If you listen to every guru who sends you an email telling you how to market your services or your merchandise through social networking, you won't have time to provide your services or your merchandise.
You could simply spend all day posting comments and socializing.
You won't have time to update your web pages, insert AdSense units, or even check your stats to see if what you've been doing is working.
With each new social networking site, you commit to another hour or so of your time each day to keep up with it.
So what to do? I think it's just like any other marketing tactic you try: Test the waters and see what happens.
I'm not sure how long you need to "tweet" on Twitter before it gets you some new clients, but I am sure that you won't get any results if you simply answer the "What are you doing" question with something like "Feeding the dog" or "watching the election coverage.
" Instead, you need to make reference to the work you do.
For instance: "I just sent off catalog copy for a client's Christmas promotion.
" Or maybe, "I just posted a new real estate tip on Active Rain.
" Or, "I just got word that my latest article is live on EzineArticles.
com.
" Of course you need to add a link.
What about You Tube and some of the other video sites? I have no opinion, because my computer accesses the world through a satellite connection and I can't watch most videos.
Anyone marketing to me - or to the thousands on slow dial-up - is out of luck if they're using video as their primary tool.
What about using blogs? A great idea - if you do it right.
I can't believe how many people are posting to blogs religiously, but fail to include anything that will get them recognition, or even add to their income.
I watch my own name through Google alerts, so see when someone ads one of my articles to their blog.
Often I follow a link and find that there's no clue about the person or business that should be promoted by that blog.
There isn't an add or a link to be seen anywhere.
Now there is a huge waste of time! Do you add comments on other people's blogs and articles? It's a good idea - but only if you include a link back to your own site or include your email address.
I "belong" to several sites, but only post to a small handful.
There simply isn't time enough in a day to even visit each of them.
Choose the social sites that look interesting to you.
Set up your own profile - with information that shows your expertise in your field - and then comment on other people's articles and posts to gather in some "friends.
" Write a few posts and articles of your own, and then pay attention to see if you get some results.
If all you're doing is writing for the fun of writing, you'd be better off adding good content to your own site to increase your SEO.
All these parts and pieces work together - but don't get so carried away with them that you ignore the old tried and true methods of marketing.
Things like staying in touch with current and past customers, and writing benefit laden e-mails, ads, brochures, newsletters, press releases, and more.
Social networking can help - but if you don't let those folks know what's special about your products or services, it won't matter how many people know your name.
You could simply spend all day posting comments and socializing.
You won't have time to update your web pages, insert AdSense units, or even check your stats to see if what you've been doing is working.
With each new social networking site, you commit to another hour or so of your time each day to keep up with it.
So what to do? I think it's just like any other marketing tactic you try: Test the waters and see what happens.
I'm not sure how long you need to "tweet" on Twitter before it gets you some new clients, but I am sure that you won't get any results if you simply answer the "What are you doing" question with something like "Feeding the dog" or "watching the election coverage.
" Instead, you need to make reference to the work you do.
For instance: "I just sent off catalog copy for a client's Christmas promotion.
" Or maybe, "I just posted a new real estate tip on Active Rain.
" Or, "I just got word that my latest article is live on EzineArticles.
com.
" Of course you need to add a link.
What about You Tube and some of the other video sites? I have no opinion, because my computer accesses the world through a satellite connection and I can't watch most videos.
Anyone marketing to me - or to the thousands on slow dial-up - is out of luck if they're using video as their primary tool.
What about using blogs? A great idea - if you do it right.
I can't believe how many people are posting to blogs religiously, but fail to include anything that will get them recognition, or even add to their income.
I watch my own name through Google alerts, so see when someone ads one of my articles to their blog.
Often I follow a link and find that there's no clue about the person or business that should be promoted by that blog.
There isn't an add or a link to be seen anywhere.
Now there is a huge waste of time! Do you add comments on other people's blogs and articles? It's a good idea - but only if you include a link back to your own site or include your email address.
I "belong" to several sites, but only post to a small handful.
There simply isn't time enough in a day to even visit each of them.
Choose the social sites that look interesting to you.
Set up your own profile - with information that shows your expertise in your field - and then comment on other people's articles and posts to gather in some "friends.
" Write a few posts and articles of your own, and then pay attention to see if you get some results.
If all you're doing is writing for the fun of writing, you'd be better off adding good content to your own site to increase your SEO.
All these parts and pieces work together - but don't get so carried away with them that you ignore the old tried and true methods of marketing.
Things like staying in touch with current and past customers, and writing benefit laden e-mails, ads, brochures, newsletters, press releases, and more.
Social networking can help - but if you don't let those folks know what's special about your products or services, it won't matter how many people know your name.