Talk About Social Media - (However not like many of your competitors do!)
LONDON, October 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
So you've met your new contacts at an event, swapped business cards, connected on LinkedIn, (you did personalise your request to connect, right?), and followed on whatever other social networks you're on.
Now what?
This isn't yet another post asking you to "engage" on social media. You of course know that already. Nor is it a post suggesting that you must do anything at all.
However, if you feel it would be of mutual benefit to some of your contacts, what about doing something that so few appear to do these days:
Pick up the telephone and talk.
With all the incessant hype about social media marketing these days, what's wrong with the landline telephone? Has it suddenly become a relic? Of course not. Sure, many use mobiles, however those conversations tend to be more acute. Even saying the word 'telephone' sounds passé these days it seems, however I can assure you that it's still one of the most powerful marketing tools at your disposal.
Here's an opportunity for you - Using your landline telephone, make a point of calling your key prospects. Yes, calling them. Look up what they are up to on the social networks they are active in. Social media is incredibly transparent and this is a real advantage for you, as I can assure you that many of your competitors won't be using social media in this way - to have an informative and relevant discussion with their prospects like you now can, and will.
With this approach, you are now able to quickly ascertain what your contacts are up to. Make it part of your opening banter before you then move on to a more focussed discussion like asking them what their latest thoughts are on their prior interest in how you may help them professionally or, in the case of warmer prospects, perhaps that proposal you had sent them.
This is not cold calling. These are people with whom you've already had some form of engagement before whether face-to-face or on-line.
This is about 'walking the talk', rather than simply joining the many others by simply talking the talk. Move away from banter such as, "I do social media." What you want to do is know that you're using social media to great effect.
John Coupland, author of 'ACCELerate™ Your Social Media', is a multi-award winning e-Business & Networking Professional. John has over 25 years of award-winning experience in retail and account management, with over 18 years in e-business. He left the corporate world in 2009 and founded and runs a number of influential social networking groups, consisting of thousands of business owners, alongside his business, @networkerplus Social Media. He helps businesses with their social media strategies, speaks at events and also runs on-line campaigns for SMEs (SMBs) and leading brands.
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