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2,663 ignored me / 336,894 never heard me

By
Education & Training with Tech and Social Media Consultant

Social Reach - it’s the number of people you have a theoretical chance at getting your message to in using social media.

It’s numerical value is derived by the number of Friends, Connections and Followers you have and how many Friends, Connections and Followers they have.  That raw number grows exponentially!

Linkedin Social Reach

Maybe that’s why the Sales & Marketing Types are drawn to Social Media. They are literally blinded by that potential.

Unfortunately, so often they get it wrong. They blast into Social Media, follow and friend everyone, compute their massive Social Reach potential, then start blasting out broadcast (spam) messages.

Soon they find they have little or no ROI and declare Social Media as an empty sack of hype.  And for them, it is.

Also unfortunately, the misguided Marketing Guru is replaced by a new Marketing Guru and the "Circle of Life Spam" continues.

I was a guest on the radio yesterday with Tim Davis and Nick Thomas (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smallbusinesssuccess ) discussing ways a small business owners could engage in social media and help their business grow.

Nick asked me what was the biggest mistake I see salespeople making in social media. My answer was easy. Not engaging others in a meaningful way. If you don’t do that, if you think like a traditional marketer, you’ll have a social reach of just one. You.

What is your social reach? Much more importantly, what have you done to engage others?

I’d be interested in your answer.

Comments (9)

Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Mike, social networking seems really confusing to me at this point. I feel like I'm talking to myself when I post. But I'm not asking questions and that is a way to get people to interact - and then there's the being at the computer 24/7 to respond back when someone does connect. I have Facebook and Twitter on my iPhone. There must be a way to incorporate all this because some are doing it but any tips you can give would be great. Do you use tweetdeck to keep track of everyone? ~ Sharon

Apr 06, 2009 04:55 AM
Dave Murray
DMTX Realty, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Austin, TX

If all you think you need is a way to reach people to send out your message, unfiltered and raw, then you're in the same starting place as someone who owns a phonebook, or has the ability to walk to houses and knock on random doors. You need direct and personal messages, and time to cultivate the relationships. So many think making a facebook page should get you buyers and that should be that. It's not. JM

Apr 06, 2009 05:04 AM
Winston Westbrook
Westbrook National Real Estate Co - Victorville, CA

Good stuff Mike. I too believe if you do not engage the people you have following you on social media you tend to turn them off. They want great information presented to them like if a friend is giving advice and not some spammer blasting useless trash

Apr 06, 2009 05:05 AM
Melissa King, ABR
Rivah Realty, LLC - Montross, VA

Great Video Mike! I agree with this. I'm new to social networking so any advice I can get is great!

Apr 06, 2009 05:29 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

It is hard for many of us... to see that and not just dive in and start tossing out the radio scripts.

I'm trying.

Apr 06, 2009 02:48 PM
Kathy Toth
Ann Arbor Market Center Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Experts - Kathy Toth Team

Too many connections makes it really difficult to develop relationships with people, doesn't it?

Apr 07, 2009 07:08 AM
Benita Gottfried
New Vision Interiors LLC - Hopatcong, NJ

without developing a direct connection to your followers, it all starts to sound like white noise. no one is listening and everyone is posting to serve their own agenda.

Apr 07, 2009 11:33 PM
Jay Williams
Greenville, NC - Greenville, NC
Mortgage Loan Officer - Getting You The Right Loan

Good point and it strikes me that engaging others starts with commenting and replying to their "broadcast"

Jay

Apr 10, 2009 03:41 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Every time someone follows me on Twitter, I immediately read their mini bio. If it has anything to do with marketing a product to Realtors, or teaching others about SEO, etc. I DO NOT follow them back. I know darn well they'll only post spam.

Apr 14, 2009 12:08 PM