How to Use Social Media to Market Your Business

Social media is a great way to make connections, find clients  you never would have met otherwise (because they live on the far side of the world), and even make fast friends.  There are right ways and wrong ways to use it.  It’s a tool, not a soapbox.  Here are five ways to build relationships , create trust, and grow your business.

1. Join forums

Look for groups that match your business and your target audience.  For instance, if you sell gardening supplies, hang out in gardening forums and groups.

2.  Read the rules

Each group is likely to have slightly different rules of the road.  Some let you add a signature line,  others allow links to your site, still others permit a mini-bio.

Find out what you’re allowed to do to promote  yourself.

LinkedIn, for instance, allows you to send articles to members of groups you join.  You can also include your blog feed in your profile.

3.  Make friends

The best way to build a reputation is to make friends.  Don’t shout, but be helpful.  If someone asks for opinions on their web site design, post your review and point out what’s good (or not so good) about the site.  This establishes your credibility and expertise.

Treat the other forum members like people, not targets.  They’re there to learn, share ideas, and get opinions, not for a sales pitch.

4. Start a blog

If you don’t already have one, start a blog.  Most web site hosts have a control panel with a tool called Fantastico that lets you install Wordpress (blogging software) fairly easily.  Here’s a video from Hostgator (my web host)  with more instructions on how to install Wordpress.

Blog posts get indexed faster than Web sites, and show up in Google alerts.  I wrote a post about the biggest mistake advertisers make and a local paper linked to it only a few hours later — leading to a big spike in my blog’s traffic.

Pick a niche. Not just fitness, but fitness for older women (for example). Identify your perfect client, and talk to them directly. Don’t write about complex supply chain management software for large manufacturing companies if your ideal client is local dry cleaners.

5. Link to other blogs

Add blogs you like to your blogroll.  Comment on the blogs  you like.  Don’t just say “great post.” add to the conversation.

Use another blogger’s post as a starting point for your own.  Expand on something they said, or take it in a different direction.  If you’re a food blogger and you see a post about great BBQ, write one about the biscuits that go with it.  Or, rate your own local BBQ joints and link to the other blogger’s post.

What other ways are you using social media for  your business?  Have you had great luck with Twitter?  Is your Facebook page critical to your marketing strategy?  Share your experiences in the comments.

Image: clix

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