Why Social Media? Pt. 1: Community and Credibility

Two of the biggest buzzwords on the Web right now are “social” and “community” — and it’s easy to see why, given the kind of traffic headed to social networks right now!

Check out the latest figures from analytics website Compete:

That’s right — Facebook sees more than a BILLION visits every single month!

So what’s the deal with all these “social” sites, anyway?

There’s no doubt that social networking strategies are the hottest thing going right now in the Internet marketing world — partly because there are so many new sites and software types and methods springing up all the time, and partly because there’s a lot of testing going on to figure out what social networking strategies best suit what types of business.

And that’s really something you CAN only find out by testing strategies alongside your business.

One of the most important benefits of getting “social” online is the chance to interact with your current and potential customers — and even your competitors in a low-pressure setting that encourages conversation.

You can use social sites to:

• Get to know your market better, including their needs and wants
• Answer questions from present and future customers
• Respond to concerns or issues before you end up with “bad press”
• Stay in touch with what your competitors are up to
• Build a strong community of loyal, lifelong buyers

And that’s just scraping the surface of the possibilities!

So can I just hop on and start selling?

Not quite!

One of the biggest challenges for many marketers is figuring out how to build a presence without making a direct pitch — something that they’ve been trained to do everywhere else, but an approach that rarely flies on social sites.

That’s why we encourage our customers and clients to focus on building credibility. That’s right — instead of directly promoting your business, focus on sharing valuable information that your customers and colleagues can actually use!

By doing that, you become an authority in your industry and a sought-after expert.

But here’s the best part: people will seek out your business ANYWAY. In fact, the lack of pitch leaves them feeling at ease, and sets up a solid foundation of trust.

You can use this credibility and buzz-building strategy on almost any social networking site, from a blog to posts on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn, all the way to discussion hotspots like forums and Yahoo Groups and Google Groups.

Instead of directly mentioning or promoting your business, make sure that when users click through your ID to your profile or personal page, they can clearly see the URL of your business site.

But when will they buy from me, then?

If they’re intrigued by what you have to say, they’re much more likely to come check you out… especially if they aren’t pushed or cajoled to go there. From there, make sure you have a compelling opt-in to catch their information, even if they’re not ready to buy that day.

That way, you can follow up with them via email, as well as on the social networking platform.

Remember: on the Web, your credibility is your calling card, since none of the business that is done goes on face to face. It may seem like a waste of time to give out free information and ideas — but the foundation of trust and terrific reputation you are building are nothing short of priceless!

And be sure to connect with IMC on social media websites…

Some of our most popular profiles and groups:

• Facebook Group and Business Page
• Twitter
• LinkedIn Profile and Group
• Warrior Forum Profile

And stay tuned for Part 2: Search Rankings and SEO Strategies!