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Social Media 101: Learning the Basics
Did you know that Facebook may exceed all of the internet in the impact it could have on your business? To learn more about Facebook for Business, including the brand new tools, applications and affordable advertising, click here and read about an exclusive Webinar from Ladies Who Launch coming soon.
by Katy Tafoya, Ladies Who Launch member, Los Angeles
by Katy Tafoya
You’ve likely heard that it’s important to make social media part of your business marketing plan. But what exactly is social media? How do you get involved? And how can it really help your bottom line? Here, we shed some light on all things Web 2.0.
Is It Social Media? Social Networking? Web 2.0?
Don’t let the buzz words fool you. For the most part, social media, social networking, and Web 2.0 are all pretty much the same thing: user-generated content. Any time the content of a Web site is created by a person and not a program, it’s considered user-generated. This can include blogs, online communities, e-zines and articles, networking organizations (including your profile), podcasts and Internet radio, videos and Internet TV channels, and bookmarking sites.
Why Do People Participate in Social Networking?
Aside from helping to expand your actual network, many people get involved in social networking to become part of a community. Like the word implies, being a “solopreneur” can often be lonely work. Networking, whether face-to-face or online, can be fun and easy. It may turn out to be just the five- or 10-minute break you need in your day.
A Sales and Marketing Team?
Solopreneur businesswomen are often left to do it all by themselves. While this can oftentimes feel a bit overwhelming, it can be manageable. It helps if you think of social networking as being your sales and marketing team at work. This is how you get your message, your business, and your product out there to the public.
How Can Social Networking Help My Business?
- Helps to increase your search engine relevance
- It’s an easy and natural way to get your name out there
- Lets you share your knowledge in your area of expertise
- Helps expand your contact base and your business referral network
- Allows you and your business to be accessible
- Can act as a customer relation tool for your service and products
- You can advertise directly to your target audience
- Lets you expand your network both nationally and internationally
This article really tells the essence of social marketing. I started about 3 weeks ago. I use Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot, Ladies who Launch. I have been listening to many audios about social networks too. This article combines all of what I have heard right here. Twitter was awkward to get use to. On Facebook, I had to get over the hurdle of getting my old friends connected to me. Now I am working on business contacts. Blogging is something that I make myself sit down to do. I have actually made great contacts, and gotten business from the networks. And I can’t say enough about Ladies who Launch. This is an awesome site with awesome women. Keep up the good work.
Michelle Oliver
Michelle Oliver
The Oliver Financial Group
You can Reach Michelle Oliver the Money Guru by:
Being her friend on Facebook – “Michelle Oliver”
Finding her and following her on Twitter – @MoneyGuruMO
Linkedin – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/420/2b5
Blogtalkradio.com – “Michelle O.”
email – michelle@theoliverfinancialgroup.com
I enjoyed this article. When I ask for a connection, I need to send more personal messages. I am familiar with the social networking game but I have to start forcing myself to give them more attention. Social networking is useful and helpful to connect with people. I am making a commitment to also blog, blog, and blog.
Argina can be reached at:
Facebook- Argina Denton
Twitter – @hotchpotchgirls
Myspace – myspace.com/hotchpotchgirls
Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/arginadenton
This article had the exact information I needed to move forward with my new business. I joined a new company that helps businesses follow up with their clients by sending them a greeting card or gift that is available online 24 hours a day.
I have run my own medical practice for 11 years. I always struggled with staying in touch with my patients. I finally became affiliated with this amazing company that is based on the “law of attraction.” That is if you send a heartfelt client or potential client a personal card you are much more likely to build on that relationship and increase the chances of keeping that client and receiving referrals.
I always ask potential clients “How do you follow up with your customers?” I am unfortunately amazed how 9 times out of ten there is no follow up.
http://www.pingcards.com
THANK YOU!
It always amazes me that people are willing to share this type of information with others. I am grateful because it is so useful. I am slowly getting my feet wet and learning these things, but it is always helpful when you get confirmation that you are on the right track. You have way too much information for me to be able to absorb it all at once. And it would take way more than 10 minutes right now although I would love to get right down to it! So I will book mark this and come back to it another day to dig out the gems you are offering.
Thank you again.
Brenda (aka The Duchess O’Blunt)
http://www.thetwistedsisterhood
I have set up accounts on a number of the social networking sites (linkedin, facebook, etc.) but just can’t seem to get into the swing of actually doing anything with them. I appreciate the potential for how this might help my business, but feel a bit stuck about how to proceed — is the trick joining groups if they are available?
Great article! Gives beginners enough to get started off on the right foot and more.
– Allison
http://www.TheProfessionalOrganizer.com
I am like Laura. I have set up accounts but have not yet figured out how to make the best use of them. I feel like I may already be spreading myself too thin and wonder how to know which sites are the best to meet my goals.
Jonda
I love this article. Thank you, Katy! I am a social marketing strategist, too, and spend a lot of time advising Launchers especially on blogging and social networks. One of the gems in Katy’s article is her advice to pick 2 or 3 networks and make the most of them rather than spreading yourself too thin. I get craaaazy when I hear about so many ‘Internet marketing experts’ who recommend ’sending 1000 points of light’ to your site — which means attempting to manipulate every single social media tool available. Just because the tech tools are now accessible to most of us, should we use every tool in the toolkit? All this leads to is Work Overload for you — and maybe a flood of Trash Traffic to your site or blog. So be selective about your social marketing choices — understand how your overall brand strategy should impact how you put yourself out there. It’s always about sharing, not selling. Okay, I am off my soapbox now. I think I had way too much caffeine this morning.
Again, kudos to Katy for being so generous and clear with her expertise.
Sarah, aka The Guru of New
www. guruofnew.com
I just signed up at Ladies who Launch and am so amazed at the quality of information and how helpful this site it. Thank you so much for taking the time to share!
Wendy
http://www.destinybodywear.com
Recently I have entrenched myself in the social networking world. I am a new business owner looking for some encouragement, advise, and ways to promote my business and other women in business. Check out my blog about networking and see what you think of my experiences, you may have had the same luck I have. I have just discovered that Ladies who Launch is another fabulous way to network. Yah!
http://www.katiekay.com/blog/index.php
I recently executed a few of these tips (facebook, bookmarks, blogging) and received instant traffic! It can be overwhelming (and I have been in the online advertising business for 10-years previous to launching my own site) but keep tackling it:)
Misty, founder of my inspiration lounge
http://www.myinspirationlounge.com
Explore the best of the web without all the searching!
Very good article. Social media is very helpful, it is finding the time to do all the blogging, and connecting that can be a challenge. I am having fun with it and in the meantime learning a lot. I’m up to speed on most aspects but can’t quite get on the bandwagon of ‘Twitter’. Maybe someone can help me understand the true value of Twitter….
-Dorethia
Web: connercoaching.com
Blog: connercoaching.blogspot.com
Email: dorethia@connercoaching.com
Facebook: dorethia conner coaching
Thank you to all you wonderful women for giving me inspiration. I’m not sure what a blog is yet, but I’m in.
I am so grateful to a lovely lady I met from the US, in a spa in Port Douglas Queensland Australia, for telling me about this.
I am in the process of commencing social networking in my local area and this website gives me everything I need for encouragement and excellence.
Thank you to the wonderful editor Summer from Eliza for encouraging me to get back into writing.
I am still figuring out how to use facebook. My contact is lee.vetray@hotmail.com. All welcome. Looks pretty awful right now, but as I read this info I will begin to use it properly…..hopefully.
Thanks again ladies.
Lee
This is in response to the two comments by chesa7 and JondaBeattie who mention the challenge of building their networks using social media resources. For me it is a slow and steady process that I devote a little attention to each day. I use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and various other social networks affiliated with my university and organizations I belong to. The way I see it, these are not just numbers to acquire, but connections I am fostering with like-minded people. Those kinds of connections take time and committment. If you try to tackle it all at once it can be daunting and prohibitive, but if you dedicate say 15 minutes each day to building a meaningful and supportive network, you will experience the positive results of your efforts.
I really appreciated this article and thought it was well-written, comprehensive, and provided very practical advice. Thank you!
Great info thanks. I am really big on social networking 
When you work from home for as long as I have you love to interact with other like minded professionals online.
Thanks a bunch!!
Charlotte Howard
http://www.charlottehowardinfo.com
I agree with Laura.
I have accounts, but beyond setting them up, I don’t see an obvious way to use them to increase my business.
For those of you who Twitter. How do you keep it interesting and professional? What if business or activity is slow?
What a pleasant surprise to see LWL rerun my article. Ladies, the key thing to remember about social networking is that it’s all about building relationships. And much like building any relationship, it takes time to develop. Set up your accounts and spend a few minutes each day chatting people up and sharing your knowledge and experiences. Don’t just post link after link…be real and talk with people.
People do business with people that they know, like and trust. So build those casual, online relationships, claim your expertise and share your knowledge and you will get more business. More than likely, it won’t happen overnight, but if you do it right, it can indeed happen.
Take some time and figure out your strategy (what do you want to come from your online relationships – more clients, build your list, sell more, get known as an expert) and it will make more sense. Once you know what you want, it’s easier to figure out what to say in your interactions and where to focus your time.
Good luck & have fun!
~Katy
http://katytafoya.com (free ebook on blogging strategies)
http://twitter.com/katytafoya
