Scream Selling WON’T WORK

Make me laugh, dazzle me, teach me but DON’T scream your products in my face!

It is the easiest way to get blackballed in a social network. To talk to your connections in a social network you need to be a real person that is not pushing an agenda. Much the same as your own community you work and live in, social networking demands value from you with unconditional involvement. What you put into your community is what you will get out of it.

Traditional marketers are making the biggest mistake approaching the social networks with traditional hands. Imagine for a moment each social network is an old town of people. That is the best way to approach social networks as you contribute to your community. It’s a new era that requires a new outlook and approach. Think about it…when you talk to your children, you speak a certain way. When you talk to your accountant you will talk a different way…it’s the way humans have always communicated! Would you pitch Amway products at your family Thanksgiving dinner? [I hope not]

The Art of Social Collaboration

How do you connect with people you don’t know? There are ways to do that but no shortcuts; it’s like a cyber handshake with each new connection. I like to find groups I am interested in and get to know the other members, especially the ones I have a lot in common with. Groups and followers are relationships you have that are your assets. As trust grows your assets get stronger. Are you a real part of your community? You wouldn’t meet someone new and immediately propose to them would you? A basic fundamental in any business; once you cross the trust barrier with a relationship, good things happen. Easier said than done, right? WRONG! The best relationships are formed from one simple thing- LISTENING! We all have the tendency to speak first without listening—WHO likes a bigmouth? Remember having a conversation with your closest peers and someone barges in only to ruin it. Rudeness by interrupting conversations is something people have never taken kindly to, social networks are no different. Take the aforementioned approach after getting to know the mood of the conversation and now you can talk turkey.

How do you Engage in Conversations?

…“Social Media

Big business embracing social networks” Source …

The same way you approach your real world is no different online. The old cliché “Engage brain before putting mouth in gear” has never rang so true. It is very likely that people are talking about you, your business, or your brand as I write this article. These conversations can be good and bad! Like it or not people talk and people listen. When it’s about you, don’t you want a chance to respond (for better or worst)? Even if conversations are not about you specifically they are about your industry. That’s a great starting point for you to get involved with the conversation and learn more about your market. Remember that most companies are making the biggest mistake of shouting ‘buy me’ when social groups want your expertise on a personal level. At a level they can understand and KNOW how it will help them. Show your best side with a big helping hand and your relationships will grow at an astounding rate. Sadly, if you are shouting “buy me” out loud you will be, almost certainly, gassed out of town.

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