Social media is not the knight in shining armour that rides over the hill to save the day in Halifax, Dartmouth or elsewhere. Social media is meant to enhance what you are already doing in business.
There’s a lot of buzz about social media these days, especially when it comes to business in the Halifax and Dartmouth area. Many claims are made about what social media can do. But what is the realistic view of social media for business?
To be right to the point, if your business is not doing well, social media is probably not going to be the one thing that saves your business. You should look at your business model and examine where the problem might be. Social media is not meant to be your saviour.
If you are not working your business smartly, then social media won’t help either. Business requires work period. That’s why there will always be top producers and those who just get by. But if you are a goal orientated hard working business owner, social media can magnify what you are doing to the masses. And that is good news.
So if you are not doing anything in your business, this will show in your social media. If you are a going concern in business, your social media will reflect that and create new opportunities. Social media is not magic. It’s a marketing tool that often allows you direct access to your customer.
I am often asked how much time it takes to do social media during the day. When I get this question, I try to give the person asking a realistic answer. Social media is not something that you put on auto-pilot and forget about it. There are real people on the other end and they need your attention.
With that last thought in mind, social media takes as long as it takes to get the job done. I think of my social media as my customer phone line. It’s open all day long, when possible. Now I am not on social media all the time. I have to provide customer training sessions. But I use social media when ever I get the chance.
I tell my clients I would like them to spend at least 1 hour a day, spread out in several intervals. Social media is not something you monitor all day long. As a business owner, you don’t have the time. You take advantage of social media when you get the chance; especially when you have access to a smart phone. I might also add that there should be some thought as to when you will do your social media. You should have a plan.
Your social media should also be enhancing what you are doing face to face with your customers. Sure social media is a great way to keep in touch online. It can help you stay top of mind with your customers.
So what’s our walk-a-way for today? Social media requires effort. It will enhance or magnify what you are doing. If you are not prepared to put some work into your social media, don’t bother with it. It will make you look bad. If you are prepared to work it, you can create lots of opportunity. I am cheering you on today. Go make something happen.
