Many experts tell us it’s highly recommended that networking is the way to get your name out there. This is correct. However, for the business owner that can’t attend networking events in person for various reasons, here are some tips to help you network online.
Firstly, choose the social media platform you like to use and that your potential audience would also use. The most highly recognised social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+.
Once you’ve selected your networking platform, take some time to become familiar with it. Understand the basic to making your profile work.
For this blog, I will be using Facebook as social media platform.
Here are my suggested tips to make online networking work for you;
- Share knowledgeable content with your followers, give them a taste of your expertise. Be sure to mix it up with some fun enlightening content and don’t be afraid to share a little bit of you.
- Share content from those you admire, want to content with or whom your followers would gain from their information. Be sure to thank or acknowledge your source for the information.
- Search for the locations your target audience would most likely hang out. Don’t just focus on pages they’ll follow, but also group they may be part of.
- Seek the opportunity to connect with your audience, particularly where you can display your expertise / industry knowledge. You never know when an opportunity will present itself that you can offer some informative knowledge to a post, giving your business potential exposure.
- Signing off your posted comments with your name and tag your business eg: Anne from Anne C Clark (to tag your page type the ‘@’ symbol and then start typing your business name, once it appears in the dropdown menu, select it.)
- Remember you are representing your brand, be sure to re-read what you have written to make sure it’s not offensive or can be misinterpreted. Where applicable share an example and don’t be salesy (it’s a turn off).
- Be your business voice. If you’re trying to build your business profile, talk in your business manner not your ‘hanging out with friends’ manner. Because you are your brand and you want to attract your audience.
- Invite comments on your business page. Don’t tell them you want them to ‘like’ you. Tell them you’d love the opportunity to connect with them and invite them to share their pages on yours. This is a little cross promotion and it never hurts.
- Liking a page, when liking a new page don’t write “Hi I’m your newest liker, come and like my page”. It doesn’t make me look at you. Try being complimentary and tell them what you love about their page. Add your sign off signature. If they want to connect with you, they will.
- Negative comments will arrive occasionally. You have the choice to manage them or simple remove them. I personally feel it depends on the comment that enables you to make the choice on how to handle it. I worked for a very high profile business entrepreneur and her rule was NO negative comments, and her reason was very justifiable. She wanted her page to be a safe harmonious place for her followers, therefore no negativity. (That’s not so bad)
I invite you to connect with me and share your Facebook page in the comments, so we can come and say hi. And, don’t be afraid to pop over to my page and say hi too.
