12 Lessons in 12 Months – Social Media Lessons
This is the final post in the series where I’m sharing lessons learned of operating this site over the past 12 months. Truth is, documenting these lessons has been a bit therapeutic for the site manager, if you operate a site, you might benefit from such an exercise as well. In the process I ended up with a very large list, and had a hard time cutting it down to just 12. Until now I’ve already shared 12, so consider today’s social media lessons to be bonuses. Some of what is shared may seem somewhat obvious (good for newbies), yet I imagine what is shared about Twitter will ruffle some feathers. As always this conversation is incomplete if it is missing your contribution, so feel free to chime in.
12 Lessons in 12 Months – MarketingProfessor.com Turns 1 – Social Media Lessons
Social media offers great potential to connect with people you may have never connected with otherwise, and in ways you could only dream about as recent as 5 years ago. Yet as marketers, the question remains, how can social media enhance marketing objectives, and give our businesses more opportunities to engage the marketplace and connect with current and future customers? The question is easy to ask, but not so easy to answer. Consider the social media lessons below.
Thirteen: Make friends In Your Market. Engage.
There are many people you can befriend in your market just:
- Visit Twellow.com
- Plugin your market in the search box
- Follow those on the top 10 list
- Send them a personal message on Twitter
I’ve made some great friends on the social web, and even created a post of the Ultimate Online Marketer Twitter Follow List (I missed you, forgive me. Add it to the comments so it can be updated). The point is, you can do the same thing for ‘Home decorating’, ‘gourmet chef’s’ or whatever your market may be.
Fourteen: Learn from Others. While Finding Your Own Way.
What has been shared at MarketingProfessor.com in the last year, pales in comparison to what has been learned from others. If you learn something from someone, take time to let them know by commenting (in the case of a blog, or Facebook), sending a tweet, an email, or even, picking up the phone! Imagine that!
One post created interesting dialog. I provided some open ended commentary on Seth Godin’s comments (YouTube video) about social media. As respected as Seth is, it appears some think his take on social media is rather misguided. For me, this was a very educational post, purely because readers chimed in. You can find the post here, Seth Godin Speaks Franky on Social Networking and Business.
One other point, not knowing a position (or strategy) on social media is not an reason to avoid social media. Learn as you go, find your way. Early in the year I reviewed one of the first twitter automation software packages on the market (here). I found it to be valuable, as it saved me time, and automated the strategy I had outlined for a virtual assistant. However a few months later, I changed my position, and stopped using the application altogether (read more here if you like). Technology and business changes quickly, it’s ok to change your position on things if you have a good reason.
Fifteen: Twitter is Important, but not That Important
It is still early, but very clear that the possibilities with Twitter are amazing. However it can also be a distraction funnel that sucks you in, and doesn’t let you go until well after lunch… that goes for Facebook as well. Most marketers using social networking sites, are *not* getting sufficient ROI to justify moving away from other activities (like SEO, PPC, list building, content creation). I’m not alone in these sentiments, check out John Reese’s comments on this in his recent report, and my friend Eric Holmlund’s awesome The State of Twitter report (extensive).
Not everyone is a Gary Vaynerchuk trolling and engaging social networks for much of the day, but it proves it’s worth as he is a leader when it comes to understanding social networks power, as well as ’social currency’.
Therefore, be wise. Resist. Use a timer (lesson #7), and have your daily objectives before you (journal). When you achieve something, set your timer (hint), and give yourself 5-10 mins of social networking time. Beyond that block time out for social networking, and stick to it. You won’t regret being disciplined in this.
Sixteen: Your Lessons
As mentioned before this post is incomplete without you contributions. What has the last year taught you about marketing online, business lessons, technology issues, social media, etc. What would you like to see in the year ahead?
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Hi, my name is Travis Campbell, I operate this site. I'm here to share what I can from my lessons marketing online. With sizeable investments in continuing education, various software products and services, I have had some winners, and some losers. One way I can extend what I've learned is by writing about it, here... and helping you along the way.
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