6 C's of Social Media Marketing For Small Business - SmallBizLady

If you decide that you want to start using social media marketing to promote your small business, now is a great time to get started. First make sure that your website is helpful, up-to-date, loads quickly and is ready for visitors. You should have at least 3-5 ways to engage prospects on your website. Invite them to sign up for a free quote, product samples or your newsletter. You can always provide a 10 point checklist highlighting your customer?s biggest pain point ? such as 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy Your Next House. Before jumping on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter, make sure that is where your best target customer hangs out online. Get your game plan together so that you are strategic with time online.? Keep in mind that using social media is a long term marketing strategy. It will not start raining money in your business the minute you start using LinkedIn or Google+.? You only need to make your mark on some social media platforms to grow your business. Here are my 6 C?s of social media marketing for your small business.

Connect ? You want to connect with your customers where they hang out online. Claim your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and then dominate on one platform first.

Communicate ??You should first communicate what your brand is all about. I am SmallBizLady and my mission is to end small business failure. What is your brand statement?

Compelling Content???Content is currency online. If you have the ability to generate valuable content, the world will beat a path to your door.? Decide first whether you will write blogs, do audio interviews or podcasts, or videos to build your thought leadership and your brand. If you can, start developing content 2-3 months before you launch your blog presence.

Consistency ? Before your launch your content online, it will be important to start building relationships and position yourself as a resource. Spend a few months on your #1 social media platform sharing other people?s content and answering questions. When you start generating content, keep in mind that professional blogs are updated at least 2-3 times a week. Consistency is a key ingredient in social media success.

Community???You want to position yourself as a member of the greater community online. Use the HELP mantra to build lasting relationships with your new social media connections. Help Others, Engage People, Listen First, and then Promote Yourself with Care. It typically takes at least 7 interactions before you have a solid relationship with someone you met online. Do not try to sell too quickly; you can damage a relationship if a prospect feels like you are not genuine or authentic.

Commerce ??No one wants to be sold to. If you do your job well, your best target customer will flock to buy from you.? Use a 4:1 ratio of promoting other people?s content and event over your own. Obviously you want to sell things, but don?t let that be your only agenda for participating in the conversation.

Do you have any more C?s for social media to share?

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Don?t forget to Pre-order my new ebook How to Become a Social Media Ninja, which will be released Oct. 15^th. I?m providing 101 Tips to dominate your competition online. Go to http://succeedasyourownboss.com/ebook/ to place your order.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson?s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is America?s #1 small business expert. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. She writes a weekly column on social media for The New York Times. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America's leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

Source: http://succeedasyourownboss.com/10/2012/6-cs-of-social-media-marketing-for-small-business/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-cs-of-social-media-marketing-for-small-business

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