Social Media Marketing - Plan and Share Carefully

If your business tried to sell itself online in any way then you must think, and think carefully, about your social media marketing strategy.

You think it doesn't matter?  You're just a wee crafter?  A one-man-band?  Think again.

PLAN
You must plan very early on - before you get started would be ideal.  The golden rule is 'the earlier you plan, the better'.  Carefully consider these key things:

• What is it about your business that want to promote?  
• How do you want your company to be seen?
• Who is your ideal customer? 
• What is your goal?

Make sure you have these basics thought through before you begin, that way you will have a good, clear focus, your customers will start to get a good feel for the company from the start, and your online presence will be consistent.

Plan, and you'll be targeting the right people with the right message to sell a specific product or service.

SHARE CAREFULLY
Do not over-share.  Do not share randomly.  Do not share things that could harm your business's image.

• Too much sharing can drive your potential customers batty and even turn them off your company altogether.   To a certain degree, less is more.
• Share things that fit with your company's profile and that your customers would want to hear. Make sure that whatever it is, it  serves to strengthen your image.
• Do not share things that could upset or offend your customers - be very sure it is relevant and appropriate.  One really big mistake could cause a lot of damage.  If in doubt, don't share it.

 Make every interaction count.

If you have already forged ahead with your social media, it's not too late to pause and put the above advice into practice.

Do it now.

Small Business not Small Minded

I started a small business a few months ago and spent the next eight or nine months telling people it was "just a hobby", and then I had a revelation - it would never be a success if that's how I viewed it.  So, did I want a hobby or a business?  I had to decide.  I chose business, and decided to get serious about things.  And so it began...

So instead of just sewing and selling my wares at MooAndFlo and Lady Bracknell's Bags I decided to start learning in some detail how Facebook works, to start using blogs and Twitter and other social media in order to promote my businesses and in the process to actually learn how it all works (or is meant to work, at least).

And so Flo's Small Business Low Down was born.  A place to share what I find, get feedback from others, and keep a track of the excellent articles I find lurking in the back-waters of this thing we call the Internet.  You never know, I might even read some paper books - go figure!

So, if you want to share what I learn, BOOKMARK ME.  Now.  Yes, now.  Do it ---->

If you want to share what YOU learn, bookmark me and comment.

If you want to learn, read this, read that, read something - and then try it all for yourself.  It's the only way.