business website significantly. It also brings huge brand awareness to the company to people that would never normally engage with the brand. They are generally new customers and exhibit greater brand loyalty and are potentially better paying customers. There is no doubt and the figures speak for themselves. The research won't be finished until March 2015 but the data is analysed and is overwhelmingly supportive. If you'd like to know more check us out at www.touchmarketing.co.nz
... the choice of which social media is also different for every company. Some can do very well on FaceBook, for others it back-fires. Twitter has a certain fit, as does LinkedIn and Pinterest. It all depends on your companies answers to the aforementioned variables. One strategy does not work for all.