Want more out of Social Media?

Then avoid these 10 social media sins.

I made this video 10 Social Media Sins in March 2011 and the advice is still very relevant. Below are the 10 social media sins.

1. Build it and they will come.

2. The numbers game.

3. Automation.

4. Ignoring your fans/ followers.

5. Absenteeism.

6. Broadcast only.

7. Me, me, me.

8. Monetise immediately.

9. Not authentic.

10. Not an addition to your marketing.

Now listen to the video and tell me what you think.

75% of Brand Facebook ‘Likes’ come  from advertisements!!!

Bill McCartney Founder of Net4wiseowls

This and many other fascinating facts are covered in this excellent info graphic by Search Engine Journal. There is no sign from these stats that we are suffering from social media fatigue. In fact I feel it is just the start of a fascinating journey.

The social media space is rapidly becoming more sophisticated. Apps, F-commerce, M-commerce, gamification, etc. The train has left the station and it’s important you are on it. Love to hear your views. Bill

Source:

Reflecting on the huge transformation I have made in the past couple of years from someone who didn’t own a computer into someone for whom Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. are very important and an integral part of my daily activities. What I have realised though is that social media is by no means a free or easy option. While it doesn’t cost money it is costly in terms of a more valuable commodity – time!

 To develop Sign2Music’s social media strategy to its current level hasn’t been easy for a non-computer savvy person like me. I have spent an inordinate amount of time, and many many late nights and early mornings, in front of my computer, getting to grips with how it all works. A lot of this time has been productive. However, if I am honest some of it hasn’t been. It is so easy to get distracted. Farmville on Facebook was almost in danger of destroying my social media strategy for a while, as I kept getting sidetracked when my crops needed harvested!

Bill McCartney, from Net4wiseowls, facilitated an excellent workshop for the Sign2Music teachers at our annual Sign2Music Conference recently. It did make me realise I should have done this much earlier, rather than jumping into social media without a clue and spending so much time stumbling around trying to find my way!

I am certainly not a social media expert but have been able to use social media to grow my business and hope to continue to do so. I have made many many mistakes along the way! If I was to give advice to anyone starting a business who wants to dip their toe into social media I would say:

1. Put the time into developing your strategy before jumping in. If you can get the advice of an expert such as Bill it is worth doing so.

2. Do not think this is a panacea and will be the making of your business. It can help enormously but requires a significant amount of time and effort to make it work.

3. If you work within a team have a shared strategy and approach.

4. Do not spread yourself too thinly between various social media platforms. Concentrate most on the one that works best for your business.

5. Support other businesses, who in turn will support you.

6. Be genuine with your business connections. It is easy to spot someone who is trying to get something out of you for nothing!

7. Spend the time making your page or updates worth liking or following you for.

And Finally 8. Do not go near Farmville!!

If you require further information contact deirdre@sign2music.co.uk 07874742704

or see:

www.sign2music.co.uk

www.facebook.com/sign2music1

www.twitter.com/sign2music

www.youtube.com/user/Sign2Music1

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/deirdre-mclaughlin/28/98/577

Bill McCartney Founder of Net4wiseowls

Knowing your customers and your target audience should form the bedrock of a sound business strategy. It’s also the starting point to building a winning Social Media business strategy.

Pareto Analysis the 80:20 rule. Information overload is an easy trap to fall into with so many sources of information available. The fear of being left behind is compounded with the anxiety of not knowing exactly what Social Media platforms will work best for your business. The challenge is to separate the vital few from the trivial many. Remember 80% of your business sales are probably generated from just 20% of your initiatives.

Don’t put all your investment into your website and expect your customers  just to turn up. Social Media lets you play where your customers are, not necessarily where your website is. However Social Media allows you to drive the right traffic to your website. People who are engaged with you because you are authentic, transparent, and useful. People who value, trust and understand that your business provides the products and services they require. Intelligent leveraging of Social Media sites as part of your overall business strategy will open up the possibility of viral campaigns. They will deeply engage with your customers, strengthen your brand and ultimately increase sales.

Hard work is required to be successful in Social Media and as Gary Player the golfer once said “the more I practice the luckier I become”. The Social Media sites are free, the time to exploit them is not and requires considerable commitment and time. Though avoid being the hamster in the wheel, busy going nowhere. Develop a strategy that is focused on your customers and works in a cost-effective manner.

Word of mouth. Just remember those three little words when you start to wonder is all the effort and time invested in social media going to give you a return. The fact is that people buy far more readily from a word of mouth recommendation than an advertisement. That is the powerful advantage that Social Media brings to the table. Word of mouth through social media will drive up your sales and profits, put you ahead of the competition and make you a winner.

Can you afford not to be in Social Media?