Social Networking Online: How to Attract and Sponsor Using Web 2.0

Social Networking Online: How to Attract and Sponsor Using Web 2.0 By Jackie Ulmer Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of Social Media Marketing? Tweet this? What's a Twitter? Getting FACED on Facebook? Video Marketing? Are you kidding? What does all of this mean for you? Relax, we are going to cover some specifics you'll need to know and break it down into bite-size chunks for you to explore and master! How would your business change if you had people coming to you, pre-qualified and already interested in your business? What if you were "hunted" instead of the "hunter"? It's no secret that social media marketing, with tools such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, is exploding the businesses of many network marketing and direct sales professionals. Top leaders in the business, and maybe even your own upline and sponsor may already be using these tools. Shouldn't you be using them, too? Does this describe you? You've called everyone in your warm market and signed up a few who aren't doing anything. Those who didn't sign up don't want to hear any more about your business. "Walking and talking" your business to strangers is way outside of your comfort zone. Cold calling leaves you with a pit in your stomach. The last 100 leads you called from a paid lead list were either rude, demanded to be removed from the list or mentioned that it had been over three years since they had requested any information. Your business is broke from sinking money into advertising and lead lists. You tried Pay-Per-Click advertising and blew through $1000 faster than the first few hours in Vegas. So, now what? How are you going to build that business and earn that gangster income? Well, there is a solution—and an exciting one! Experts are estimating that over $3 billion dollars were spent on social media "word of mouth" marketing in 2009. How would your profits improve if part of that was in your business? Facebook is now the 2nd most highly trafficked site, right behind Google. YouTube is the number 2 Search Engine. What are the 400+ million Facebook users looking for online? Well, some of them might just be looking for you, your products and your opportunity! As we move further into the 21st century, it's become very clear that the Internet is a tool that can make a big difference in your business and one that you want to consider adding to your "toolbox." The key to being successful is to know just how to use the tools of social media marketing successfully and set yourself apart from the crowd who is bent on doing nothing more than blatantly spamming and pitching their business all over the Web. First, what is social media marketing or Web 2.0? It's a variety of online tools and sites that allows networking with others and ongoing conversations online, between two people, twenty people or two hundred people. It's interactive and creates community. Think along the lines of an online Chamber of Commerce meeting or networking event. People with common goals and similar interests congregate in specific online areas. Your goal is to find the target areas specific to your interests and business and begin to meet and build relationships with others there. Effectively engaging in business through these sites is still all about building relationships. It's about engaging, getting social and getting to know each other. This establishes trust and compatibility. It's not about blatant advertising or pushing your products or opportunity. Lead with yourself and build a presence, brand, message and following. If you haven't started yet, relax, it's not too late. We are going to cover the 7 critical elements for creating your social media plan. And, if business is your goal, you must have an effective social networking plan in place. 1. Decide what your goals are for your social media strategy. Write them down, as this will assist in putting together the rest of your strategy. These goals can be based around new friendship/connections/followers; group interactions; status updates, etc. 2. Decide on one or two marketing funnels/social networking sites to begin with. Here is where most people get into trouble and begin feeling overwhelmed. They try to take on too many at once. Start with Facebook, and then move on to others such as Twitter or YouTube. 3. Determine who your target market is and how you will find them on social media sites. On Facebook, it might be groups or pages; on Twitter, you can do a keyword search. Once you've found your market, spend your time in these areas making friends/followers; interacting with and engaging in conversations. 4. At this point, you are ready to develop your social networking strategy. Determine the amount of time you have daily, weekly and monthly and then write down some target goals around this time. Set your goals around making friends and creating conversations. Most of this can be done in 30 minutes a day. 5. Create and contribute content. A big part of online marketing revolves around creating content. Content consists of: articles/blog posts; posts/comments on other people's blogs; videos; content on groups/forums. Content should always provide interest and value. It is NEVER promotional. 6. Remember that these are SOCIAL sites. So you want to build a brand and a message around letting people see YOU and your personality as well as your business. Be fun; share resources and social concepts. 7. Use a tracking and goal sheet to set your weekly goals, track actual results and create consistency. Be focused, disciplined, and avoid wasting time. Make your time count by always contributing in a positive way that will move you forward within your circle. Be consistent. Developing your brand, message, presence and following is done by being there regularly. Become unforgettable and you will attract an audience, customers and business partners.