Doing Business On Twitter Or Facebook?
She Tweets Me,
She Tweets Me Not,
She Tweets Me,
She Tweets Me Not,
She Tweets Me…
Howcum all we 30 million small business owners only ever hear about using Twitter and Facebook comes to us in useless abstract terms?
Do we really care about all the bundles of tech apps and clever little increase-your-overnight-income opps? And how credible are the sources that bombard us with such meaningless, time-wasting minutia? Is there really a business owner anywhere on the planet who actually buys into the daily onslaught of claims being foisted on us by self-anointed “social media experts”?
Surely those online businesses that promise 27,943 new followers a day or 16 million new fans a year can’t be serious? Why is it that mixed in with these thousands of clowns, there is only a handful of resources that truly teach the only information that’s really needed in order to be successful with social media marketing messages?
When was the last time you saw a
good run-down of things to avoid,
when trying to market your business
on Twitter and Facebook?
What’s acceptable as social media business content is far different than what you might put on your website, or in an email blast or a news release or a traditional ad or commercial. More importantly, it is far different than the “socializing” climate that most Twitter and Facebook users indulge in.
I have seen countless scores of respectable businesses stumbling through trying to manage Facebook content (text/words/copy/photos) that is tasteless, vulgar, trashy and often filled with curse words posted by disgruntled employees or vendors, and even by young adult children of the business owner or manager.
Marketing your business on Facebook requires persistent (often constant) ongoing attention and maintenance to ensure that others who don’t share your sense of business decorum are not invading your site with negative associations while you sleep.
Business users of Twitter are not as subjected to outside influence because Twitter is an outbound media vehicle, where people can –like ships in the night– respond to your passing business message with their own passing message but they can’t invade your business message space with negative input.
Facebook, on the other hand, is an inbound media vehicle that allows outsiders to post virtually anything they choose whenever they choose, and it ends up plastered right there next to your carefully constructed heartfelt business message, serving to undermine your business credibility until it can be spotted and removed.
What this distills down to is that business marketing applications in social media can be very effective when they are carefully planned and monitored daily. Yes, daily.
You may think you’re above all that, and are
capable of simply “winging it.” Think again.
You can’t let other Twitter users provoke you into a debate (or even a one-time comment) about politics or religion unless these subject areas are part of your business foundation.
Don’t believe me? Try it once; your “Followers” will drop like flies. Business-focused Twitter users appreciate business-focused and/or motivational messages, but if those same people do not like your politics, or posts you might make about other taboo subjects (racial profiling, sexism, abortion, anything that’s highly-charged), they will cut you out of their contact base in an instant.
Like joining a game or contest that’s already in progress, enter slowly and politely until you have a clear reading on the unwritten rules. Then plan accordingly and be prepared to stay on top of it every day.
Oh, and please always remember to say “Please”
and especially “Thank you.” Thank you!
931.854.0474 or Hal@BusinessWorks.US
Strange, this post is totaly unrelated to what I was searching google for, but it was listed on the first page. I guess you’re doing something right if Google likes you enough to put you on the first page of a non-related search.
Danke! I appreciate that you took the time and trouble to let me know this outstanding news. I’m not so sure that I’m doing something right OR that Google likes me all that much, but it is nice to have my writing get noticed by the big search guy in the sky… and of course by you. Thanks for visiting. Please return by accident or on purpose! Regards – Hal
Man, talk about a fantastic post! I?ve stumbled across your blog a few times within the past, but I usually forgot to bookmark it. But not again! Thanks for posting the way you do, I genuinely appreciate seeing someone who actually has a viewpoint and isn?t really just bringing back up crap like nearly all other writers today. Keep it up!
Thank you, Angela Faulk. I am most grateful for your visits and your straight-from-the-shoulder supportive comments. Please return soon . . . or, subscribe free by clicking under center column RSS Feed on homepage! Have a great week ahead. And thanks again. Regards – Hal
Hey Hal – You have a very nice blog!! It is both attractive and informative. I plan to bookmark it and get the feeds also…Lida
What a excellent website and informative posts! I will add backlink and bookmark this site. Regards, Calkin
Thanks Lida – I appreciate your visit and your comments. Of course I also greatly appreciate you bookmarking the site and subscribing via (free) RSS feed. Come again! Regards – Hal
Thank you for your visit and comments, Calkin! Backlinks and bookmarks are good . . . much appreciated! Visit again! Regards to YOU! Hal
There is obviously a lot to know about business use of social media. I think you made some good points in your featured guest blog posts also. Keep working. Great job!
Thank you, Jordon. I appreciate your visit and your kind words. It’s always encouraging to get positive comments back! Happy New Year! Regards – Hal
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