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I will fully admit. I am a late adopter on most social media tools.
Before you call foul, let me explain. It’s not that I am a Doubting Thomas, but my perspective is that I fully want to understand something before I try it out OR advise any client or friend to take that leap.
I have seem a client, jump head first into putting their business on MySpace before realizing that it wasn’t the best avenue to promote or market their business. I watched as the client became more confused and more frustrated why his roofing business wasn’t a massive hit just like the bars, nightclubs, bands, and promoters he’s seen have their friends list grow by leaps and bounds.
He felt dejected at the amount of time he felt he wasted. He felt like the contacts he made weren’t worth the effort to continue on this avenue of promotion. He was even more frustrated that I didn’t advise him sooner that this would happen. Keep in mind, he never asked my advice before diving in.
All the cool kids do it….
It’s easy to hear the hype about Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media tools (that’s what they are…not the silver bullet to success) and get lured in. By now, you are hearing all about the great successes that people like Gary Vaynerchuk, Chris Brogan, and others are having using these tools, and though it seems like an overnight success, in reality…there was some serious time and effort to become a social media “overnight success”.
If you are looking for a quick fix, I’m sorry to tell you…these aren’t it.
Why do you want to join the cool kids?
You need to really review if these tools are good for you and your business. Before you do that, you need to determine what your reason for using these online tools and keep in mind that these are tools. While they cost you absolutely nothing out of your pocket, they do take time to use, work with, and grow.
Here are some questions, before you create that all too shiny new account, that I want you to keep in mind:
• What are you looking to get out of this tool?
• How much time are you willing to dedicate to using these tools?
• Are you using it to promote yourself or your business?
What you should look to get out of using these tools is making new connections and increase your brands awareness.
How much time you dedicate to these tools is entire up to you, but you get out of them what you put into them. Just simply creating an account isn’t enough. You have to get in there, get your hands dirty, and interact with people.
My best advice is to use these tools to promote yourself first and your business second. Remember, these tools are used by human beings and they hope, I dare say expect, to interact with a human being. Not yet another wall between the customer and the business owner.
Are the cool kids really that cool?
In my opinion, the ones who maximize their personal and business brand online using these tools are really…that cool. They are keeping their finger on the digital pulse of their customers and supporters all the while allowing new prospects into the conversation.
Please keep in mind that is what these tools are used for, extending the conversation as they get more comfortable with you and your brand. This takes a lot of effort, this takes some time, some dedication, and a focus not on how many followers you have, but the content you are pumping out through these tools.
But is it really for you?
Ultimately, that answer is really up to you.
I am not trying to blow you off with that answer, but without fully knowing you, your business, or your company’s personality…I don’t feel confident asking you to take a leap on a tool that might night fit for you.
I suggest you take some time and do your homework about these tools. Ask the people you know who use them frequently to explain them to you and how they get the most out of them. Ask the people in your industry if they are using these tools. If they aren’t…look at if you feel it is worth it to you and if it is get in there first and, as Gary Vaynerchuk says, “Crush it!” Get in there and start putting your business, and yourself, in front of as many people as you can.
Here is a final question for you, have you ever used a social media tool and given up BEFORE you gave it the full time and understanding you could have?
If you’ve read this far…thank you. And as all ways, stay wicked.
