Social media builds business, creates a trusted community
Social media builds business, creates a trusted community
Social media has spawned a whole new paradigm for the business world, but I believe its phenomenal growth can be directly attributed to the human factor. In just the past few days, I have reconnected with two friends from high school I haven't heard from in 20 years, and another whose name and phone number I lost when I moved to Michigan 10 years ago. Facebook put me in touch with a friend I stopped talking to a few years ago for reasons I can no longer recall, and it keeps me in touch with people all over the country, whom I love but never have the time to visit.
The short version of Facebook (and MySpace, for that matter) is this: Every time I post a thought, an activity, photos, video, event or any item that interests me, all of my friends are notified. Now, generally speaking, I don't spend a whole lot of time reading every activity of every friend on my list. But quite often I learn something I really should know, like how to support a friend who's doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk or that another friend is dealing with a serious illness.
It's the same kind of thing small town newspapers did, in their very earliest days. In way-back issues of my community newspaper, pages are filled with highly personal details about people's lives and activities, from news of which families were affected by a flu epidemic to the list of books due back at the library. When a couple divorced, the details of their marital strife ended up in print.
The newspaper from my hometown in Minnesota (population 672 in 2000) continues to publish "local news" from correspondents who share news about birthdays and anniversaries, parties and events, even social visits and who attended a local funeral. It's probably the best-read part of the newspaper. In larger communities, of course, people are reluctant to share those details, because it simply isn't safe. But on a Facebook page, we can confide in people we trust, the way folks in a small town trust their neighbors and friends. We choose who sees what information we share. So a university student I know felt safe enough to share her family's story of serious illness, job loss and homelessness. They now have a place to stay and are working their way back to self-sufficiency, thanks to fundraisers, gifts and donations from Facebook friends. Another Facebook friend has kept us posted about her cancer diagnosis and treatment with occasional notes.
It's easy to get started: You just create an account with your name and e-mail address, then start looking for people you know. Most of these sites make that pretty easy, with e-mail address searches and contact importing tools. But you can also just search for a name, which is what my friend Peggy did to reconnect us after more than 10 years. Your profile shares as much or as little information as you wish, and with everyone or only the people you choose. You can create a "fan" page for your business, set up a group to find people who share a passion for your product lines. A community will grow around you, the way people used to build their homes around a central business district.
Whatever your level of involvement, social media can open doors for you and can revolutionize your business. But it is the human side of these communities I have come to value most.
Social media builds business creates a trusted community - To learn more about this author, visit Joni Hubred-Golden's Website.
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According to a recent survey, activity on social media networks has grown by 93 percent since 2006. Think about that for a minute. Two years ago, did you know what Facebook was? Or MySpace? Now both those companies report activity increases of more than 60 percent, mostly among that precious 18-29 year old demographic. (Promo Magazine, "Social Networks the Movies of the 09 Downturn: Netpop", January 6 2009) Apparently, they're still buying stuff, while us older folks revert to our parents' Depression-era habits as we try to shore up our retirement accounts.
Social media has spawned a whole new paradigm for the business world, but I believe its phenomenal growth can be directly attributed to the human factor. In just the past few days, I have reconnected with two friends from high school I haven't heard from in 20 years, and another whose name and phone number I lost when I moved to Michigan 10 years ago. Facebook put me in touch with a friend I stopped talking to a few years ago for reasons I can no longer recall, and it keeps me in touch with people all over the country, whom I love but never have the time to visit.
The short version of Facebook (and MySpace, for that matter) is this: Every time I post a thought, an activity, photos, video, event or any item that interests me, all of my friends are notified. Now, generally speaking, I don't spend a whole lot of time reading every activity of every friend on my list. But quite often I learn something I really should know, like how to support a friend who's doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk or that another friend is dealing with a serious illness.
It's the same kind of thing small town newspapers did, in their very earliest days. In way-back issues of my community newspaper, pages are filled with highly personal details about people's lives and activities, from news of which families were affected by a flu epidemic to the list of books due back at the library. When a couple divorced, the details of their marital strife ended up in print.
The newspaper from my hometown in Minnesota (population 672 in 2000) continues to publish "local news" from correspondents who share news about birthdays and anniversaries, parties and events, even social visits and who attended a local funeral. It's probably the best-read part of the newspaper. In larger communities, of course, people are reluctant to share those details, because it simply isn't safe. But on a Facebook page, we can confide in people we trust, the way folks in a small town trust their neighbors and friends. We choose who sees what information we share. So a university student I know felt safe enough to share her family's story of serious illness, job loss and homelessness. They now have a place to stay and are working their way back to self-sufficiency, thanks to fundraisers, gifts and donations from Facebook friends. Another Facebook friend has kept us posted about her cancer diagnosis and treatment with occasional notes.
It's easy to get started: You just create an account with your name and e-mail address, then start looking for people you know. Most of these sites make that pretty easy, with e-mail address searches and contact importing tools. But you can also just search for a name, which is what my friend Peggy did to reconnect us after more than 10 years. Your profile shares as much or as little information as you wish, and with everyone or only the people you choose. You can create a "fan" page for your business, set up a group to find people who share a passion for your product lines. A community will grow around you, the way people used to build their homes around a central business district.
Whatever your level of involvement, social media can open doors for you and can revolutionize your business. But it is the human side of these communities I have come to value most.
Social media builds business creates a trusted community - To learn more about this author, visit Joni Hubred-Golden's Website.
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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