Social Media Etiquette
In Facebook – Content Counts!
You have a Facebook page and you’re ready to use it to bring in traffic, increase engagement, and generate leads and sales. Did you know that 90% of people, once they “like” your Facebook page, rarely come back? That means that your job is to content that is not only rich and engaging, but also shows up in your followers’ News Feed (you know, the first thing you see when you open your FaceBook.) Continue reading
The Power of Positivity
Positivity is one of the most important values of my life. Two years ago my business mentor and I mapped out my personal values and made a chart to see how they affected my life and my business. While I always knew I was an optimistic person, it was eye-opening to see that Positivity topped the list. Once I really paid attention, though, it all made sense. The times that I’ve come from a mindset of positivity – whether in my social media, writing for magazines, blogging, ezines or speeches – my business and I literally shined. When I got ‘stuck’ or things just went wrong, that was when I let negativity in the door.
Studies have shown that positive people are more organized, healthier, productive, efficient and make a better first impression. They create a snowball effect of attracting more positive people to them and therefore enjoy more authentic friendships and relationships in business and life.
We can all benefit from the power of positivity. The next time you post to Facebook, e-mail a LinkedIn connection, write a blog post or call someone you met at a networking group, take 30 seconds to clear your mind and connect with your positivity. When you write, speak or act from a positive place, your audience will perceive you in a more attractive, positive light and want to hear more of what you are saying. A win-win situation all around.
10 Ways to Build Trust
One of the biggest challenges you may face as a business owner or entrepreneur – and yet the most rewarding – is building trust between you and your target audience. Trust is a powerful tool. It is a great honor for your clients and readers to bestow upon you as well. Like Spidey says “with great power comes great responsibility.”
It is very important to be aware of how you present yourself through your online presence (websites, social media, ezines, etc.) in order to earn and maintain that trust. Here are some ideas to keep in mind that will help you build and keep the trust with your audience:
1. Testimonials: Share the praise you receive from clients and colleagues directly with your readers by including testimonials, complete with names, photos and contact info when appropriate, anywhere you have a presence online.
2. Accreditations: Be sure to mention any honors, awards, accreditations, etc that you hold on your “About” page, in your bios and as they occur.
3. Photos: Using real photos of yourself will resonate much more authentically than pictures of cute kittens. Beyond your headshots, share photos of you at speaking events, attending networking groups and in action doing what you do best.
4. Consistency / Dependability: If you say you are going to publish a weekly ezine, then publish weekly. If you say that you will have a networking meeting on a specific date, then show up, no matter how many people rsvp. Consistency equals reliability equals dependability equals trust!
5. Personable: Let you true personality show through in your writing. Robotic and sterile writing will get you yawns. Don’t be afraid to let you personality show through, inject personal thoughts and share insights of the real you. Just be sure to give it the “mother test.” You know, the one where you picture what you are going to say in bright lights on a billboard where your mother will read it. Will she freak out? Then you should probably think again. Will she laugh and think “Oh, that’s so Dawn?” Then go for it!
6. Available: If you give out your e-mail, phone, Skype or other contact info, then answer inquiries in a timely manner.
7. Honesty: ‘nuff said.
8. High quality content and design: If you are going to have a blog, website, ezine, etc, invest in the time to build it right or hire someone else to do it for you. Sloppy design, grammar and spelling issues, confusing links… these are all yucky and will not build trust.
9. Follow through: Be true to promises or commitments you make online. Follow through and write about the result of your actions to your audience. See #4.
10. Be gracious and sincere and grateful: Believe me, your audience will feel this and they will appreciate it.
Facebook Bootcamp!
Over the last few years, I’ve learned to always be open to inspiration, for it can come from anywhere at any time. Current events, surfing the internet, volunteering in my children’s classrooms and puttering in my garden have all brought me big light bulb moments. Like last weekend – my family hit the mountain trails and we had a great time enjoying nature, and laughing as my husband, a veteran police officer, pretended to be a drill sergeant and lead us in “family bootcamp.” Light bulb!! I thought, wow, wouldn’t it be fun to have a mini Facebook bootcamp for my next blog post? Bootcamp for the mind – and for the Facebook – is a beautiful thing. I hope that my inspiration provides you with a little bit of your own.
Facebook Bootcamp
Do you have a Facebook business page or profile but feel like it’s a little, well, flabby? Has your page been a bit of a couch potato, always watching from the sidelines but never really raising your heartbeat? Well, it’s time for a bit of Facebook bootcamp – and I’ll be your kind, yet ruthless drill sergeant today. Ready? Let’s go!
WARM-UP: First thing’s first. You need to be prepared for this workout. Let’s talk about your Info tab – make sure that it is filled to the brim with information. Are all of your websites and social media links present? Do you have a captivating bio that tells your brilliant story and makes readers want to know more? Don’t forget about your mission, your products and your contact information. First-time visitors will often go straight to the Info tab to learn more about who you are or what your business is all about. Don’t miss out on this very important first-impression moment.
PUSH YOUR LIMITS: Time to step it up and push yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. Use the built-in camera in your laptop to make a video of yourself talking about a new product and post it. Publicly schedule that event on your Facebook page that you’ve always dreamed of doing but keep putting off.
STAY THE COURSE: It’s time to prove your stamina. I’ve often said that social media is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You need to commit to being present and active in order for your social media to work. Take this bootcamp challenge: Commit to post original content once a day. You can still repurpose other content or comment on current events, etc, but you must write at least one post per day that comes from your heart. Share an insight, a breakthrough moment, or that you finally chose the perfect color for your office. Whatever it may be – write it. It is in these posts that your fans will get to know – and trust – the authentic you, leading to loyal followers who will be more likely to look your way when they need a trusted source to help meet their needs.
GET BUFF: Build your followers! Brainstorm ways to reach out and attract fans to your social media in order to increase your visibility and make sure your message is getting to as much of your target audience as possible. Have special promotions or giveaways. Offer special reports or downloadable guides. Find another entrepreneur and join forces to promote each other and offer something special between the two of you to build both your lists.
COOL DOWN: Within gratitude you will find your social media zen. Acknowledge the value of others via your Facebook page – and be sure to use the @ feature to link to their Facebook profiles or business pages. Not only are you giving them authentic gratitude, but you are also showing a valuable part of your own personality – one that will draw people to you even more.
Wow, check out those Facebook muscles! I’m proud of you – you survived our mini Facebook bootcamp. Now go grab a smoothie and make sure you say “hi” to me on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DigitalDawnFB.
Facebook Masters Class
I really listen to my clients and ezine readers, because they are often the driving forces behind new products and services. Feedback from audience members from a speaking engagement in Malibu , as well as from several former clients has inspired me to create a new “Facebook Master’s Class.”
The holidays are approaching and many businesses are looking for a way to use Facebook as a means to market their products and services. I have committed to offering a special teleclass that will include downloadable materials, two 60-minute conference calls with downloadable recordings and bonus hot-seat sessions. The full value for this telecourse exceeds $500, but I will be offering it but I will be offering it at an amazing early-bird signup special of $149.
E-mail info@digitaldawn.biz if you’re interested and we’ll send you the details and how to sign up. Mention that you saw this offer on the Digital Dawn blog. Class starts Oct 12, so act quickly – this early-bird discount rate only lasts through Friday, Oct 8.
(Psst…. sign up for the Digital Dawn ezine, and there will be even more of a discount offered in the publication coming this Wednesday, Oct 6. Click here: http://bit.ly/d24ICi)
