Esther C Kane

Okay, here’s the scoop.  Read any book on social media programs and how to “use” them for marketing, etc. and what they will all tell you is that you have to participate.

Social media groups are very much like the chamber of commerce and other networking groups.  Just joining a local networking group won’t bring you any business.  You actually have to go to the meetings, expos, business card exchanges, etc.  You need to participate, shake hands, greet and meet and all of that.  Social media groups are the same except you don’t have to put up with the runny eggs and cold coffee.

So, what does this mean?  This means taking some time once a day, once a week, whatever and going to this group online and answering questions and/or asking questions.  This gets your name out there to the group, this gets others to recognize who you are and what you do and it establishes you as an authority on your subject matter.

Don’t expect overnight results.  Just as when you go to a networking group it takes time to gain everyone’s trust so that they can get to the point of referring business to you, the same goes here.  I joined LinkedIn and Facebook over a year ago and I’m just now getting some referrals from them.  So, it takes time.  But it does work and it’s completely free.