Social Media: Yes, you too can be a sensational, successful social media butterfly

If you are not yet reaping the rewards of using social media to grow your business, NOW is the time to get started. If you are like me, a person with little previous social media experience, the thought of breaking out of your cocoon and spreading your wings may be a bit overwhelming. But it need not be. You will discover, as I did, that much like going to a fabulous party and meeting new people, social media networking can be so much fun, and it can be very valuable and profitable for the growth of your business.

I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert (pardon the pun) on social media. My area of expertise is in transcription and specialized administrative support. But once I discovered how useful and vital — and enjoying — social media was for the growth of my new business, it dawned on me that there were probably many others who may need a small nudge to get going …

So, yes, you too — come, break away, spread your wings, and become a sensational, successful social media butterfly!

Remain true to yourself. Even though the purpose of using your newly attained social media skills is to help promote and grow your business, you should remember to remain true to yourself – be who you are. By doing so, you will attract new clients and contacts who will not only be a good fit for you but who will be helpful resources for your business.

Consistency is the key to success. This couldn’t be truer if you want to be a sensational, successful social media butterfly. A busy daily schedule can make it difficult — I know — to set time aside to be active on your social media sites. The only way to be sensational and successful is to dedicate time every day to engage in conversations and interact with others in your social groups.

Which sites are the right ones for me? Social media sites are all different and offer different ways of interacting and networking. I suggest that if you are just beginning your social media journey, research each site and see which one(s) fit your style. My own research resulted in my choosing Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I chose these according to my individual style and my business’ networking objectives.

Facebook
I love Facebook. Period. Long before I began using Facebook professionally, I was using it to reconnect with old friends, past co-workers, and family. Kimberly LeRiche, a social media marketing assistant, believes that word of mouth is a business’ best friend. Kimberly states that “platforms such as Facebook make word-of-mouth marketing happen instantaneously with large numbers of people.”

In her Magic Fan Pages series, Kimberly also gives tips on utilizing Facebook’s Business Fan Pages to the max. She states that using Fan Pages correctly can optimize search engine results and can bring new customers and clients to your Web site. And who doesn’t want that?

Twitter
For the most part, Twitter is simple to get started with. New tweeters generally get the hang of it quickly. I did. And Twitter serves as a great marketing tool for your business because of its simplicity and its limitations on how long a tweet can be. You do not need to post a long comment or announcement (as a matter of fact, you can’t). And on the flip side, you do not need to read a long, drawn-out blog entry. Such a perfect little strategy for our busy, busy lives!

LinkedIn
If you use LinkedIn wisely, you will find countless ways of making professional contacts — all around the world. What I love about LinkedIn is that it is a highly professional site. Its purpose is to connect you to employers, other professionals and entrepreneurs in your line of business, or other professionals who might need your goods or services.

In an incredibly informative podcast interview with Peter Clayton of Total Picture Radio, Donna Sweidan, an expert in career exploration issues and a strategic career coach, discusses the importance of being an active and contributing member on LinkedIn’s discussion boards (amongst tons of other valuable information). Donna explains that many of us start off with the idea that LinkedIn is just a place to “park” our resume. Simply stated, this cannot be further from our goal. It is so important to be active. As Donna puts it, “You have to participate in some of the phenomenal tools that LinkedIn has created.”

Another great point Donna brings out in her interview with Peter is that networking on LinkedIn is not just about receiving but is very much about giving. “If you know the answer to something,” Donna says, “Share it to help others because it can only come back to you in a positive way in the long term.”

I know how true this really is. I have made so many wonderful connections just in my short time as a LinkedIn member. I am continuously amazed at people’s generosity and their willingness to help with issues and their eagerness to answer other members’ questions.

So what is holding you back? The time is NOW to get your business noticed in social media networking. Visit social networking Web sites to find the match that is right for you, seek the help from a social media specialist, and get going on on becoming a sensational, successful social media butterfly!