OK, you’ve heard all about Twitter, Facebook, blogging and YouTube, but how many of you can say hand on heart that you actually have the time to keep these updated every day. Didn’t think so…
So how do you go about boosting your presence online, without having to give up your day job, family and social life?
The first suggestion is to look again at who you are trying to target. If you’re audience is young people or teenagers, you’re probably better off setting up a MySpace or Bebo page. Facebook or LinkedIn typically appeals more to the average business user, whilst YouTube is suitable for video links, online demonstrations, etc.
Two, what are you trying to achieve? Are you looking to inform, raise awareness, get people to sign up, buy something or attend something? In defining what you’re trying to achieve, it’s much simpler to narrow down which channels to use.
Three. Relevance. Whether you’re looking for a new job, building an online network or fan page, ask yourself if what you’re trying to say is relevant or of interest to the people or audiences you want to talk to.
Four. Think of the medium you’re using and consider your message, the language you use, etc. The language you use when posting your profile on LinkedIn will understandably be different to the way you communicate on Twitter.
Five. Be yourself. Remember that to get to where you are in business, you’re currently or potentially able to do something different, better or faster. Don’t be afraid to let potential customers, users or business partners see this.
Six. Choose the right tools for the job. Social or online media are great, but they are not necessarily the only or even best way to reach your target market or audience. So do your homework and listen to what your customers have to say.
Seven. Use the best person for the job. If you can’t think of anything you’d less rather do than spend hours every week updating your Facebook page of fan page, get someone else to do it. After all, many of your employees are already spending hours on these supposedly timewasters, so why not get them to promote your business or service at the same time while monitoring your competitors.
Eight. Collaborate. Just as there are different tools for different outcomes, using a combination of traditional and new media tools is a safe bet for maximum reach and minimum criticism.
Nine. Keep up with the news. After all, they say there’s nothing new under the sun, it’s just your interpretation that makes it interesting, fresh or relevant. Also, by keeping up with the news, you have a ready source of angles for your blog, your twitter messages, etc.
10. Consider the law. Although Social Media is still in its infancy, there are laws affecting usage, obtaining leads for marketing campaigns, etc. If you’re not sure, get some legal advice before you jump aboard!