Social media marketing fundamentals for entrepreneurs | NY Zone Exchange

Entrepreneurs who can successfully use the power of content creation and social media marketing can increase their audience dramatically and convert interested individuals into paying customers. You’ll need to understand how to use blogs, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn effectively, but first you need to understand the fundamentals of social media marketing.

Listen

Your content must add value and spark conversation – to do this, you must speak your audience’s language. The classic sales pitch mistake of too much talking and not enough listening is replicated all too often in social media marketing.

First off, learn from your peers. Check out social networking sites for entrepreneurs and check out authorities in your field – market risk management service providers should visit the sites of market leaders (such as www.SunGard.com/APT). Next, you need to learn from your audience by visiting their online content and joining in their conversations.

Be focused

Narrow your target content area down and be strict about sticking to this. Post only in this limited area. Focus on quality rather than quantity.

Target your key sharers

There are always influential individuals who, if they choose to share your content, can dramatically increase your reach. Seek these users out and work hard at building relationships with them. Any content you share helps others to find you, but have your key sharers in mind and focus your energies on winning them over.

Always add value

If all your social media marketing is based around promotion, people will quickly stop reading your posts. Focus on adding value and developing relationships with those who have online influence by making great content. This in itself will become a powerful tool for the word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

Be there

You would not ignore an email inquiry, so similarly you must always try to acknowledge posts in response to your content. Social media marketing is about building relationships, and this is done through online conversations. Maintain a regular online presence or risk others building a better relationship with your audience.

It’s only fair to share

You’re expecting and banking on others to share your content. It’s only fair to devote some of your time to sharing the content others have produced. More than this, sharing others’ content helps you post regularly, positions you as an authority figure with their finger on the pulse, and, most importantly, encourages those whose content you have shared to share your next post! It’s often a case of you tweet my tweet and I’ll tweet yours.

Happy and fruitful posting!