I just finished talking to a new client of mine that was interested in advertising their online business through social media and social networking. He was very excited about the whole idea, but was really hesitant to get started.

I see this as a common occurrence with the new clients I have been working with lately. They’ve heard a ton about social media marketing, but are not quite sure how to get started. Or, even why they should get started. Let me expand on that last remark.

Why Social Media Marketing?

The obvious answer is to strengthen your brand, build your network, and drive traffic to your website. That is the real reason that people are spending so much time developing their social media strategies, hiring experts, and hanging out at Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and any of the other thousands of social websites. But, is that the reason why you should think of social media marketing?

I do believe that these are all important parts of developing your brand and elevating it to the place where it is readily recognizable. But, is that the real power of social media marketing?

I am going to try and use my son as an example of what I am going to say. My son is a very energetic 11 year old. He is homeschooled and picks up things very, very quickly. For instance, he should be in 5th grade, but we are doing 7th and 8th grade work this year. He began reading at about 3 years old and by the time he was five he could read the same kind of books that I read. I am not saying this to brag. I am using this as an example of what I think social media marketing is all about.

Development

I see, and work, with a lot of people on the Internet. And I love to see what is going in their business, their relationships… in every area of their lives. They are developing. They are becoming much better through the process of social media marketing. They are developing… growing.

I see them developing on many levels. Much like my son is. One of the things that I have been teaching my son, and my other two daughters, is really two things. First, to think in a constructive, critical, and transcending level. I have been using our curriculum to develop not only their math, reading, science, writing, and other subject skills, but to also think in a way that they can get past any difficulties. For instance, my son is currently doing Pre-Algebra for math this year. He is starting to see some things that he hasn’t seen before. Instead of standing over him and teaching the lesson. I give him time to look over the examples, look over the instructions, and try to figure it out. Sometimes he does, other times he doesn’t. But, with each different problem, he is developing.

Social Media Prepares People And Develops Them

The most important part of social media marketing is not the way you can build your business. It is in the very fact that you develop through this medium. I have found that people develop in many different ways, but there are three that are the most prominent.

Communication Skills Are Highly Elevated. I still think that email marketing is a pretty powerful way to get a message out there. However, real time communication like with Facebook, Twitter, and even Google Buzz require different types of communication skills. By immersing themselves in social media and networking, I have seen a huge growth in they way many people communicate today.

People Are Seeing Answers Before They Have Questions. One of the things that my son, and especially my eldest daughter, is seeing now in their studies is that they have already answered any questions they may have about a particular subject. As a matter of fact, a lot of the times they will stop in the middle of their question and give me a big smile while saying, “I just answered my own question, didn’t I?”

What I am seeing today in my interactions, and just watching people as they interact, or I am working with them, is that they are now seeing answers to problems before they even form the question. When it comes to the point where they begin to ask… they already know it. I see a lot of the questions I use to receive are no longer there. They are figuring out these things now for themselves. They are developing.

There Is A Much Larger Acceptance Of Risk. This is something that has always been present online, but I see it taking a much larger presence in people’s lives and businesses. What use to cause a little bit of hesitancy will not be done without much thought. Partnerships, new business focus, providing a service, learning something new; all things that require risk. People have developed now, through the use of social networking and marketing, where they accept a certain amount of risk without hesitation.

Social Media Marketing As A Developer Instead Of Builder

Social media marketing is a very powerful way to build a business. However, should it just be looked at as a business builder? Should that be the main focus? I think a paradigm shift of sorts is called for here. I think that before we begin talking about how powerful social media is, we should talk about it as a developer of people.

Instead of teaching people to build their business, teach them how to develop their skills.

What do you think?

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.

Social Networking Strategy For Businesses

In the previous post there was a video that showed you how to create a Facebook Fan page from start to finish. If you take the time to watch that video and build your fan page, you will see a huge difference in your overall return on social networking.

However, it is one thing to know how to build a fan page. It is an entirely different subject all together to know how to use your Facebook Fan Page. Guess what? There is a video for that too. Don’t you just love the Internet?

How To Use Facebook Fan Pages To Build Your Brand

If you have taken the time to create your own fan page, go ahead and list them in the comments section. I’d love to check them out and become a fan!

Facebook is the most widely used social networking site on the Internet. For good reason. Facebook provides more bang for the buck. Of course, it is free, but you know what I mean.

One of the best ways to use Facebook in your social marketing is to create a Facebook fan page. A fan page is much like a regular profile, but allows people to be your “fan” so they can get updates on your business and what you are doing. It provides a way to differentiate between your personal Facebook profile and your brand Fan Page.

This brings about a whole new set of great business building concepts. However, you need to build it first. Here is a great video on how to build your Facebook Fan Page quickly and easily.

How To Create Facebook Fan Page

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 a social media marketing plan, I think it goes beyond a plan only.

Social networking is something that should be fun. There isn’t anything wrong with having a good time while you are busily marketing your website. For some people the actual thought of another day of having to open a Twitter client, catch up on their friends on Facebook, or closely monitoring all the different mobile apps.

Keeping Social Networking Fun

I recently read a great post about social media holding you hostage. In it, Angela talks about how people are paralyzed with fear about their social marketing efforts. She goes on to say that there are those who are trying to get something going, but think it is way too hard to get started. One person in particular was paying someone to launch their blog.

Since this is a part of what I do myself, I will not speak about making an income by doing things like this. However, Angela is exactly right when she says,

“Some people are making money off of this fear. Big money. They are not teaching clients how to use the tools but making them feel they don’t need to learn them.”

We all should be teaching, helping, and leading. Everyone of us! So, with that I wanted to set forth a few points to help you have a little more fun in your social networking instead of worrying about how hard it is.

Take A Break – If you have been in social networking at all and are feeling quite overwhelmed… take a break. It will still be here in a week, two weeks, or even a month.

Follow Your Own Rhythm – There are countless people tell you how you must do your social interaction. I have even done it myself. But, in reality the best way to do your social networking is according to your rhythm.

Talk To People You Know – We all like having conversations with people we know. Instead of hurrying to friend, or follow, everyone that some list says we should. It is all about who you want to begin networking with.

Stay Away From The ‘Its All About Marketing” Trap – So many people are trying to shoehorn social media into their marketing arsenal. It really is not about marketing. But, it is about your message.

Have Fun – As I like to tell my wife when she is stressing out about some event we have to go to, or even put on, “Bring it down a notch!” You need to do the same thing. Relax. Social marketing is not a race for the most followers. It is not about the next big marketing venue. It isn’t about spending a lot of money on high priced “consultants” and “social media agencies”.

It is about being natural. It is about being you. Bring it down a notch and have fun.

Facebook is one of those websites that you can have to love. While it is not as powerful as Twitter is, there is a lot of potential in having Facebook as a part of your overall social media marketing campaign.

Here is a video presentation that shows you how to use Facebook in your business.

How To Use Facebook For Powerful Social Networking

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 fact, as the kid was telling his story it was becoming more and more animated, while more of the other children on the bus began to quiet down so they could listen to him. The more I watched, and listened, the more parallels I saw into social media marketing.

The Story of Social Media Marketing

Stories have an appeal that, when used correctly, can hold the attention of the masses for a long period of time. You have probably heard of Stephanie Meyers, J.K. Rowling, and Dan Brown. Even if you have never read any of their books, you would have heard of these names. They are masterful storytellers. When people read these novels they are transported to another place and time. And they can’t wait to tell others what they read.

That should be social media marketing.

Social marketing and social networking should be done in terms of a story. A story where there is a plot, cast of characters, problems, solutions, action, and even drama. A social media marketing campaign should be two things. First, social networking and marketing should be very natural in the flow of how you present yourself of your brand. Second, it should evolve and continually tell a story.

One of the best examples of this right now is a guy named Chris Brogan. Everything he does is a story. He continually evolves into something different that brings you along. You want to talk about it, and you can not wait until the next chapter.

The Story of Social Media Marketing

Over the next coming weeks I am going to be putting together a series of posts, audios, and even videos (yes, for the first time ever!) about this concept of telling a story in your social media marketing and networking. Everything from blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and any other social websites, or practices, will be covered.

I’d like to take you along with me. Actually, I’d even like you to contribute some. Do you have a story about your social networking and marketing? If so, I’d love to hear it! Fire off an email to tim AT guaranteed-ads DOT com with your story, your ups and downs, your triumphs and failures.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about this coming up soon, but in the meantime subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any of the announcements.

Other Posts Dealing With The Story of Social Media Marketing

As things get closer to the launching of Story I will be writing some posts that deal with this topic. You can check them out here as they are listed.

How To Build A Story For Social Media Marketing

Story of Social Media Marketing: Are You Captivating?

Twitter and Facebook. Facebook and Twitter. Two of the most useful social media sites currently on the Internet. The big question is how to make them work? The answer of course is with apps. Take a look at the video to see some great apps for both Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter and Facebook Apps For Business

Facebook is going to do something good for a change. Usually they are changing their layout, which nobody every likes, but this time around they are going to add some great functionality.

Starting on Sat. June 13th at 12:01 EDT, you will be able to choose a username for your Facebook profile URL. Something like www.facebook.com/username. No longer do you need to have a long profile URL. This is being offered on a first come, first served basis.

This is going to make writing your Facebook profile much easier into your email signatures, blog comments, and links. But, you will want to choose very wisely. Once you choose your username for your profile, or various pages that you have… you can’t change it.

What do you think?

I spent some time today enjoying a BTR (BlogTalkRadio) show today that featured social media marketing strategist Jim Turner. He dropped by Brian Adrian’s show today to talk about how to get the most out of free social media platforms.

I got a tweet about it right before the show aired at 11:30 and decided to check it out. For two reasons. First, I was interested in hearing what Jim had to say, and second because one of my goals this year is to participate in more BTR shows to broaden my exposure and make more connections.

Anyway…

Jim laid out some great information about using social media as a free way to advertise and I took some good stuff from it. Here’s a few of the highpoints, although they are not word for word.

1. Don’t hesitate to begin using social media as a means to advertise.

2. If you’re starting with social media get connected on Facebook first before venturing out into the deeper waters.

3. Create a Fan Page on Facebook for greater chances to connect and spread your message out.

4. Converse on Twitter don’t just be one-sided.

5. Be a real person. Actually tweet things that you are doing instead of just ‘business’.

6. Use resources like MrTweet to grow your Twitter following.

As you can see the hour or so that Jim talked about social media and advertising was pretty good. One of the things that jumped out at me was the use of a fan page for Facebook. Now, when he said this one of the reasons for it was that Facebook had limited friends to 5000. So a Fan Page was an extension of you and your business. However, since then it has been announced that it is going to drop the 5000 friend limit I wonder if that has changed. I have thought about a Fan page before, but never really got serious about it.

I had a good time listening to Brian and Jim talk about social media and advertising and will be seriously looking into a fan page.