Social Media? A Distraction or a Smart Strategy
1
www.fasttrackyoursales.co.uk 08452570073 email: support@fasttrackyoursales.co.uk
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube etc etc etc How many do you visit on a daily basis? I wanted to share this article from Bernadette doyles blog as she raises a very valid point. Does your new business really need a presence there? That question may make you cringe, if you’re afraid of falling behind when it comes to social media. Step back and relax; you may be experiencing “social networking envy” unnecessarily. While social media sites can be marvelous marketing tools, there’s more work to be done first to build the business of your dreams. Distraction or Smart Strategy? Spending a lot of time on Facebook lately? Used correctly, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can be powerful tools for marketing. Many online entrepreneurs are mining real gold from social networking. But those same social networking sites can be a huge distraction if you’re not careful. The key is in finding the proper balance. Those “tweets”, Facebook status updates and LinkedIn requests, if not part of a deliberate marketing strategy, are just one more thing that pulls you away from the groundwork that supports a successful business. What Is Your Strategy? Before you devote a lot of time to creating a social media presence, you must first focus your efforts on building a solid business strategy. Spend the time necessary to create your unique business proposition. Why should someone want to do business with you, specifically? Being able to hone your offer down to two or three sentences can have tremendous impact on your marketing success. As a new business owner, the time you spend clarifying what you’re offering and why it’s unique will be the foundation of all future marketing. Once you’ve created your most succinct offer, begin to strategize how you’ll find customers. Lending your focus to tasks like these will result in long-term success. It’s possible you’ll incorporate social networking somewhere along the way, but a well-rounded marketing plan that includes many ways to attract customers is smart business. Creating a comprehensive business strategy is your best possible use of time. By all means, stay abreast of current marketing trends, but focus first on building a sturdy foundation for that marketing. Spend less time worrying about what everyone else is doing and more time investing the hard work all successful business owners do when growing a business. Make a Plan There are several things you can do to keep social media and other “shiny objects” from sabotaging your success:
2
www.fasttrackyoursales.co.uk 08452570073 email: support@fasttrackyoursales.co.uk
» Set a deadline for developing your offer and marketing strategy. » Never work without a schedule to keep yourself on track. » Set short-term goals for implementing new marketing ideas. » Set aside time each day to review your progress. » Plan a set time each day to work with social media as part of your overall marketing strategy. Social networking sites are a wonderful way to stay connected to potential clients near and far. They are also, unfortunately, a major distraction for new business owners working without a plan. The temptation to dive into social media marketing prematurely can be avoided by recognizing its role in your overall marketing plan. Make the decision to focus your time on developing your unique business proposition. Set goals and monitor your progress regularly. Implement new marketing ideas, which may include a presence in social networking, once you’ve clarified your unique business proposition. In that way, you’ll develop a genuine business network that will sustain your company long-term. Thanks to Bernadette Doyle for this article, Best Wishes Denise and Sharon
3
www.fasttrackyoursales.co.uk 08452570073 email: support@fasttrackyoursales.co.uk
About Fast Track Your Sales We are a web marketing company based in the UK we help our clients get more sales leads. We provide a range of services:
Marketing and Sales Strategy Product Launch Planning and implementation Copywriting Sales letter creation Lead Generation Website Affordable Websites SEO Social Media Marketing
To find out more either email us or call us at the numbers below
Email: support[at]fasttrackyoursales[dot]co.uk Tel:
08452570073
4
www.fasttrackyoursales.co.uk 08452570073 email: support@fasttrackyoursales.co.uk