One question I get in class all the time is, “how long do you spend a week on your social marketing?”
That tells me that they still have a block to the concept of social capital making a real difference in their business. I have found that they need to say “Yes!” and as the saying goes, the teacher arrives when the student is ready.
I tell my coaching clients that they need a Social Networking Plan. Of course a blog adds quite a bit of time to that schedule but if blog posts are done consistently with relevant content the return is phenomenal.
I even tell some to spend 15 minutes every morning to post on your social networks and again in the evening. Of course those of who have success will start preplanning our posts, just like we do with our blog posts.
Some software allows you to plan your posts and schedule them, like seesmic desktop, ping.fm and others.
Engage and influence:
Whatever you decide your schedule to be, you need to engage and influence often without authority. Your sphere and clients and customer need insights NOT information.
1. Identify key relevant topics
2. Be a source of internal and external insights
3. Engage with unique value add whenever your post
4. Deliver an exceptional experience when they finally work with you
5. Influence best practices for future success
Chuck G
August 30, 2009 at 11:59 am
Amy,
Great point about adding value to your posts. I see lots of sites that just cut and past a very informative (some times too informative) graph from a research company (Altos, et al) and just call it a “market update.” But when I look at these through the eyes of the average consumer, the first question that comes to mind is “What do these numbers mean to ME?”
Charts and graphs are great, but we often miss the golden opportunity to put OUR opinion and analysis behind what the numbers really mean. And THAT is what your readers are looking for in the first place, not a fancy chart.
Adding Value = Building Credibility
…and that’s the whole reason we blog in the first place, isn’t it?
Barb Dragotta
August 30, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Though I do maintain our Business web site on Point2; the most fun that I have is in the ‘Rain’ [Activerain.com] where our main Blog is posted. Generally, it appears that this is for those who lurk in the background rather than comment. However, google has posted some entries; wish they would ask which one I would choose–but that is what is meant by random robot crawling. Anyway that it is discovered is good, Right? Blogs,& other social outlets as twitter can be difficult for those who find it hard to write, but it is a skill worth developing. One disclaimer now coming: choose carefully that which you post on the web; items do seem to grow a life all their own. Personally, I am grateful that God gave me the gift of gab, for I don’t know
how others who are shy or who find putting forth their views to others troubling, ever do get their nerve up & post. To them, I say Congrats!
MIssy Caulk
August 30, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I didn’t ‘plan’ it but I tend to be on Twitter in the AM and Facebook at night. I’ve often wondered how that happened. But seems I get more engagement on FB.
Amy Chorew
August 30, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Thanks all for your comments. I recently was at a session with my business coach and it became abundantly clear that to make a change in a business model or system the mindset has to change FIRST!!
Ken Brand
August 31, 2009 at 11:45 am
This sentence is worth etching in stone: “Your sphere and clients and customer need insights NOT information.” Information is worthless without interpretation, perspective, commentary, etc.
Great post.
Cheers.
teresa boardman
October 21, 2009 at 6:38 am
I have always had a schedule for writing blog posts that is why I have been able to do it for four years. The rest is random and unplanned but I am not a social media marketer I just use social media to stay in touch.