Are you stealing from your own family and you're not really aware you are doing so?

This brief blog is truly directed to independent income earners/business professionals in and around the world of business.

I have two basic questions:

1. Are you stealing from your family?
2. Are you stealing from your own health and welfare?

I know the first question probably got your attention, however the second question and response to that question is probably even more importatant than the first.  If you are an independent business professional providing income for your family; your personal health and welfare is likely as important as bringing home the bread for the family.  You are the primary bread earner.  Otherwise you're the 'Butter Agent' bringing home the butter while someone else brings home the bread.

Many independent business owners are stealing from themselves and their families when they are spending more than 20 minutes per day (during their work/production day) doing any of the following things:

• Reading Facebook posts on their personal wall
• Following Twitter Feeds
• Reading Google Plus Streams
• Watching their favorite YouTube videos in their accounts
• Reading Linked In posts
• Basically spending time reading their favorite social networking streams/circles/spheres

It makes absolutely no sense interacting with people on social networks without a specific agenda.  Independent business owners are stealing from their families lively-hood by wasting prime prospecting time on the above activities without a specific agenda to either grow their databases, manage the people within their database or specifically prospect the people in their social networking databases.

Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Google +, YouTube et. al. have definite benefits for  independent business owners who have accounts, grow their spheres of influence and to virally lift their marketing presence, products and services.  However, each and every one of the social marketing platforms should have a specific and systematic strategy associated with the use of each platform and their specific business.  It makes no sense having the same sphere of people in every social networking database (avoid duplication of people among spheres).  Instead, choose to register and participate in several social networking platforms.  Also, have a specific marketing startegy or goal for each platform.  For example, your twitter database could be associated with all the affiliates who could enhance your business outside of your farm.  Your linked affiliates could be all the business associates who can enhance your business locally and without competition.  Your Facebook and Google+ platforms can be used to grow and organize all your contacts into specific fields such as: Your Core Group, People you have Met, People You have Met On-line, Affiliates, Local and out of state competitiors/cronnies, Tech Innovators etc.

Personally, I use both Facebook and Google+ to grow and organize all of our contacts prior to placing them into our CRM systems (Contact Relationship Management).

Spending time reading and following social networks and the people in those networks does very little for independent business owners.  Independent business owners need to plan to schedule their time to utilize their social networks in the form of growing their databases, managing their contacts, contacting their spheres and prospecting their potential leads and referrals.  So as much as it may seem important to follow, like or +; limit your time in doing so and focus on actually nudging and prospecting your social networks.   Plan to meet, call or conference with them some time very soon.  Remember to ask how you could help their business or life and then ask for them to reciprocate on your behalf.

Last but not least; remember to follow up with them and thank them for the opportunity to meet and hook up.  That thank you activity is yet another opporutnity to ask for the referral.

Hope that finds you well!

P.s. I also hope to help your sphere with their Minnesota Real Estate Needs :)

Frank  D'Angelo

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