5 Ways to Grow Your Social Network
One of my favorite lines from the movie Tombstone is when a sick Doc Holliday is asked why he is willing to back an unpopular Wyatt Earp. His answer, “Wyatt’s my friend!” The man makes it a point to tell him he has lots of friends. Holliday then simply says, “I don’t!”
Like it or not, you are judged by the friends you keep. Your social network is no different. Quality is always more important than quantity. In fact, as the quality of your social network marketing grows the quantity should take care of itself. Here a just a few important things to keep in mind.
Set Goals and Objectives
As simple as it sounds, few do this the right way. It is hard to judge how effective you are in any task if you have nothing to measure it against. Have a purpose behind what you are trying to do. Be realistic and be specific.
Engage with People
This is “social� media. You have to be social. That means updating often. Let them know you are out there. If they have a question, answer it. If they give you a compliment, thank them. If they have a problem, apologize and tell them you will fix it. Simple manners can go a long way.
Content is King
Quality and engaging content works wonders for any business. This will establish you as an expert in your field. It is important that you are educating yourself on the latest trends in your particular business.
Treat All Social Network Sites Equally
Make sure that you are posting original content on each of the social network sites you are a part of. One thing that can turn people off real fast is redundant information. They do not want a tweet giving a link to the Facebook post you did, yesterday.
Think Outside of the Box
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Run a contest. Provide a live question and answer session. Anything that you can make relevant to your business that is different is good for business. It will separate you from your competition.
Like it or not social media is an integral part of your business. You can either embrace it and prosper, or you can ignore it and fail. Remember this. Social media is one of the most cost effective ways of getting your name out there. If done right, it can reap a return that far exceeds most other forms of advertisement.
Jeff Ramson has more than 25 years of Wall Street experience, raising money and providing strategic guidance for emerging public and private companies in various stages of development.