Are you trying to build your online audience? This is a difficult task every business will face at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. I am going to share with you the importance of connecting when building your online and offline profile.
For your business to be a success, you need to connect with people outside of your target audience because they may know someone who could be a potential client. You must always spread your connecting net far and wide because you never know when that email or phone call may come in.
I recently received a call from Internet and Mobile World in Romania where they had googled ‘Social Commerce’ and I had appeared on the front page three times. They then asked me to speak at their event, which I accepted. If it wasn’t for my ability to connect and build my brand, I would have never received that call, and I wouldn’t be going to Romania in September.
You also need to consider how your brand is portrayed. If you don’t spend some time connecting with other social network users, you may find your brand under the radar for too long. There is always a time to launch, but don’t leave it too long – you don’t want to lose the buzz around your brand just because you aren’t taking the time to connect. Look at how your major competitors are performing and give them some competition – be as engaging as they are and you will soon find your profile improving.
It is important to connect online, but you also need to connect offline too. Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your brand and attend events posted within the group. If trade shows are relevant to your business, make sure you are present when it matters most. Connecting offline is so important because word of mouth will transfer into the online world and you will see your brand’s status improving gradually over time.
Without connecting with your audience, your brand will go unnoticed. Make sure you are using Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and most importantly; Google+. Keep your Twitter handle name short, simple and brand specific so that potential consumers can find you. Engage with your audience on Facebook and supply them with interesting and brand specific content to make sure they are sharing it with their audience. When using Pinterest, think about your brand in a visual way. Make the images engaging, and use the text area to give a summary of the product/service along with a link and keywords – making it easy for your community to then share. You must be posting on Google+ at least twice a day because this is the only social network (except YouTube) that Google picks up in real time.
Are you the blogging type? If so, you are at a real advantage. Post fresh content each week on your blog with keywords hyperlinked and tags in place. Unsure which platform to use? Look into WordPress, Tumblr or Posterous.
Do you research into the best ways to connect with your audience and implement them in your marketing strategy. Make sure you are utilising the tools and networks available to maximise your brand’s exposure.
Have you been connecting to build your profile?