Help me answer the question: Why is it so hard to get people to engage using LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is probably the most widely used un-used social media tool out there! In a handful of popular tools, LinkedIn surely takes the award for being the most boring.

Is it because LinkedIn is more of a business networking tool than social? And do people like to be social above all else?

Then why are some professionals more confortable signing up for LinkedIn than Facebook?!

Help me answer the question by commenting below.

Social media has become a topic that no small business professional can afford to ignore! Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn… what are their purpose and how do you use them? How can you use social media to cut marketing costs while creating new leads for your business? Learn which tools you need to grow your small business, and develop your marketing plan for 2010!

What: Social Media Coaching Groups
Includes: A la carte group coaching sessions and personal marketing planning.

Also Learn to:

Cost: $25 per group session and $50 for individual coaching

Call (434) 336-3303 or email jen@jailbreakcreative.com to schedule a coaching session!

I am writing this blog out of frustration. Too many times we are pushed into a corner and taken advantage of. So let’s talk about happens when you break your commitments or take advantage of others. What happens to your public perception? What do you think people say about you?

There are a few reasons reasons I want to talk about keeping commitments:

1. Making and keeping commitments are one way of positioning yourself above the competition, therefore an element of marketing.

2. Keeping commitments should be part of the integrity of who you are – and not kept out of the wrong motive.

3. Breaking commitments are one way of ruining your reputation completely.

How often do you hear stories about good customer service? Maybe here and there. But how many times do you hear stories about bad customer service. ALL THE TIME, right?

Someone once told me, “We have two ears and one mouth… social marketing developed because companies weren’t using them proportionately! We want to be heard!”

Its true. There is a revolution in customer service now with social media. If you aren’t careful – you are going to be the buzz on Facebook.  You never know who people know.

I take pride in my integrity. I work hard and I go above and beyond the scope of work in our agreements to make sure that clients are happy and that they get what they are paying for.

If we make commitments, we should keep them. It’s that simple.

Social Media is ‘You’ Marketing

One huge difference between traditional marketing and social media is that instead of representing a company, you are representing yourself.

So let me ask… do you know who you are? Do you know why your customers come back? If you have a hard time keeping customers, evaluate your commitments and the integrity of your services.

Everybody is getting on Facebook. People who don’t operate computers are getting on Facebook. My GRANDPA is on facebook!

Some people get on to catch up with friends and family. Other people get on with a strong emphasis on marketing their business. But some people get on for the sole purpose of exploiting you by trying to selling you something!

Stay away from these vultures!

Facebook Vultures. (n). People who join Facebook and add as many people as their “Friends” as they can for the sole purpose of trying to sell their product or service. Relationships are not built. Trust is not won.

There is so much hype about using social media as a marketing tool that *credibility* is often overlooked! Trust me, you WILL NOT get anywhere on Facebook or any other tool if you have the wrong motive.

If a stranger knocked on your door one evening and gave you a 3 sentence schpeel about a product you didn’t even know existed, would you give them the time of day? Some people might. But if that person came back to your door once a week to try and make you buy something… you would probably consider that harassment, right?! You would put up a “no soliciting” sign on your door!

I had a teenage girl come to my door once and tried to become instant friends with me. I saw straight through it and – although I let her ask me to buy something – I still sent her on her way without giving her a dime.

You know, I am all for supporting small businesses. But you know what else… the most business I have ever given anyone are to those that have spent the time to build a relationship with me, get to know who I am and unconditionally invest a friendship.

If you do that to me through Facebook I will send you on your way. So go ahead… ask me to buy something… ask me to get my wallet out and pay your bills… see what happens!

If you are like most people, you are going to have trouble fitting your life story into 160 characters. 

This is 160 characters right here:  Hi my name is Jen … I live in Virginia with my husband David and son Kaleb … I like teaching people about social media.

Ok… so maybe that wasn’t so hard. But, that one-line bio isn’t very exciting is it? It doesn’t show much of my personality, does it? Plus… I don’t really even like calling what I do “social media” because it gives people the wrong impression of what I really do. 

I like the phrase “public relations specialist” because I believe that public relations and advertising have evolved to include online tools like twitter and facebook… and blogging!

What about this one? A Public Relations Specialist on Social Media Optimization.

Ok… well that doesn’t really give me a personality, does it? 

Here are a couple that I love: 

@JanPhillipsMoss – Network Marketing, Social Media, MLM, HomeBusiness Entrepreneur, SEO, Blogger, Flight Attendant, Banjo Player, Wife, Homeschool Mom, Realtor, Love Football Too!

@apharmtech - Just a quirky gal living in Rockford MI. I love Xango, the internet and my hubby. And I refuse to grow up..

Not only do those descriptions give profession and background, but they also include a hint of fun and a glance into their personalities. 

So what are the elements that make a successful Twitter Bio?

1. You-ness. Unique character traits that make you who you are. What makes you different than other people? Choose a few words that describe you and work with them. 

2. Your professional title? Or maybe the company you work for? What could you say that would sum up what you do, what you want to accomplish, or bring you new clients?

3. Legibility. Make sure its easy to read and it flows well. 

Be clever. Make people want to stay and read all of your recent twitter posts! If you aren’t a creative person, use thesaurus.com and browse through other people’s twitter bios… you are bound to get some ideas. 

Did you know that you are already branded? You already have a personality that nobody else can match. You have qualities that people think about… whether you like it or not.

You ARE a brand. 

This is kind of what Web 2.0 is all about. When people started embracing the interactive web they had the opportunity to customize their image. We now have the opportunity to get to know someone even BEFORE we meet them in person! 

So, it has been called “Me 2.0″ and we have an opportunity to embrace the brand called “You.” 

How do you brand yourself?

How do you brand something that has already been branded? That’s just it… you have already been branded! So the process is actually discovering that brand and promoting it. 

1. Make “you” solid. Get to know your strengths, find out what people like about you and what turns them off. There is a great book called “Strengths Finder 2.0″ that does a great job of helping you figure out your strengths. Ask: What can I offer that nobody else can? 

2. Make “you” unforgettable. Big companies try to make an impression. So make a foundation for your brand that includes a picture or avatar, a sharp one-liner that describes you, and a 30-second advertisement that leaves people with an impression. 

3. Make “you” visible and duplicatable. Make sure you put yourself everywhere… people need to know you exist. 

Why do you use social media? To build stronger relationships with your clients? To reach more people for sales? To increase your visibility or credibility?

If you are using social media for your business it is important to have goals and objectives so you use your time wisely!

The following questions helped me to give myself a reality check on where I am with social media, and where I need to be to reach my goals: 

1. Who are you, what do you do? Jennifer Bailey, I apply public relations to social media to help small businesses learn how to gain publicity through the internet
2. What is your reason for using social media? To bring transparency to my work ethics to hopefully result in more credibility and ultimately more visibility. 
3. What are ALL of the social media tools that you use? Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Blogging 
4. Are there any tools that you SHOULD be using that you aren’t? Yes, ActiveRain which is more for realtors but has proven successful for them. Also I would like to start using YouTube to upload instructional videos for more visibility
5. What is the most fruitful success you have ever had using social media? A reporter for a journal found my blog and got me some publicity, leading to real sales. I would like to have more of this kind of publicity!
6. Ultimately, what is your end goal in using it? To become a national trainer for small business professionals who want to learn how to use social media to promote their businesses

Ok, now it’s your turn! Take the Social Media Reality Check!

1. Who are you, what do you do?
2. What is your reason for using social media? 
3. What are ALL of the social media tools that you use? 
4. What is the most fruitful success you have ever had using social media?
5. Ultimately, what is your end goal in using it?