Lessons from a Growing Small Business-Social Media Connections

A few months ago I decided to make the changes needed to take Smart Virtual Assistant For You to the next level.  It has been a roller coaster ride.  I’m sure any small business owner understands this feeling.  Over the months since this decision was made, I’ve been doing everything an entrepreneur is told to do to make their business successful.  My previous marketing experience has become a key component to growing my business.  One thing I’ve been doing is utilizing Social Media to connect with friends, colleagues and even acquaintances from my past.  It’s a fun experience connecting with people that you’ve lost touch with from your past.  I’m amazed how many people are excited to re-connect.   Since my business is a service business almost everyone has an idea of what I’m offering.  However, once you get into the details, they are astounded at all of the services that can be offered through a virtual partnership.  The social media connections I’ve made have lead to many exciting leads.  However, I’ve learned a few lessons from the social media experience. 

1. Connecting is about finding people you can help and people who can help you.  A lot of businesses are using social media to connect to as many people as possible.  This has not been my intent when utilizing social media.  My goal is to find a few influential people whom I can partner with towards a common goal.  The goal could be marketing our businesses together.  It could be finding a way to make a client’s business run smoother and more efficiently.  It could even be to create something that makes this world a better place.  There are so many opportunities to make connections with other people and in the process grow your business.  During this progression, almost everybody learns a few lessons along the way.
2. Blogging is a wonderful opportunity for educating.  The main reason I started a blog was to provide a resource for potential partners to gain education about small businesses.  My hope is to explain how a virtual assistant can help them get back to doing what they love.  The most important aspect of a good blog is credibility and/or trustworthiness.   Selling in every post will not build these ideas.  A blog needs to be personal and find a way to connect with its readers.   Once a reader understands exactly what you are trying to provide and believes that you are trying to help them, they will keep coming back to see what information you are providing.
3. Growing a business by utilizing social media is about embracing change while thinking long term.  Listening to your audience and adjusting is critical.  It is critical to understand that ultimate success depends on building a successful strategy for participation and support.  A strong strategy includes resisting the urge to react to a situation and instead strive for focused clarity.  Quick responses are sometimes necessary in the social media world.   Try to make sure even your quickest reply takes into account your long term goals.
4. Try new tactics and analyze the results so you can be sure you understand what works and what doesn’t.   Opportunities abound right now for experimentation with social media tactics.  There are new tools being introduced every day.   Not long after each new tool appears a way to measure it usefulness is developed.   After you write your blog, do you track your activity through Google analytics?  What about impact?  Each business needs to find a way to measure and communicate their effectiveness in creating the right message.

The basic premise of what I’ve learned is:  Social Media and any marketing program shouldn’t be about selling but about making connections.  Listening to your potential and current partners in business is critical.  Interact with your connections to see if a strong partnership can be formed from this connection.

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Tagged as: Small Bu, Small Business Tips