Stepping out into social media can be somewhat daunting for traditional marketers or for individuals new to marketing. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult to be successful. Research, and choose a few initiatives that will allow you to have incremental success until you are comfortable in launching deeper into social media applications.
Social media permits you to:
Gain prospects through customer outreach or evangelism
Share your expertise and knowledge with the world
Tap into the wisdom of other consumers
Enables customers to help other customers
It is time to try this marketing vehicle! Do not dismiss social media as a part of your marketing plan.
Another Thursday here in Max Pro Land and we have an important issue to discuss this week. And that subject is the art of the sale itself. It can be said that people don’t buy what they need they buy what they want. This is an important maxim to keep in mind when crafting your sales pitch.
When you send emails to your list are you giving them they need or want?
When you focus on what they need you are taking a sensible and logic approach. And unfortunately that approach doesn’t convey well into emotional buying patterns. You need to focus on giving them what they want instead. And what your customers want is an end to their pain. Address their problem. Speak to the pain itself. And you’ll have a much better handle on sales.
Social Marketing Is A Big Giant Black Hole Monster!!!
It’ll destroy time and space and leave you wondering if you can market with a Blog and Facebook.Agh!
Well… it’s not really.
Social Marketing Is Awesome!
But that got your attention right? (If not, blame it on the writer having a cold… boo at flu season!) But why did I say those things?Well other than a cheap way to get attention, I did it to mix it up things a little bit. Life needs a random odd moment or two from time to time to keep things… less serious. Whether you laugh, dance, paint, play Wii-Golf, or listen to motivational speaker tapes- we all do things to feel better, relax, and be… well… less serious.
But this isn’t really a mindset blog post. It’s about…
One Simple And Easy Tactic To Help You Socially Market!
Be you. If you’re using Social Marketing with your business (Blog, Facebook, forums, media, articles, etc.) and you’re out in the trenches or on the benches (more positive than trenches and makes you think of a mall courtyard doesn’t it?) you’re going to be communicating with people. People like you. Potential customers. Potential fans. Potential critics. Potential naysaying critics who could bruise your web-rep. So if you’re writing a Blog… if you’re commenting in forums… if you’re on Facebook or Myspace in groups… be you. Whatever your product or niche, you’re talking to someone just like you… but in a different situation. You might be talking to them about MaxPro or How To Golf Like A Pro, but tomorrow that same person may be trying to get someone to buy a copy-machine. People like people, so be you.
Three Key Ways “To Be You.”
1) When you’re talking about your product or service, be casual without losing the professional. If context allows, discuss the broader subject or other subjects, but stay on track. Think of a good Customer Service Manager or Greeter that was laid back, cool and informative that you’ve met. Like that.
2)Switch it up a bit! I’ve tried to a bit in this post. If you have a blog or you’re on a social network like Facebook, be personable at times. Throw a little variety into the mix. You’ll have to be careful with this as you’re a business but the ever-evolving world of Web 2.0 (what they call the ‘new’ internet today) likes originality. All that could take is a funny or witty or random post now and then. Or an informative relaxed string of comments on a forum.
3)Get You.. Out! Whatever your niche is, and the broader subject as well, get out there. Forums, Blogs, Profiles and Groups on Social Networks, Media sites like Youtube, sites like Digg, etc. Find other people out there and talk to them. Whenever you can provide good information, a tip or two, a suggestion, a story. Once in awhile share something amusing as well, especially if it relates to your niche. Just get out there. You may find a lot of dialog already started and you can jump in. You might not find much at all. If that’s the case, you can start the dialog!
-AND- Never forget that when you’re out in the Social Networking world… don’t oversell! Spam and Web 2.0 do not get along. Now you can talk about your product or service if the conversation is ready to. But if you just post links and nothing else all over the niche sites, people will not like you or your product. Upset a few the wrong way and you could earn a bad reputation. -Best bet is to offer information or advice and casually mention your product or share a link at the end of your otherwise non-selling comment or post.- Take Sam Walton’s (founder of Wal-mart) old saying, “the customer is always right.” With that somewhat included in your social marketing mindset, you’ll understand how to talk with potential customers and supporters on blogs, forums, and groups. It’s a lot of fun really!
Do you ever feel that you have lost connection with your customer base? This sense of separation can come from ineffective communication or a result of poor listening, off-target marketing, or an issue of weak product branding. Disconnection can happen when the marketing campaign utilizes wrong strategies that stray from the interests of the targeted, niche market. How do you reconnect? It is vital to Internet marketing success that an “alive” relationship is established and maintained at all times. Never take for granted your audience! They must feel valued and made to feel important or you will lose them, both new buyers and repeat purchasers. “Show me you know me” needs to be your focus. Be Connected!
We’ve been a bit Blog themed lately here at The Max Pro Blog… which makes sense, as this is a blog, but it’s also good for many other reasons.
A Blog is one of the simplest and most effective ways to catalog your business.
You can keep track of ideas, drop announcements, discuss promotional material, keep people up-to-speed on the doings of what you do, discuss: content, sales, customer service… and much more.
In our post-modern 21st century world the Blog becomes the store Greeter, the Customer Service rep and the likable Sales-person all at once. It’s a great way to share, connect, and sell to the customer.
Blog Tips and Tricks.
- Write now. Write often. (As in person, you have to engage the reader/customer.)
- Be professional. Be yourself. (We all like genuine people.)
- Learn your niche. Present your knowledge or service that the customer learns something.
- Interact. (Dialogue on a Blog is crucial. Else it’s just a regular website, not a Blog.)
- When a Blogger, Do as the Bloggers Do. (Visit other blogs and forums in your niche and interact!)
- Have fun. If you’re not having fun Blogging, likely readers/customers won’t either.
Once you have a basic understanding of what the Blogging world is like and you’re writing consistent Blog updates it will really grow on you. Before you know it, you’ll have quite a bit of material, active commenters, and increased traffic and sales.
Whether your Blog is driving massive traffic or if it’s just a nice PR/Customer Service arm of your business, or simply a way to chit-chat with customers, it will be an important part of your business in our rapidly evolving electronic society. Exciting huh?
We’ll be updating the Max Pro Blog more on this topic – Quick Tips and Tricks. And look for future Blog related posts from our excellent Blog contributers.
Refunds….You might as well acknowledge that they will happen. We all know that any product or opportunity is not right for every single person. That’s just the way it is. You might hate my favorite restaurant….or maybe you would never go to my favorite movie. You do all love Snickers, don’t you? We are all different. It’s better just to accept that the products you sell on your Internet Site will not suit every person, and some people will request a refund.
You will also find some people who purchase only out of curiosity. They will see the refund policy and think: “What have I got to lose?” Some of them are ‘professional refunders’. Does it make us happy? Absolutely not. Can we change it? NO! Several years ago when I became the ‘Queen of Refunds’ in our business, I was almost personally insulted or felt attacked when someone returned a product and asked (sometimes not so nicely) for a refund.
I understand from some of you that you are receiving emails from your customers and they are requesting a refund from you. You don’t have to get personally involved in the refund process or feel responsible. That is what we are here for. It’s just one of the little perks in maintaining your Zoomica membership! We will help you if you need us. We are also here for your customers!
Please understand that each product or service has a refund policy which the customer is aware of before he/she makes a purchase. You don’t have to state the refund policy, give instructions on returning the product, or do the refund. The Zoomica Staff will take care of all of this.
If you are asked about a refund, the best thing you can do is to instruct the customer to put in a support ticket at iipsupport.com—to the billing department. We will direct them in obtaining a refund or in canceling a service. As you know some of the transactions go through Clickbank…others through Priceless Possiblities…others through Zoomica Solutions or Cool Net (Momentum Media Global). If the customer will state exactly what they wish to refund or cancel, we can better help them by giving the correct instructions.
There is never a need for a customer to feel panicky! We maintain our Help Desk at iipsupport.com Monday through Friday. In most cases, support tickets are answered within 24 – 48 hours unless the request is more involved or we need help from our bosses. Please remember that we are real, live people in an office and we care! We do not, however, work 24/7. You will find us at our desks Monday through Friday…and out enjoying the Florida sunshine on Saturday and Sunday!
Don’t feel battered or beat up by refund requests. Just move on and focus your attention on the customers we can help to move forward with their own Internet business. Remember to keep your focus on what you want—not on what you don’t want.
