The more local businesses that I help get onto the first page of Google, break into social media with an 
effective strategy or have a successful blog that draws not only readers but leads. I watch others jump in with both feet swinging hard for the fences only to drop off the face of the planet.
Really, in fact, destroying any chances of developing any FFF (fans, friends, followers).
Or should I say leads, deals and deposits.
Here are 3 most common ways that your social marketing campaign will fail.
- No work
Somewhere along the line businesses were taught to set it and forget it. Well, that strategy is a sure-fire way to fail. Your FFF can smell an automatic update a mile away. Social networking does not need to be so time-consuming, but you will reap what you sow. I know 2 local businesses that put in a fair amount of time into their social strategies. Both have tracked their numbers.
- One can count 20 transactions and the other claims that 20% of his business come from social networking. In today’s economy, every sale counts for something. When asked about the amount of time they spend daily on their social strategy, overall, they spend 30 to 45 minutes a day. A pretty good ROI.
- Inconsistency
A tweet or an update every other week will simply not cut it. It really will not cut it if your tweets are all the same or carry much of the same message. Your FFF will soon ignore you or your business or worse yet drop you from their radar. So, when it does come time when they need your product or service, they more than likely will not use you.
- The same message goes for blogging. If you are not updating regularly, Google or any other search engine will not “spider” your site. If the “spiders” don’t visit, you don’t get found. Getting found is just half the battle.
- Non-personal
Being personal really ties in the previous two points. When you work at social, you get to know your FFF. So, it is pretty easy to get to know them and for them to know you. It has gotten to be very clichéd, but it is called “social” for a reason. It will help solve your consistency when you want to know more about your clients and their lives. People tend to share about their lives, and what they say will open the door for you to share your message.
- When I did loans, if I heard someone say something along the lines of being pregnant, I would think they would or could be in the market for a new home or at the very least a refinance. I’m sure if we sat down to brainstorm, we could come up with a dozen scenarios in which you could market efficiently in the social realm. Just by being personal.
If you can avoid all of these three areas your social marketing has a better than average chance of not only surviving but succeeding. And by succeeding, I mean leads and by leads I mean deposits.
If you would like to learn more about social marketing or social networking, give me a call or fill out the “contact me” form.
Also, I’m giving away some freebies over at the davewoodson Facebook page. So, please head over there and “like” me for a chance to win.
Dave
