It was brought to my attention that it has been some time since my last post. Why? Well, it is because I have been busy. Is that an excuse? No. It’s not. How can I encourage people to use social media and be a slacker myself?
I need a strategy and so do you. Social media, whether it is blogging, tweeting, or the tool of your choice, requires a plan. Your plan needs to be fully integrated into your overall marketing strategy. Social networking on it’s own, ad hoc, will not be effective.
Here are some suggestions.
1. Blogs – Try blogging once a week. Write notes throughout the week of interesting observations, news stories or something relevant to your blog’s objectives. If you don’t use the idea that week, you can use it the next week. Many people say “I have nothing to blog about.” If you are providing information to clients on a regular basis and are knowledgeable about your field, you probably have something to blog about.
2. Twitter is great for sharing articles or small bits of information. I suggest logging in 3 times a day – morning, noon and night. You can share an article that you read, retweet interesting information that was posted by someone else, comment on someone else’s post or simply post a “tip of the day.” If you make this part of your daily routine, you will find it becomes easier to keep on top of. Don’t forget to tweet a link to your latest blog post.
3. Updating your Facebook fan page can be done several times a week. You should always post your latest blog post. Use your Facebook page to start conversations and ask provacative questions. Post articles. Post events. Make a schedule to remind yourself to post. The more traffic that you get, the more time you may need to spend on it, but start small.
There are many other new media tools that you can use to brand your business and provide education to readers. The bottom line is to look at your goals before you begin and have a plan. Without a road map, you may not get to where you are headed in the most efficient manner.