Have you ever thought about the power of a story?
I was sitting around listening to some kids talking yesterday and one was telling a story about his recent camping trip with his parents to a few other kids. As I listened it hit me that social media marketing is a story dressed up as marketing.
In [...]
Unfortunately, a lot of people see social networking as a burden. I have talked to many people who have started with a few different social media websites only to abandon them because it was too hard to keep up. While there are some ways to keep your social media working for you, as in [...]
While this is not a formal part of The Story of Social Media Marketing series I am going to be starting here in the very near future, I thought I would expand a little bit on the concept and give you a little teaser.
This entire concept came to me as I sat and watched one [...]
Social media marketing is not something that you should be doing without some sort of plan.
When you have a plan you know where you are going. A part of that social media marketing plan should be a list of goals – achievements that can be measured so you know how well you are doing. In [...]
If you are not using Twitter yet, what are you waiting for?
Twitter marketing should not be your sole reason for using the service, but it does happen naturally. Here are some Twitter success tips from Twitter-Marketingonline.com.
Social networking is a very powerful form of advertising today. In fact, if done correctly, a social media marketing campaign can be a very powerful, effective, and inexpensive way to promote your new product, initiative, or charity. The applications for social networking is really endless.
I just saw this video about using social networking for businesses. It explains to business owners, professionals, and bloggers to get get their message out through a social media – networking strategy focusing on leveraging LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, Flickr, and Business Blogs. There is a lot of useful information. Well worth the 5 minutes.
If you are a power Twitter user, you know full well the potential of this microblogging service. But, what about the future?
Here is a great video, put together by Loic LeMeur, that outlines 30 future predictions for Twitter.
What do you think about Twitter?
Social networking on online is about connecting with two three groups of people.
First, people who you already know. These are your current friends and connections. Connecting with them on your social networks will help you keep in touch better and build stronger connections for referrals and introductions.
Second, your target audience. Your target audience is the people who will be most receptive to your message, your brand, and your products or services. Networking with your audience means that you are not only broadcasting links in your social updates, but also real information and a high level of personality, and approachability.
Third, those you want to get to know. This is a very powerful group of people to network with. These are the people who you would term as those above you in terms of success, reputation, and following. Getting to network with this group will help you solidify your networking in the other two groups.
Are you trying to connect with these groups? If not, then you are missing out on your entire social networking program.
Many people are being told, and taught, that they should just try to connect with everyone and anyone. This simply is not true. Just reaching out and trying to connect with everyone is not going to accomplish the goals you have for your social networking and telling your story.
The other part of networking online has to do with your interaction. You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times by now how you should be interacting online. The sad thing is, not many people are actually doing it. I am constantly bombarded with DM’s with links, status updates with links in it, and a bunch of different offers through various means. It is almost overwhelming at times.
That is the wrong way to network. The right way is to actively engage with the people in your social media streams. Talk, ask questions, give solutions, chat about life — this is how to network.
Go beyond that introduce people to others, compliment on great work you’ve seen them do, ask for opportunities to work together — this is networking also.
So, how is your social networking? Is it about networking?
A new social marketing initiative that I am putting together is really beginning to take shape. I am getting very excited about how it is coming together. In fact, while I’ve been putting it together I’ve been getting even more ideas from everywhere. But, that is another story. (Yes, pun intended.)
As a means to continue talking about this whole Story of Social Media Marketing I thought I would talk about another important aspect of it. It’s called being captivating.
Or, the question should probably be, “Are you captivating in your social networking?”
Since you are the one that is doing the networking, you should be captivating. If your message is not something that people want to hear, or will stay around to hear, the message is not captivating.
This is something that many storytellers already know. Some of my favorite authors – Tom Clancy, Stephen King, James Clavell, and Eric Van Lustbader – all have the ability to captivate their readers and pull them into the story that they are weaving. There is an element to the story that they are telling that makes you not only want to keep reading it, but also want to run out and grab their newest book. All of these authors have a series of books that build upon the last. The same characters, progressing storyline, and new problems, excitement, solutions, and action abound to instill a desire.
For example, who doesn’t love John Patrick Ryan. The incredible character that Tom Clancy dreamed up that male over 20 wants to be. Then there is the captivating story of the Noble House and the story of families in Hong Kong all trying to grasp business supremacy in the books by James Clavell.
In the world of social networking you have people like Chris Brogan, Darren Rowse, Scott Stratten, Timothy Carter, and Doug Firebaugh are also incredibly captivating story tellers. Only they do it with the power of a blog, social networking, and their message.
Being captivating means that you have a message that people want to hear, and one they will continue to want to hear.
Do you have that kind of message?
Take a good look at your social media marketing message. I mean a good long look. Is it captivating? Is it something that people want to hear? Are they continuing to listen to your message?
Yes or no?
If not, then what can you do about it?
I’m going to help you in two ways.
First, you can wait until the second installment of this post. (Subscribe to the RSS so you don’t miss it). I will give you a few ways to help make your message a little more captivating.
Second, you can wait until January when I release Story. It is going to be a very comprehensive incentive – not just a product – that will define story and give you the tools necessary to create your own.
