Should You Be Obsessed with Social Networking?

Can Social Media Actually Increase Profits?

There is Facebook, Google +, Linked In, Ping, My Space and now Pinterest. You could fill up a book with all the social media platforms on the market. It is important to access which social networking sites will give you the “biggest bang for your buck” without take up 22 hours out of your day. This can be a difficult balancing act.

The verdict is still out there whether or not social media is a real time waster or is it increasing profits for business in the long run.

Businesses is more about developing good relationships and transparency and you need to evaluate whether social networking really does this

So what are the advantages of using social media effectively?
1. Gives you regular exposure
2. Shows that you are an authority and/or expert in your field
3. Shows that you care about “your peeps” after you establish an initial connection with them

What then are the disadvantages of social media?
1. Can be very time consuming
2. It may not be converting customers into sales

If you have not started in social media, perhaps the best word of advice is to start slow. Decide on a few social websites and test the waters.

Be consistent with your posts and keep track on what types of comments you might be acquiring.

If you are social media junkie, make a spreadsheet and go back and see which ones are really working. Are people sharing it or are they commenting on the posts? These are clues your time and effort is paying off.

Short, great tips in your field of interest can be a great way to develop better relationships with your customers.
Don’t just self promote because people will be turned off in no time.

A good rule of thumb is the 1/3 rule. Set your posts up into three areas: one tip, one quote and one link to your blog or sales page. Approximately 25-30% of the time you can promote something, but the rest of the time focus on “your peeps.”

Lastly, find the best time of the week to do your posting and focus on it. Otherwise, you may find yourself getting into an ugly time management trap if you use to be posting on a daily basis.