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JUMPSTART YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE RIGHT SOCIAL MEDIA

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Education & Training with Performance Development Strategies

Many of business owners are wondering how they can jumpstart their business using social media. The many choices make it hard to decide where to begin. To make matters worse there are many different social media experts telling them what they should do and what they should say without understanding the business. In my opinion this approach is counterintuitive. Social media is simply a new form of advertising and communication that requires a plan and strategy to be effective. To help connect business reality with the new media I recently teamed up with a social media strategist. Here is some of what we discuss.

It is important to have a clear message? How do you differentiate yourself from others? What is your unique value proposition? These questions will take some thoughtful analysis. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is the best thing you do?
  • Who is you target market?
  • How to people learn about and acquire your product or service?
  • What separates you from your competition?
  • What geographic area does your business cover?
  • What are your goals?
  • How do you look when you are successful?

Answering these questions will help you develop your social media strategy. Then you can choose your media. Make your message clear by taking full advantage of the tools available to you. For example:

LinkedIn is most used for connecting with other business professionals and is the greatest online business-to-business networking tool. You can use it to publish your skills for people to see. You can also get recommendations from clients and business connections that will really boost your credibility!

Facebook is all about connecting, socializing, posting, and reading others’ posts. When you get a new Facebook friend, make contact with them and find out more about what they do. You need to show interest in them in order for them to be interested in you. Join Facebook groups and connect with people who are looking for what you have to offer.

Twitter has a search box on the right hand side of your page when you log in. You can enter a word and click the magnifying glass to see recent posts that include the word. Use this to your advantage! You can use the search box to find people who are looking for the services you provide. Make sure your tweets include key words that are commonly searched.

YouTube can be a great and creative way to interact with your customer base. This will also make your company appear more personal, as there is somebody visually answering a question or giving information.

When you develop your plan you need to remain accountable to that plan. Consistency is the most important component. The amount of posting on social media is not as important as doing it consistently. Set realistic goals and follow through.

Finally, you need to measure it. Keep track of results of your activity. Most of the social media platforms have measurements to help you. For ultimate results, measure client engagement using responses, comments, and ultimately sales.

Social Media Marketing

To help realtors and others businesses we will be offering on training later this month.  Our annoucement will follow.

Learn how you can make social media work for your business.  Free Consultation.

 

Posted by


PDStrategies.net

Armonk, NY
Port Saint Lucie, FL

(914) 953-4458
CALL OR TEXT

Email Me

Grant Schneider,
CBC, SPHR, SHRM-SCP*

*Certified Business Coach,
Senior Professional in Human Resources

President, Founder
& Leadership Coach

About Me

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Comments (26)

Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning and this is some great Info for all in the business,  good luck in 2014,  E

Jan 13, 2014 12:31 AM
Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning and this is some great Info for all in the business,  good luck in 2014,  E

Jan 13, 2014 12:31 AM
Randy Shamburger
Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC
FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

Hey Grant,

Excellent post, thanks for sharing these tips.

Have a Big day,

Randy

Jan 13, 2014 02:01 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTORĀ® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

The wonderful think about the web and marketing is that whether we are a public speaker, a writer, a great photographer, or a very social person, we have options as to where to put our talents and passions. We should also in any marketing stategy know our audience and research whetehr they are there and if that type of social media fits. When the two work together it is magic.

Jan 13, 2014 02:43 AM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

Grant, this is great advice. It can be daunting trying to navigate the social media world. Thanks for sharing!

Jan 13, 2014 02:58 AM
Victoria Ray Henderson
HomeBuyer Brokerage - Washington, DC
Washington DC Real Estate

Thank you for the instructive/informative information. I wish you the very best of luck in the New Year. I appreciate you sharing the basic how-to's with some of the social media sites.

Jan 13, 2014 04:15 AM
Paul Collier
Patriot Home Mortgage - Huntington Beach, CA
Paul Collier

I've found the quality of the information I'm posting is every bit as important as the quantity. I want to act as an educator as well as the occassional entertainer for those who choose to take the time to see what I'm offering. I'm even willing to promote the occassional Facebook update if I feel it's something that is really helpful to potential clients and partners. Great advice from you on setting attainable goals. I know a lot of people complain that Facebook (and other social media outlets) have been overrun with business and advertisements, but it is still such a convenient way to gather all your information in one place. 

Jan 13, 2014 05:04 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

This is my first year of actually doing a plan on social media.  I will let you know how it works.

Jan 13, 2014 07:32 AM
Marc McMaster
RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA
Putting my clients before myself

Social media is just like any other marketing. You need a constant, consistent, message. 

Jan 13, 2014 08:52 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

It is often difficult to answer those questions.  I think this will be my homework for tomorrow.

Jan 13, 2014 09:30 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Lisa - Thanks for suggesting.  Knowing which tools to use is important.

Joan - that is what scares people.  I suggest measuring and making decisions based on your results.

Ed &. Tracy - Thanks. I hope that you have great success with your strategy in 2014.

Randy - I am glad for all of the comments.  I had a big day today and hope you did too.

Joe - it certainly is magic.  Understanding how to harness it boosts our chances.

Suzanne - it can be. But just figure out your plan and measure the results, change as necessary.

Victoria & Marshall - the main thing I hope to share as a coach is how to analyze and use what works for you.  Have a great 2014.

Paul - you make a great point.  Some people think that you just throw it against the wall and wait for it to stick.  That applies to many marketing practices.  But you are right; people want to know what you have say that can help them and that will bear fruit.

Evelyn - thanks.  I would really love to survey people on their social media.  I would love to hear from you and how it worked out.

Marc - that's it.  It is a tool for your business.  You need the right tool and you must know how to use it.

Jan 13, 2014 09:46 AM
Jack O'Neal
HomeSmart Elite Group - Gilbert, AZ

Grant, I think you make some excellent points about using social media to grow your business.  Everyone is online now and being mobile is a great tool to have at your fingertips.  It might be helpful to hire someone young who is in college or a recent graduate and knows the ins and outs of social media and knows marketing.  Doing that can really make your business boom!

Jan 13, 2014 10:17 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Jack -  here is what you need to remember if you do that.  They know all the tricks but they need how to apply it to get results. 

Jan 13, 2014 10:46 AM
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Thanks for taking the time to educate us all.

Jan 13, 2014 10:49 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Grant social media is a great way to grow your business if implemented correctly.

Jan 13, 2014 03:56 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Grant - You're right. So many jump into social media wo/ a real strategy or plan.  And, then, it becomes a time waster.

Jan 13, 2014 08:09 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

It's so easy to fall into that trap of thinking we have to do everything and be everywhere. And then we aren't very good at anything. It is important to roll social media out as a well-planned strategy and to understand why we are doing it.

Jan 13, 2014 08:31 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

This is a fantastic guide to using social media for business.  I'll also add that you should find which one (or two) of these outlets work for YOU.  I'm dialed in on Facebook and Twitter.  Not so much on Linkedin and Youtube.  

Jan 13, 2014 10:15 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Grant - This post is packed with information. Nicely done. The only platform you mentioned that I haven't really figured out how to leverage is LinkedIn, but perhaps it's because I'm not seeking employment. 

Jan 13, 2014 11:53 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Steven - thanks for commenting.  The topic almost draws interest.

Jennifer - the important word is properly.  I agree.

Debbie - and you know that better than anyone else I know.

Nina - I always say more is less.  Find you niche.

Amanda and Jared - Good choices for you business.

Jason - It is less about employment and more about BtoB rather than BtoC.

Jan 14, 2014 06:19 AM