In my continuing effort to help people make it easier to get started and manage their social media and networking efforts, people often ask me, “What’s in it for me?” The question comes from a perspective that most people share. People feel as though they don’t have enough time in a given day as it is. Let alone spending time writing blogs, visiting forums, updating online profiles and other basic social media activities.
I used to feel a bit guilty about being online and networking instead of making more sales calls. But over time I started getting results from my social media and networking efforts. And then my efforts began to pay off. Just as they do for clients who commit to the disciplines of social media and networking.
How do I get results? Over time. I started blogging over three years ago and I was terrible at it. But I read books, took courses and stuck with it. Now, every day our network of people grows as visitors come to our site, download content of interest and become part of the growing WealthNetPartners.com community. (Just as I sit here and write someone new read a post, clicked a link, hit our website and downloaded my free eBook, “The Art of Business Development.” They will automatically receive a series of personal emails over the next several months. And they automatically get added to my newsletter list.  In short, we build systems that can market while you sleep, or eat, or write. You get the point.
Do we work hard at social media? Definitely. Because the more we do it for ourselves and clients, the better we get at it. Which translates to results and return on investment. More clients. More referrals. More business. More cash flow. Invest more in the business… Does that sound like there’s enough it it for you to get started or raise the bar?
How can you get results?
1. Approach your social networking effort with the attitude of giving, sharing, and conversing with other people who share common interests. Don’t get online with the approach of, “What’s in it for me now?” Building relationships online takes time and careful consideration. You can learn as you go and commit to paying attention every day so you get better and better at marketing online. Learn the basics as you are now and get started with a pace that suits you. You too will get results over time with consistent effort.
2. You can compliment your own efforts by hiring us or a professional who can help you develop an internet marketing strategy that fits your overall business plan. If you have employees get them to buy into writing appropriate blog posts in sync with your Keyword Analysis. (Ask us about this incredible ROI-focused analysis.) Interact yourself with people you know who don’t work for you directly. Make sure your social media activities are tied to your business and marketing plan. The more you interact with others who share your goals, the better your results. Remember, it’s about building relationships.
Our focus with clients is to help them augment their own, internal efforts to create content and build links. We provide instant leverage with planning and execution. This generates more leads and helps to close more sales over time. The point is this. You need a strategy that fits your business plan, budget and time frame. (What? You don’t have a business plan? We can help you with that also.)
3. Whether you work alone or are part of a team, you can dramatically increase results by getting other people on board with your strategy while you compliment theirs. Here’s a perfect example. In the WealthNet community of entrepreneurs I have developed a list of accountants, attorneys and other professionals who are also online. If they do a great job for someone I know, I would write a “recommendation” and add it to their LinkedIn profile. They could do the same for me. Help others and they will help you. Pretty simple.
There you have it. If you commit to building a solid presence online you can grow your network of people by building relationships over time. You develop relationships by conveying your positioning, teaching, and offering insights as to how you and your business add value. If you are effective with your efforts over time, you will enjoy new clients and more business.
Social media works well for us and anyone who commits to learning and doing the necessary behaviors on a frequent basis. It requires leveraging many free and affordable technologies to build relationships, manage them and communicate on an ongoing basis through social media. It requires time and creativity. It requires being “social” and getting along with other people.
Please share your thoughts and comments. How do you benefit from your social media efforts? How has your investment in social media helped your business? What do you tell other people about getting started so they too can benefit from their interactive marketing efforts?
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The WealthNet team has a vast knowledge of sales, management and financial services and are always creative. They are a pleasure to work with and wonderful to know.