How often do you tell someone to “google” a term or question? How often do you “friend” people on Facebook? Is part of any new professional relation the adding of that person to a LinkedIn network? If all of these things are familiar to you, it is because you are using the Internet and social media at an “average” amount.
It is really quite astounding to realize just how much social media has changed our world and in what a short period of time it has taken. Ten or twelve years ago you would have added someone to a rolodex file or your clunky cell phone’s speed dial. You would have added them to one of your email lists, and that would have been it! Today, one person may see you on Facebook news feeds, Google+ circles, LinkedIn updates, RSS feeds, and so much more.
What Social Media Means
While we understand that social media is a new way for people to communicate and to exchange information, we have yet to focus in on it as a way to earn income. This is not to say that people are not using social media in an amazing number of ways, but not everyone has mastered it as a form of strong business communication.
Is this due to the fact that the name is confusing? After all, “social” media makes us think it is about gossiping and chit chat rather than “business” media might. While the terminology can be misleading, it is not that factor that prevents more professionals from really getting all that they can from social networks. The biggest hurtle for many is simply that they don’t have the time.
Social Media Takes Time and Effort
This is the one thing that a lot of professionals dread about the use of social media networks, but which has to be overcome if they are to get the results. The reason that a lot of people frown over posting blogs, comments, updates, videos and other materials to their social pages is because they dislike all of the time it takes to post materials and to also give the kind of feedback and replies necessary to generate more interest.
For example, you might be a hair dresser who has found that social media is a fantastic way to tap into the “special events” markets like proms, weddings, and photo sessions. Each time you “tweet” about a special on a hair and makeup combination, you get results in the form of appointments and bookings. The problem is that you get Facebook comments thanking you for the work or comments on the videos you post at Vimeo, but you don’t have the time to respond to them all. This is costing you some possible clients and wasting opportunities for advanced benefits.
Choosing the Right Components
Fortunately, there are so many experts on Internet tools that it is relatively easy to find recommendations about the most effective tactics and techniques. For instance, it is possible for you to spend a few hours developing a website for your business or organization and to then link it to all of the various social networks as a way of streamlining the flow of communication. You could also create things such as blogs or forums that would allow you to interact in a much broader way through one type of popular social media.
Regardless of how you choose to use social media, the simple fact of the matter is that you MUST begin using it right away. It is a whole new language and form of communication, but it is becoming one of the essential and primary forms used by all.
