Social media. It’s one of my favorite ways to interact. This is also true for a lot of folks. They use it to interact with others around the world and to market their products and services.
Some people get great interaction on social media platforms while others are posting day in and day out with very little engagement.
What’s the difference between the super star and the person who struggles? Usually the differences are in their social media planning and their ability to develop relationships.
Even if we’re talking about them selling the exact same product, how each approaches the opportunity is often quite different.
Let’s break it down a little more:
- The social media maven cares about other folks.
- She interacts with people every single day on social media by answering questions and replying to comments both on her own posts but also on other posts in her feed.
- She shares snippets of her life instead of bombarding her followers with product pitches.
- The maven also knows, through trial and error, which platforms give her the most engaged audiences and this is where she therefore spends her time.
The novice also cares about folks but she’s posting product photos on every single social media platform available, desperate to make a sale. She figures that folks don’t buy the first time they hear about her product so she continues to post about the product….over and over again.
She doesn’t notice when folks leave comments or doesn’t know how to respond back. She comments on only a select few posts and is spread too thin across the various platforms.
Social Media Plan Revision
I’m guessing that one of the reasons you went out on your own is that owning your own business gives you the ability to do what you want. There aren’t any hard and fast rules about which social media platforms you should use so approach it methodically.
If you’re posting random photos on Instagram and get a few likes here and there, is it worth your time? If you post an article once a month on LinkedIn but have an inbox filled with unanswered invitations to network, should you continue to use this platform?
First, determine where your target market hangs out and learn how to use that platform. If you’re aiming to attract professional customers, then LinkedIn might be your ticket.
If you’re looking for other solopreneurs or business owners, check out Facebook. Want to market yourself locally? Alignable is a new platform to try. Can’t fit your thoughts into 280 characters? Then drop Twitter instead of stressing about it.
Second, remember to be social.
You’re much more than your business so show that to your followers. Yes, share about your business because that’s your passion and a part of your life but share about your other passions also. Trips and travels; favorite hobbies; favorite sports teams; favorite movies or television shows.
Let folks get to know the whole you, not just the business you.
Do you currently have a social media plan? Are you sticking to it?
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