Social media feedback (e.g Likes) - How they are an asset to you?

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If your business is not utilizing the power of social media ( Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Whatsapp etc ) in its promotional campaigns then its on its own path to extinction like the Dodo which disappeared in 1662. Why? Because social media is the only media that allows your promotions to ride on the phenomenal influence of social interactions (e.g word of mouth ) .You see your clients or customers are human beings and social creatures who do all they do in the context of a relationship. In the real community the best way to get
something from people is when you first greet them, ask how they are doing, express sympathy for their misfortune or congratulations for their accomplishments and after that you can then successfully ask for what you want. Tell me what makes you think its different online when you are still dealing with the same human being there? Good old advertising falters on this one because its methods are not sensitive enough. As a result target markets have grown sick of advertising methods that psychologically exploit them. Advert avoidance is now a buzz word in its own right. A vacuum is being created and it is this vacuum that social media is filling in fast.

Social media feedback (e.g Likes) - How they are an asset to you?

The need to promote on social media by business is greatly appreciated by many people so much such that there is now a lot of confusing hype around this topic and some opportunists are taking advantage. Probably the most out standing reason pertaining why most are being taken advantage of is because of the fact that social media as a promotional platform is a new phenomenon. Unscrupulous digital media consultants usually sell the idea of gaining a huge number of likes especially on Facebook for their clients. But after a huge number of likes is gained how are they an asset to me ? How does Facebook likes translate to ROI (return on investment) ? Many businesses are being sold a half baked cake by these people therefore it is the purpose of this article to reaffirm the importance of social media and to show proven ways it can bring value to your enterprise.

Social prospecting the art of mining the social media gold mine.

A gold mine

The reason why you are on social media as a business is because you have a commercial need like selling a product or service. The social media is therefore, unique in that it helps you meet this need by giving access to an “infinite” supply of prospective buyers, sellers, partners, employers etc. In a sense it is a gold mine. The key to mining this gold mine successfully is called social prospecting. As we all know that prospecting is a way of identifying gold or precious mineral reserves which precedes the actual mining process so in that sense social prospecting helps you to identify the vast commercial or professional opportunities available on social media. I will explain this important
idea in terms of the following principles you should know and do.

1. Stimulate interest in what you offer.

The reason for posts and the content you share as a business person is not show off but to stimulate interest in what you do so that you know who is interested. Social media allows you to share relevant content in all formats available for example text, videos, images, gifs, voice notes etc for maximum impact. The focus of the design of this content should be on clarity so that the content clearly communicate your intended message. Your audience should not guess what you are trying to say. Every thing should be sacrificed for the sake of clarity because the only way an interested person can respond is when he or she has understood what you are conveying .

2. Create an audience by creating a channel.

In your social prospecting one thing you should do is to create a receptive audience by creating a channel. By channel I do not mean that you should open a radio or TV station but one can create a channel by simply telling his network the time he or she posts interesting content and remaining committed to such a program. The key to the success of radio, television and newspapers in creating valuable audience is giving time when their content is made available and committing to it. Without investments in transmission equipment you can create a valuable audience by simply doing these simple actions on social media.

3.Convert prospects to paying customers.

Social media gives feedback pertaining your posts when people like, share, comment your content and it also gives you notifications pertaining your network's birthdays, work anniversaries etc. You should know that all these things are only an excuse for you to prospect for business ! Period. You should therefore, contact the people who send feedback to you in a communication method which is in effect a process that converts prospects to paying customers. Myself I use scripts and they have done wonders for me in giving me clients for my blog creation business and even during my previous occupation - real estate.

So as you convert prospects to customers or clients your actions at this point should be careful and must be dictated by the following principles;

i.  Remember its the internet and you are talking to strangers.

ii. You should focus on making a relationship first before making a client.

iii. Though it does not take for ever remember that establishing a relationship takes a bit of time and time takes patience. But if you are skillful you can establish a worthwhile relationship with a total stranger in only two days.

4.Social prospecting is primarily about quality.

The thinking that a mere huge number of likes is a measure of success is flawed. With social media just like in real life if you successfully manage to create a single and good professional relationship this can be a great success in terms of return on investment. With mass advertising its all about quantity but with social media the opposite is true - its all about quality. The idea of quality can come into play only when you manage to duplicate more and more quality relationships. If you master the skill of creating a quality relationship you would have gotten a license to print money because social media feedback and notifications are an ever growing and infinite supply of prospective clients and opportunities.