How to Get People to Buy When Using Social Media (Web 2.0!)
The answer to this is to create an offer that your target market cannot refuse. Next, get your offer in front of your target market. Do the follow up necessary to retrieve the results you need to receive pay for the investment. Finally, collect the check. There, you have it. If you understand, great. If not, this article will clarify it for you.
Everyone continues to say, “If you are not on Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn you are not in business.” They said the same for having a fax number and email. Many now have eliminated their fax and most are hiding their emails from the public to avoid spam. I had a business friend tell me the other day that he got on Facebook when it was first introduced. He did a lot of the social media communication, all the fun things about family and friends. He created all fun and no business content. Now he wants to look professional with a Facebook page, yet he looks unprofessional. He now needs to hire someone to take down his original Facebook account so that he can turn his account into something that looks more professional. The message is, when everyone is telling you what to do, move with caution.
The fun stuff is fun. I encourage fun. Be sure that somehow you label it fun just like you label your business as a business. Differentiate between your personal accounts and business accounts. You have a business name. Use your business name when communicating on Web 2.0 for business projects. Content and consistency is King when it comes to being reachable on the Internet. As you can find numerous ways to repeat the words/phrases that are unique to your brand there is a greater likelihood for people to find you when searching the Internet. To review a professional site, look at www.theblendmagazine.com. They know how to invest in social media, turning their investment into clients. More clients mean more pay days.
For example, let’s say that you are looking for advertisers to market in your magazine. You could create an offer that might read something like this, Wanted Local talent in the Bay Area with expertise in interior design. Requirements for the successful applicant will include:
- 1. Five to 10 years experience as an interior designer
- 2. Ability to create a 650 word article every 30 days
- 3. On air availability for radio talk show once every 30 days
Email resume to www.12345.com.
As this appears in front of the correct target markets expect upwards of 1000 or more responses with the bulk of them looking for free advertising. You may need to review these over a 90 day period. This will require follow up for all those you consider potential, which could include telephone interviews and email exchanges.
Some might argue that Web 2.0 is best used to get exposure, to exchange ideas, and build relationships. (Exposure in the right environment can get you arrested and/or sunburned.) When I am working with clients my goal is to get them to the check ASAP! One of my favorite saying’s is, “Getting you to the check sooner than later.” I come from an industry where we learned the ‘one close sale.’ That is, we were taught how to meet a client, build relationships in the first meeting, make our concept sales presentation, ending with collecting the check and asking for referrals. That is to say in five years of selling, having sold every week successfully for three plus years, I went back for the check a second time fewer than five times in three years. What I am suggesting here is to build relationships while becoming clear on how you will collect the check when using Web 2.0. Today I am all for building a relationship first. And I still want the check for YOU sooner than later.
Gerry Rose runs INTEGRITY Networking Solutions in Oceanside, CA. He works with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals. More than 10,000 businesses have been presented the INTEGRITY Networking Solutions system in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
Gerry’s stimulating presentation Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals is ideally suited for small business owners, home-based businesses, and independent professionals who want clearer direction and want to attract more prospects, develop dynamic systems, and strengthen their companies’ accountability. Gerry does one on one consulting, conducts a range of keynote speeches from thirty minutes to full-day education workshops.
His book series, Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, are available on the website, www.integritysd.com.
Gerry has more than 20 years’ experience directing business owners how to grow their businesses. He is a networking dynamo. Those who know him will assure you that he does a great job of bringing people together—which is why he started INTEGRITY.
Involved with networking organizations since 1984, Gerry is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a member of Toastmaster International, and has chaired numerous chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations.
Are you truly committed to attracting the right prospects and generate more referrals? If so then contact INTEGRITY Networking Solutions for availability and information. You can contact Gerry by mail at 1610 Quiet Hills Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056. Direct dial (760) 439-4623; e-mail to gerry@integritysd.com. For more information, go to www.integritysd.com
