As small businesses and entrepreneurs we’re constantly being told how we need to be getting ourselves and our brands out there in the social media marketplace. Unfortunately, even those of us who embrace the slowly, slowly approach in the hope of doing things right can still fall foul of what’s in, what’s out, what’s hot and what’s definitely not … so here are some suggestions about how not to destroy your brand’s chances in the social media marketplace:
Be Original …
Ok, most things have been said before in some form or language, but when you’re getting yourself out there, you must be as original as possible. So, if you’re linking back to your website, make sure your content is original and engaging: copying content is plagiarism and is not a sincere form of flattery, it’s an insincere effort to fool your audience – and they won’t stick around to be treated like fools.
Be yourself …
Ok, this has definitely been said before but can always stand another outing: people connect with people and the true nature of social media is in the use of that word ‘social’. Present yourself as yourself first, even if you are trying to build yourself a business. Your connections will be far stronger and in the long term far more productive if you put yourself before your brand in those communications with others.
Softly, softly with that Selling, if at All …
Think of social media as giving you exposure, rather than customers and don’t ever spam your followers with hard-sell messages and links, or you’ll quickly find yourself friendless. Whilst your ultimate aim might be to gain customers for your business, it’s the exposure and visibility of your brand across these vast networks that’s likely to lead to potential clients, not necessarily selling to your immediate followers and ‘friends’ – speaking of which …
Friends Count, but Only if they’re Friends you can Count on …
It’s shocking that some newbie businesses think that ‘buying’ fans, friends and followers on Fiverr and the like is the way to build your business profile across the social media marketplace. Adding random people from whatever niche or industry just to make yourself look good or so that you have a marketing ‘list’, is actually not a good look for your business.
Keep your friends close and relevant, just as you would your real friends and don’t regularly spam them with the latest ‘opportunity’ from your brand … because of course what goes around comes around and the chances are that those random friends and followers that allow your links will have the same approach to that friendship as you do!
An Ad, by Any other Name, is Still an Ad …
Most of us out there have blogs with our websites and we all hate those spammers who roll up with their comments containing sometimes not even a vaguely disguised advert: their comments are all about themselves and not a response to your carefully crafted content at all. So why on earth would you ever think of doing it to anyone else? Back-links and sharing posts all have a part to play in helping businesses to get going but spamming your comments with ads is the quickest way to kill your business – and the same goes for spamming forum posting with ads.
Whilst the 21st century digital multi-media age offers us plenty of scope to get our brand ‘out there’ and build our businesses, instead of that 20th century approach of trailing around door-knocking and touting for trade, that 20th century approach should still be borne in mind: only approach contacts in social and mass media in the spirit that you would like to be approached yourself and don’t say or do anything that you wouldn’t say or do to a customer or friend’s face!
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- License: Creative Commons image source
This was a guest article from Aleksandra Seremina, contributor to Azoft (http://www.azoft.com/) software development know-how section where she mostly writes about development tips and trikcs and industry news. She is an active social networks user and always happy to share her experience.