As a business owner you know there are new tools available to help you market your business.  I’m talking about what is called social media, mainly Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and blogging.

 You want to participate but sometimes your technical questions get in the way. Or, you’re not sure how you can use these tools in the most optimal way.

 Here are ten tips that you can use now to improve your social media marketing effectiveness:

1. If you have a cool resource or idea to share with someone, post it on their Facebook profile (or Fan) page instead of sending an e-mail.  Because if it’s something cool, other people would probably like to know about it as well.  And, this gives you exposure as well as positioning you as a resourceful person.

2. When you create a Facebook Fan Page (now called an official page) you get a really long url that you can change to one that’s easy to remember and share.  This short video will show you how. (If you don’t have a Facebook Fan Page, you need to create one, more on that here).

3. Comment on other people’s blogs.  And when you do, write something specific that is insightful (don’t comment, ‘great post’).  And be sure that your posts include a photo of you (not a blank box) so that when you do post people can see who you are.  This video will show you how.

4. If you write articles or blogs, add a ‘ReTweet’ button to every article or post.  This way when someone finds it valuable they can easily share it with their followers.  Here’s how to add the button (if html sounds like Chinese to you, then ask your web person to make it happen).

5. When you’re sharing links on social media use Bit.ly to turn a long url into a short url.  What’s so cool about bit.ly is that in addition to creating a short url, it also tracks how many clicks your link gets so you know how much exposure it generates.

6. Change your LinkedIn profile url from something long and unmemorable to something branded (your name or company name).  This makes it easier for people to find you and it will improve your Google ranking.  Here’s how to do it.

7. When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, be sure to check to see if he/she is on Twitter and Facebook and connect there as well. Same idea, if you’re connected with someone on Facebook, check for him/her on Twitter and LinkedIn.  You get the idea.

8. Put your social media links to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn on your business card and/or e-mail signature.

9. When someone signs up for your ezine they are usually directed to a ‘Thank You’ page and/or receive a ‘Thank You’ e-mail from you.  These are two great places to add your social media links.

10. Ask questions and request comments on your Facebook posts.  You want to create a platform for interaction, not just a one way stream of communication.

These may seem like minor details but often small tweaks can make a huge difference in the amount of people you reach.  They’re like levers that can move heavy objects with minimal effort. So get started now and improve the effect your social media marketing is having on your business.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com/.

Recently a client asked me about giving, and requesting, recommendations on LinkedIn.  She had two questions, I’ll address them both. 

Q – “I’m a bit shy to ask people for a recommendation, and I’m thinking of writing some that I would anyway, and hope some will write one for me or should I ask directly?” 

A – If you love what someone is up to, or had a fabulous experience working with him/her, and want to give them a recommendation do so!  And do it without the intention that they will write one for you.  Think of it as a gift.  They may (or may not) reciprocate.  That’s up to them.

Even though you may be shy about it, if you want a recommendation from someone, just ask directly. People are busy and it doesn’t always occur to them to proactively think about writing recommendations.

You already know the people you plan to ask so they’re probably happy to do it.  And if they don’t do it, please don’t take it personally.  Remember, there’s no harm in asking. 

“You create your opportunities by asking for them.” – Shakti Gawain

Q – “Also, if someone hasn’t asked for a recommendation, is it strange to write one for them (since I don’t know what they are aiming for in terms of future career growth)?” 

A – Not at all.  Whatever you write will be about your positive experience with that person, which is always beneficial.  It doesn’t matter if the person is now doing something completely different than when you worked together.  This is because the attributes and skills the person exhibited during your encounter will reveal valuable qualities that remain with the person.

To learn more about referrals, check out my article Who Else Wants More Referrals?

A recent article in the Dutch business magazine Sprout said Twitter is expected to be the first internet medium that will reach one billion users.  

At PICNIC 2009 Maurice Beerthuyzen reported media futurist Gerd Leonhard as saying, “In two years you’re in social business or in no business.”

So, if you’re not yet on Twitter, sign up.  If you’re already using Twitter, why not make the effort to learn additional ways you can use it to grow your business.

I know, I can hear you saying that you barely have time to do all of the marketing activities you’re already doing!  But please consider the impact this new strategy can have on your business. 

Here are some basic facts.  Twitter is a free service where you can post messages (called tweets) of up to 140 characters.  This is also known as micro-blogging.  You can follow people’s tweets and share your tweets with people who follow you.

This isn’t going to be about ‘how to’ get set up on Twitter. There is a ton of marvelous information out there for free out on how to do that.  Here are two resources to get you started: Twitter for Business report and http://twitterwatchdog.com/ (scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for a free Twitter success report).

I want to focus on WHY you should get on board and how using Twitter can help you grow your business and be more profitable.

I’m not an expert on Twitter and I continue to learn more all the time.  I just started my account in March of this year.  As with any new service, you can actually learn by doing and watching what others do.

BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS:

1. Meet potential new clients you would otherwise probably never encounter
2. Discover new business opportunities
3. Connect with strategic alliance partners
4. Position yourself as an expert and attract media attention
5. Promote your events
6. A place to share your knowledge if you don’t have an ezine or blog (If you do have an ezine and blog, Twitter will complement them fabulously).

And yes, I have met some amazing people on Twitter and have discovered new opportunities for marketing my business.

WHAT TO TWEET ABOUT:

It’s true, some people do tweet about what they are eating or that they are going to walk the dog.  As a business owner you can make the majority of your tweets about your area of expertise, information that adds value.  For example, you can share:

- Fresh ideas and insights

- Practical tips

- Helpful resources (blogs, articles, quotes, etc.)

If you want to see what I tweet about you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/fireflycoaching.

As a time saver you can connect your Twitter account to your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts so that when you post something on Twitter it automatically shows up on Facebook and LinkedIn (for tips on these two services read my ‘Why Facebook and LinkedIn are Good for Your Business’ here. 

Are you starting to see how Twitter can help you expand your network and grow your business?  Make the decision to get an account and start using it today.  Invest the time to learning how it works so you can take advantage of this amazing marketing strategy and rock your business.

© Stephanie Ward, 2009

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com/.

LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your profile and forget about it.  You can be more visible on LinkedIn without devoting an enormous amount of time to it.

Connections are strengthened when you interact and share ideas and information.  And a solid network is vital to growing your business.

Here are seven ways to increase your presence on LinkedIn:

1. Post a recommendation for someone you’re connected to.  A key element of effective networking is to give first.  And you never know, someone else may feel compelled to write a recommendation for you.  This is not the reason to do it, just a possible outcome.

2. Join a group.  On the navigation on the left click on Groups.  From there click on the ‘Groups Directory’ tab at the top of the page.  You can then search the groups based on: keywords, categories, or languages.

Another way to discover interesting groups is to see what groups your connections are members of.

Once you’re a member of a group, join the discussions and look for people you may know but are not yet connected to and invite them to connect.

3. Post your reading list. This is on the left navigation under ‘Applications’ and it’s super easy to add books you’ve read or are reading.  You can also “watch” the reading lists of people you are connected to.

What a person reads gives you insight into what interests them (and you to them).  Sharing similar interests can create a bond and lead to new projects.

4. Check out who has been looking at your profile.  This is located on the right sidebar of your home page and is under the heading ‘Who’s Viewed My Profile?’ and if you click underneath you can see a list.

You may find that you know people who are looking at your profile and you can invite them to connect. 

5. Invite people to connect.  I know, this seems ridiculous to mention but often people get into a reactive mode and wait for others to ask them to connect.

If you meet someone and exchange contact details you can search Google using the keywords of their name and LinkedIn to see if they are already on LinkedIn.  If they are, you can send them an invitation to connect.

If there is someone you would like to be connected with, but don’t know personally, you can request that someone you are connected with (that is connected to the person you want to meet) make the introduction for you.

6. Update your status daily, a few times weekly or as often as possible.  You can share quotes, interesting links to articles and websites, and ask questions.  This positions you as a resource and keeps your business visible.  

You can also comment on the status updates and changes of people you’re connected to.  Congratulate someone on a new position or comment on a particular project.

7. Add a presentation to your profile using ‘Google Presentation’ which is found in the navigation on the left under Applications.  This is a fast and easy way for people to find out more about what you do or learn about valuable information you have to share.  

There are so many more ways to use LinkedIn, this is just a short list to get you started.  Hang out at the site and spend some time exploring which applications and features will work best for you. 

If you visit LinkedIn every other day or weekly in ten minutes you can update your status, comment on what others are up to, and invite a few new connections. 

These actions will increase your visibility and deepen connections you have with your network.  This will increase your potential to attract more clients and build your business.  So don’t blink, get linked.

© Stephanie Ward, 2009

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Have you been hearing all of the buzz about social networking?  Feeling confused?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  The great news is that it isn’t as complicated or time consuming as it may seem.  Plus, it’s more than just social; it’s good for your business to get involved.

The list of social networking sites is long and growing.  I don’t want to overwhelm you so I’m only going to focus on two that are particularly suited for you as a business owner, Facebook and LinkedIn.

So why should you care?  What’s the big deal?  Well, here are just a few reasons to enter the social networking realm:

* Gain exposure for your business that may lead to new clients or projects

* Increase the credibility of your business (give and receive recommendations on LinkedIn, post messages on friend’s pages on Facebook)

* Be connected to the people in your network in one location (OK, two if you’re on both Facebook and LinkedIn)

* Re-connect with business contacts you’ve lost touch with (sometimes they find you, sometime you discover them)

* Meet new people and expand your business network (meet your friend’s friends that you otherwise wouldn’t meet)

Here’s a quick overview of them (both are gratis and LinkedIn offers paid upgrade options).

Facebook:

- Informal and more social than business focused (this doesn’t mean it’s not good for your business)

- Almost 100 million members (according to Wikipedia)

- Anyone can ask you to be ‘friends’ (you don’t have to accept) and you can ask anyone to be friends (they don’t have to accept either)

- It is possible to share photos, videos, and add applications

- You can join groups within the network that interest you (or make your own group)

LinkedIn:

- Business focused

- 19 million members (according to Wikipedia)

- You can only invite people you know (people whose e-mail addresses you have) and vice versa.

- It is not possible to share photos and video (only your own profile photo)

- You can join groups within the network that interest you

To get started you just have to go to the website, sign up and follow the directions to create a profile.  Because LinkedIn is mainly for business it is professional and the profile area is quite structured which makes it easy to follow.

Facebook is another story, although it does have a structured profile area, there are loads of additional features you can add to your page.  When you join for business reasons be careful not to make your page too busy or too personal.  You can be yourself and share your interests, just don’t reveal anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with a group at an in-person networking meeting. 

When your profiles are finished you can start asking people to connect.  The process is different for LinkedIn and Facebook but both are pretty straightforward.  LinkedIn has a ‘Help/FAQ’ section on the website and Facebook has a ‘Help’ area as well (bottom right hand corner of the page).

You will learn more as you go, so just go ahead and get started.  And as you meet new people you can ask them to join you on your networks.  Networking, off-line or on-line, is about building relationships over time.  So give first when possible, be yourself, and have fun with it.

The benefits of social networking for business owners are clear.  You will be able to meet new people, build relationships with your network, improve visibility for your company, and discover new opportunities for more business.  But that’s not all, it’s fun too.  So why not get started and join the world of social networking today. 

© Stephanie Ward, March  2008

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire!  Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.