Whatshould I tweet, what should I post, how should I link?

Most people don’t know what to say on, what to do on, orwhat to do with social media. And it’s a club with more than 700 millionmembers.

There has gotta be an opportunity in there someplace.

Here’s the thought reality: Stop thinking of it as socialmedia, and begin thinking of it as BUSINESS social media.

Immediately some clarity begins to creep in. You’re alreadyusing LinkedIn as a business proposition. You’re getting contacts, finding prospects,searching by company and title for qualified people to connect with (linkwith). You may even be job hunting or job upgrading.

Why not use Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube the same way?

Why not create daily/weekly/monthly value messages that yourcustomers would find so interesting and informative that they would save them,print them, put them into action, and forward them to others?

Sounds way more powerful than cold calling and groping,grasping, begging, or manipulating your way to an appointment – that will mostlikely result in rejection – even if you use your fanciest, newest, “closingtechnique.”

Cold calling is such a cruel joke in this day and age.

TODAY’S REALITY: Do everything you can to use businesssocial media to build brand, image, reputation, and perceived value with yourcustomers and your business community.

YOUR CHALLENGE: Send messages that your customers perceiveas valuable to them. Messages so valuable that they will tell others.

BUSINESS SOCIAL MEDIA REALITY: It’s not about tweeting; it’sabout being re-tweeted. It’s not about finding someone on LinkedIn; it’s about themfinding you, and wanting to connect. It’s not about searching out someone onFacebook; it’s about someone finding your business Facebook Page and “liking”it. It’s not about posting a video on YouTube; it’s about someone sending yourvideo to someone else.

“But Jeffrey,” youwhine, “How do I know what’s mostimportant or most valuable to MY customers?”

THINK: What will help your customers produce more, profitmore, understand what’s brand new in the market, improve morale, improveattitude, and/or improve their life. Then write about it, tweet about it, andpost on Facebook about it.

MAJOR CLUE: Many people tweet or post something someone elsesaid. WRONG. It’s not what somebody else says that is meaningful to yourposition as a person of value in business social media; it’s what you say, whatyou think, what you have experienced, and what you believe to be true.

MAJOR CLUE: Quote yourself, not Benjamin Franklin. It’stempting to quote Benjamin Franklin, but it will not build your value in theeyes of your customer.

DO THIS: If you sell toilets, then you have to talk aboutplumbing. If you sell insurance, then you have to talk about protection, or peaceof mind. If you sell clothing, then you have to talk about fit and fashion. Ifyou sell automobiles, then you have to talk about vacations and auto safety. Ifyou sell real estate, then you have to talk about building equity, home repair,and front yard safety.

BUSINESS SOCIAL MEDIA SELF TEST:

• Make a list of your last ten tweets. Are they relevant to your business success? Did they help others in anyway? How many got re-tweeted?
• Make a list of your last ten Facebook postings. How many people like your business page? Doyou even have a business page?
• List the last ten actions you took, or messages yousent, on LinkedIn. Anyone join you orwant to link as a result of them?
• List the last ten videos that you posted on your YouTubechannel. Do you even have a YouTubechannel? (It’s free!) Are you posting value messages that your customers andprospects would watch, learn from, and think of you as a resource? Any videotestimonials posted on your YouTube channel? (Short testimonial videos willhelp prospective customers buy, and reinforce your own belief system.)

FINAL NOTE: All business social media is interconnected. Youhave to do ALL of them consistently to gain effective results. And you have todo all of them well if you expect to monetize your efforts.

Well, I have issued the challenge. I have listed theopportunities. I have even provided some “how-to.” The rest is up to you.

There are all kinds of books and seminars available onsocial media and business social media. I recommend reading as much as you can,and attending as many as you can. But my biggest recommendation is: START NOW.