by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 13, 2014 | Business Values, Communication, Small Business, Social Media
In this cattle drive of digital marketing it is easy to get trampled amongst the hooves of the masses. The pasture is astronomical in size and you may feel like a speck on a “patty.” Literally hundreds of millions of people are clamoring for space to be outstanding in their field, to have their voice heard; their brand recognized.
Jumping on a soapbox with a megaphone sure sounds like a great idea, but just how can it be accomplished in the stampede?
As you have read, it takes time, painstaking effort and a hell of a lot of energy, every single day, to retain and maintain your online presence. It is time consuming and can also divert your focus away from your core business.
There are dos and don’ts and best practices published every second. Let’s just say it is information overload, enough to make your brain explode. Your most esteemed colleagues, industry thought leaders, marketing organizations and the like are continually evaluating, suggesting, studying and pushing content on what to do and how to do it best in order to achieve your social media marketing goals and business success.
You sometimes may feel the urgent need to test the suggestions, add new plugins, try the tools but it gets to a point where it is almost impossible to dedicate your time ON your business because you are so entrenched with the current recommendations for a positive, productive online experience, both for you and your customer.
- Step back.
- Take a breath.
Step above the herd:
- Evaluate some of the tips and tools
- Implement some – test and measure results
- Be cognizant of YOUR strategy and goals
- Realize you can’t try everything and not everything works for everybody
- Know your real value proposition
- Educate your followers about your solutions, not your widgets
- Sell VALUE not cost
- Be authentic
- Engage in real-time, one on one conversations
- Continue to educate yourself
- Nurture relationships
- Write QUALITY content
- Consistency counts
- Share and syndicate your posts
- Be passionate about your business and your customers
- Never make promises you can’t keep
- Share and retweet others
- BE social, don’t do social
- Give without expecting something in return
- Express your gratitude
- Join in community discussions, offering valuable insight, not just idle chatter to get noticed
- People buy from people – let them see you’re human, not just a brand
- Think: RELATIONSHIP MARKETING
It certainly isn’t easy and some days may feel a bit rougher than others but never, ever give up. You’re an entrepreneur. A business owner with a dream and THAT is worth pursuing. You’ve come this far just figure out what works best for you and your company. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel by any means but you do have to take action everyday. I am not saying to bury your head in the sand and ignore some of the main premises and practices of digital marketing; that would be social suicide. Try and manage the overwhelm of the influx of data and suggestions. We all have different ideas, strengths, and opportunities to play upon. Pay attention but you don’t need to feel the craze and institute every single post you read.
Let your true passion tell your story and connect with the hearts and minds of your audience. While some others may just be link pushing or talking in the wind, YOU build and cultivate the relationships based upon integrity, value, character, trust, gratitude and of course some of the basics above. Be patient. Be present. Be you.
“When you’re about something that benefits others, you’re more believable and trustworthy. People want to know you’re not just in it for yourself.” Mike Henry Sr.
This all sounds pretty touchy feely but again, people buy from people they know, like and trust. Your reputation will precede you and your brand advocates will share, promote and talk about you. Word of mouth is your most powerful marketing tool.
What makes you stand out from the herd?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 6, 2014 | Business Values, Communication, Entrepreneur, Small Business
Your business can’t survive online without the trust from your consumers. They won’t buy unless they feel the know, like, trust factor. You must earn the trust and loyalty of your audience; your community. Cultivate your relationships through authentic communications and reliability. Your network is always looking for validation to ensure that a potential partnership or connection is dependable, trustworthy and “real.” Remove the feeling of vulnerability and risk of doing business with someone behind a keyboard. There can be an uneasy feeling and some have been burned, which is something you must understand and respect from the customer’s point of view. It is up to you to help them develop a comfort level and place of safety to do business online.
I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business. Harvey S. Firestone
You don’t need a contract to instill honesty and live by a moral compass. Give out what you expect in return and nothing less. Your business depends on it. Your reputation will either make you or break you. Credibility and a sound reputation is what gets you to the finish line toward establishing rapport and a long term relationship.
Each of your social platforms showcase you and your brand. You have the opportunity to personally interact with your followers – your potential customers on a personable level. Let them get to know you through your content, postings, engagement and dialog. Keep it real and keep it you.
Trust = Authority x Helpfulness x Intimacy / Self-Promotion Steve Rayson The New Formula for Social Media Trust
Your 10 Tips to Build Trust:
- Offer solutions: SHOW them you care and are truly interested in listening and solving their problems. Consumers have pain points that need care and understanding. Demonstrate that you you know what they want and need.
- Communicate clearly and responsively. No one likes to be on hold listening to ear bleeding elevator music. Engage. Whether you are responding to a post comment, email or client text message, don’t keep them waiting and wondering. Service them promptly.
- Be transparent. It helps to instill trust and shows the human side of your company and your brand.
- Be accountable. Do as you say; back up your words with actions and if you make a mistake, own it 100% and correct it. The customer is the one who writes your paycheck.
- Privacy and confidentiality. Respect a client’s proprietary information and discussions. There is no reason to share this type of data. You are being trusted with details or questions and they should not become public knowledge or water cooler chatter. Lock it up!
- Testimonials. When you receive recommendations, make sure they are openly displayed as they help to validate your service and your company. Add them to your website, email signature and other marketing collateral. If it is a tweet, then save it as a favorite so others can see “real-time” recommendations. Ask for them on your LinkedIn profiles.
- Under promise and over deliver. It may be a cliché but it is a premise of good business and service. There is nothing more disappointing or frustrating to be let down by a vendor missing a deadline.
- Educate and share valuable content. Enrich the lives of your audience without self-promotion and you become a trusted resource not a snake salesman.
- Feedback. Never bury your head in the sand. Always ask for feedback on a job, a post, a conversation. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive and you won’t know what you are missing. If you off point, you won’t be able to take charge and correct the course. Feedback is a valuable learning tool toward successful relationships and communication.
- Commit to your word. Very simple yet some have a propensity to fall back and forget such a courtesy. Do as you say without hesitation. There is enough misrepresentation in the world, especially online but if you intend to build your brand, your reputation and your business, then follow through with your verbal handshake.
How do you build trust and instill confidence with your customers and community?
