Your Competition Loves Your Insanity

Shock, amazement and alarm. These are the three words that best describe my reaction to hearing CEOs say, "I've been in business for 15 years. We are more experienced than the new guys getting into our industry. New business has to keep coming in. They need us. I don't have to have my people tweet or link up."

 If you've found yourself over the last few nanosecond years saying or thinking the above, let's talk about scheduling your brain surgery. Your prescription is to start clearing the memories of days gone by when you were the only game in town. Your competition is loving you keep your head in the sand. They'll even bring an umbrella to make you more comfortable.

Doing business the same way in 2012 as you did five years ago - let alone in the 90's - qualifies as "insanity. Insanity has been described as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. There's no such thing as "business as usual." People who've never had to market or sell before are being forced to do so. To keep your current business, as well as generate business today, a variety of alternatives to traditional marketing and sales efforts need to be aggressively embraced.

 

One of these approaches is using Social Media. In particular, I am talking about utilizing LinkedIn (LI). Why LinkedIn? Simply put, because business today is all about relationships. LI is the premier business networking site that exponentially helps people build and sustain relationships - locally and globally based on the six degrees of separation concept.

LI succeeds because you don't know who all the people you know . . . know. For example, at a neighborhood dinner party I was having a conversation about wanting to meet a particular individual. My wife overheard, and replied, "I know him!" I of course asked, "How do you know him?" She answered, "Because he's dating one of my friends." This simplistic example, under my own roof, if you will, suggests the power LinkedIn brings to you through second and third tier referrals and connections.

 

When you get the hang of LI's powerful search features, you are able to connect with thousands upon thousands of contacts through your contacts' networks. This shocking and amazing online tool enables you to build both your reach and your expertise in a way that turns into real business profits.

 

My mantra is "business people need to learn how to use LinkedIn." If you don't, you can be sure your competitors are. Don't be caught in the "insanity squared" trap -- that would be working harder at ignoring today's social media queues while expecting a different result.

 

 

Rick Itzkowich, “Rick I The LinkedIn Guy” is a genuine people connector. He bridges the two worlds of face-to-face networking and online networking. He understands and practices networking like few others do. As a successful entrepreneur, Rick creates turnkey products that meet today’s demand for tools to increase your business.

Social Media Sensation: Creating Buzz for Your Bottom Line

Social media is becoming a key ingredient in the marketing recipe for your business. There are opportunities and measurable results for businesses of all sizes, and companies are taking notice. According to current research, social media marketing is set to increase at an annual rate of 34% over the next five years, outpacing all other forms of online marketing. In fact, the expected growth rate for social media marketing is nearly double the average growth rate for all online mediums. There's a reason so many companies are increasing their social media budgets - it's proven to be a very effective tool for reaching customers on a new level. Having an active social media presence can help your bottom line, and there are a host of other benefits:

• Interact with your customers directly: Social media gives you a chance not only to engage your customers one-on-one, but you can also hear what they say about your company online. Make sure you take advantage of that opportunity, but don't react harshly to criticism you may see. Every action you take online will be seen and remembered. A great reputation can be spoiled with one misguided post made in the heat of the moment. Build trust for yourself and your brand by consistently adding valuable content, and handle your following with a PR-friendly voice.

• Own your company's social presence: If you don’t already have your own Twitter and Facebook accounts, get them before someone else does. If people make their first contact with your brand online, be sure that you have control over the message. 

• Look like you're "with it": On Facebook alone, there are over 400 million users spending over 500 billion minutes per month on the site, and those numbers are consistently growing. Your target audience is becoming more and more likely to have social media use as an integral part of their daily lives. Customers are twice as likely to do business with someone they identify with. If you're not on Facebook, your customers might wonder if you really "get it".

• Get great feedback on your business: Better than the results of any survey you could send out to your clients is listening to their reactions online following the release of a new product. With social media, you don't have to solicit for responses - something that can often result in misleading data. If you're engaged in social media forums, you'll have your fingers on the pulse of what is really going on with your business, and how people are reacting to it.

• Establish yourself as an expert in your field: Your company profile is a fantastic opportunity to post about your company's activities, as well as relevant news and trends occurring within your industry. By gaining lots of followers and displaying your expertise, people will begin to identify you as a "guru" in your field. This will ultimately lead to people being more likely to trust you (and therefore do business with you!).

Christine McDannell is Co-Founder and President at Social Starfish. Find out more at www.socialstarfish.com  Christine will be presenting at NAWBO-IE's January 19, 2012 meeting.