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.

Is Your Social Media Networking 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.

A Social Networking Story Example

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.

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.

Twitter is the most powerful social networking platform currently on the Internet. Of course, some day something better will come along, but that is probably going to be a long time off. Twitter has taken the world by storm and providing a very powerful form of social marketing and brand building.

One of the cool things about Twitter is that you can change the background to something that shows off your personality or brand. You can get quite elaborate with it or you can use a simple free background. Here is a short video on how to change your Twitter background using welovebackgrounds.com.

For those who are still struggling with what the social networking site LinkedIn is all about here is a cool video that explains it all.

What is LinkedIn?

In the realm of social media marketing there are certain things you absolutely must do. You can’t get away with cutting corners and leaving anything out. Kind of like breathing… you have to do it. If you don’t, you die.

Social media marketing is, of course, more important than breathing.

Seriously, in today’s online marketing world, if you are not utilizing the powerful medium that is social media you are on life support until someone decides to pull the plug. With that in mind, there are a few things, well… ten things, that you absolutely, positively must do.

Social Media "Do’s"

1.) Be real. You don’t have to try and be someone that you’re not. You are into social media to grow your network, meet interesting people, and be involved. So, you don’t have to try and hide behind a great than life persona. Whatever you share make sure it’s you and from your heart.

2.) Be involved. It really doesn’t do any good to market your website if you just create an account and put up a quick profile at each social marketing website. You must be actively engaged with the people you are following or friending. This is something I have learned the hard way.

I made the mistake of believing that an account at Ping.fm would help me update all my social media websites. What it did was actually alienate me and put up a wall. I have been working to tear down that wall and become more active on each of the websites. You should learn from my mistake. Don’t try to automate everything. Be involved and active with each of the sites, and each of your friends.

3.) Have a plan for your social activity. There is no way you will be able to keep track of all your social networking and activity if you do not have a social plan. Let me repeat that…. there is no way you will EVER be able to keep track of all your social networking and activity if you do not have a social plan. I can not emphasize that enough.

4.) Have fun with it! I love social media. I think it’s absolutely amazing. However, I don’t think I would like it so much if it felt too much like work. Yes, I have a schedule to make sure that tasks get completed, but I have fun doing it. It’s fun to reply on Twitter. It’s fun to write on someone’s wall and encourage them. It’s fun to update with funny little posts. I don’t want social media to begin feeling like a job.

A lot of people are just plain boring. They don’t add any applications to their Facebook account, only have an account at Twitter disregarding any other micro blog sites, and unfollow people at the drop of a hat. That’s too restricting. Open up a little and have some fun.

5.) Interlink as much as possible. Great you have a Facebook account. Now you can add the Twitter application which connects the two and updates Facebook automatically when you post to Twitter. That’s what I call interlinking. Think of it as a wheel with a bunch of different spokes. Each one is connected to the middle hub, but are a little different in their own right. Choose a main hub. Could be our blog or a social network like Facebook. Then start interlinking… connecting each one together with the main hub, and each other, as much as you can.

6.) Take advantage of third party applications to help you save time. Yes, it takes a lot of time to keep up with each social network and update consistently. Even monitoring each one, even with a FriendFeed account, can take up time. That’s where the abundance of third party applications come in handy. Most are built using Adobe AIR and can be used right from your desktop.
Applications like Twhirl, Tweetdeck, and Facedesk are great ways to keep things updated without actually visiting each site.

7.) Remember that you’re dealing with people and not robots. When writing articles and website content you can get away with using a keyword a few times at the beginning, middle, and end to help with search engine rankings. People know that and when they read and article, or visit your website, they tend to accept it. However, don’t think that will work on your social networks. Treat people like what they are…. real people. They are not robots, but actual people who could be interested in what you have to offer.

8.) Give More Than You Receive. One of the biggest temptations of social networking is to put things on autopilot and just update with blog posts, new ezine issues, latest affiliate product, or newest service. Really, we’re only doing what we’ve been trained to do. For years the cry has been “automation, automation, automation!”, while you go about doing other things. Social media should never be automatic.

With that in mind, one of the things to remember is to always be looking for ways that you can *give* as opposed to receiving. Try to give answers to questions, links to relevant websites (not your own), solutions to problems, encouragement and praise, and perhaps even mentions of what other people are doing, and connecting others together. Doing this shows that you’re not just there to “get”. You’re there to be a functional part of the community.

9.) Do unto others as you would have done unto you. I have a personal policy that when someone follows me at any of the different social networking websites I will also follow them. It really doesn’t matter if I know them or not. I still follow.

This is a personal preference, but I do feel it’s very important to your overall marketing efforts. There are those that don’t feel its necessary to follow everyone and attribute it to some reason or another. However, I think they are missing out. The opportunities that are lost by not following people is tremendous. Each new person means a new idea, a possible partner, a possible new client.

Now, there is another side to this also. When you follow, or friend, someone you would like them to also respond in kind. After all, how can you build a community if everything is all one sided?

10.) Be consistent. I have to admit that this one has been my problem as of late. Life has a way of getting in the way and, even though we have the best intentions, some things have to give way. However, it doesn’t make being consistent any less important.

Staying consistent is the only way that you will be able to keep your name, your brand, your website in front of the people who decided to follow you, or friend you, in the first place. Staying consistent isn’t one dimensional either. There are many facets to consistency in your social marketing.

Social Media Is More Than A To Do List

What I hope you’ve been able to see through this list of “Do’s” is that marketing with social media is more than just a long list of to-do items. It’s about your interaction within your social media circles.

When you enter into social marketing with the mindset that if you do this and that then you’re going to see amazing results, you’ll see a much different picture unfold. However, when you are a real person, who gives more, and interacts on a consistent basis you’ll see increased traffic and loyal customers.

Give these “do’s” a try. Let me know how things are progressing.