The question I am most often asked regarding social networking and ways to leverage social media to market a business is "How can I possibly add this to my already overscheduled daily task list?" Of course, this question comes from those who currently use social media for their personal use and have experienced the time-vacuum phenomenon that often accompanies it. I'm not denying it's easy to get swept out with the tide; however, with a little bit of will power and the following tips, you're sure to improve your social networking productivity for your business and see results:
1. Compartmentalize.
Set aside just a few minutes each day to log in and catch up with your SN (social networking), using a timer if you have to. As an alternative, set aside a larger portion of time on a less-frequent basis. Watch the clock, and get out and move on to your real-world tasks when time is up!
2. Keep it filed, not pouring in.
Set SN settings so that notifications do NOT come in to your email inbox. Getting these in real time is not productive and it's distracting; you'll see them at the designated log-in time. If there is certain SN info you want to see in real time, such as LinkedIn correspondence, consider using your email system's push feature, which allows you to set up and name folders in your inbox and, based on where the emails come from, sends the messages directly to those folders, where you can see them waiting. This keeps you organized, too. If your webmail doesn't offer this feature, consider a desktop program like MS Outlook that can handle it.
3. Complete your profiles.
Make your profile pages on each networking site as complete as possible. By doing so, visitors to your page can have many of their basic questions answered and you'll have less back-and-forth to tend to. Also try to keep as much profile info as public as you're comfortable with.
4. Be Decisive.
Respond to connection requests, event invites, and business inquiries during the allotted time on the clock. Be sure to transfer commitments to your calendar immediately.
5. Pick up the phone.
When you come upon important correspondence on your social networks during your allotted time, set up an appointment to speak on the phone (and of course transfer that appointment to your calendar immediately). Whether for business or personal relationships, using your actual voice is the most effective way to connect meaningfully and efficiently.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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ReplyDeleteGood ideas; I especially like #5. Being in the voice business, *talking* with someone gives both of us an idea who we are working with. It also gives a mutually-agreed-upon instant confirmation of a booking (or other business item). I write it down in my datebook and as far as I'm concerned, it's "set in stone." At least for me, life works better that way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the concise thoughtful post.
Paul
www.paulpayton.com
Great tips Mary - really useful. I struggle with some aspects of social networking but realise it has an increasing value in business and warrants serious consideration. These are useful pointers to work with.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that you advocate making profiles as complete as possible. One of my main concerns has been the whole aspect of data mining and this has been the main reason why I've steered clear of Facebook, which has been heavily linked with these problems in the past. What's your take on this? How can we be sure data is not being misused?
Rick
Rick, it sure can be confusing out there if you let yourself become overwhelmed. As far as profile completion for your business is concerned, I'm 100% confident that the pros far outweigh the cons. Don't be shy of facebook because, depending on your business, it is probably where a lot of your target market resides. Make sure all business info is there, but keep personal info to a minimum. Remember to create a "fan page" for your business after you've set up your personal profile, and put a link from one to the other as well as mentioning your business in your personal summary.
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