Does Social Media Have You Scratching Your Head?

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Image Credit: John Magner, Social Media Mix

Other than the time and effort it takes to distribute content, ideas or your message, what makes social media so compelling? This is not an all inclusive article on how to do all things social media. Instead, I want to share three fascinating truths about what I learned in implementing a social media plan:

Strategy 1 – think measurable, external, specific, tangible, verifiable ways to make value a driven result and not something that is left for the other person to figure out on their own. If you think about the concrete things you want the other person or group to do, think how using social media benefits the user. For example, if I want someone to buy my ebook on “Choosing a niche and creating a product that sucks less than your marketing” I first theoritically think why anyone would buy this. Once I drown myself in those thoughts, I think next… external, specific, tangible, measurable and verifiable ways I can communicate the impact or result my content, idea or information will do. The one thing left out is time, when the result or desired outcome will happen.

Strategy 2 – Where does someone doing what you do publish their information? For me, if I am training on how to use social media for a guy who runs a tennis camp, first thing I have him or her ask themselves is, “where are the ideal hangouts and how sticky or likely this area is influential versus just a gathering place”. When you are creating these areas of influence, that is, how authentic the magazine, blog, social site, search result, or where they go to find stuff out, if it resembles any direct response opportunities (text ads, banners, image display box, etc) then we can test. In my experience, the more edgy, less pretty and more focused on pushing the line, regardless if it’s your style, you then write, talk, speak, educate, and engage yourself to fit in and blend your marketing.

Strategy 3 -no money to advertise. I know, that is ultimate suckiest aspect of trying to become successful. All it means is you have to get more creative, you have to be willing to get outside your comfort zone that much more, because it’s usually you talking, selling, or marketing in a way that doesn’t have a pre-defined way or the path hasn’t been widely followed.

You are probably scratching your head on what to do now… First, visit here Buddy Press Blogging Platform?that shows you how to get started setting up your own blog network. This is the extreme. There are plenty other platforms like WordPress or using existing social media networks out there to join the conversation. This is just something that will get you invested in learning how to engage with social media. It’s the ultimate measurable, external, specific, tangible and measurable way to get started in building a social media plan.

But, if you don’t want to go that route… The best way to get started is to go into the best hangouts with the most conversations: Facebook.