Which Social Media Marketing Network is Right For Your Business?

The BIG 3: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Everybody who's anybody has a profile in each. And it seems everybody is preaching the same thing: -

You HAVE to have a Facebook Fan Page - You HAVE to be on Twitter - You HAVE to join LinkedIn and participate in groups But, how essential is it REALLY to do any of this? Will your business sink and disappear if you don't?

The answer depends on your target audience. Having determined where your target audience spend THEIR time, this is where you should be too. If you have followers who like to be on Twitter, then that's where you want to be to grab their attention. Sometimes the limit of 140 characters makes it slightly more challenging to have a fully engaged conversation, you can still provide great info and resources. You can also find out what their challenges are, and develop a reputation as a trusted advisor. The same thing applies if your target audience hangs out on Facebook. Maybe they prefer to interact there because there's no character limit (like the 140 characters on Twitter.) They may like the back and forth conversation of posting comments on each other's wall and seeing their updates throughout the day.

The thing to remember is, participating in social networking is just like participating in live networking or going to any other live social event. You should only attend the "events" that make sense for you and your business. This way, you will be sure to spend your time where your target audience is hanging out - otherwise you'll miss the boat completely. Nothing is more frustrating than spending your efforts pursuing a particular marketing strategy only to find that it generates ZERO results. Has that ever happened to you? If so, it's likely because the strategy (or in this case the platform) didn't fit your business. You may be chasing an opportunity that doesn't even interest your target audience -- and they're not going to go looking for you either. An important element is to be consistent. So that you can provide the solution to a problem, you need to be visible when your ideal prospects need you. Marketing yourself and your services is about being visible on a regular basis, top of mind for your prospects and about educating your target audience about how you can solve their problems. You can't be late to the party!

Take the time to do your research and find out EXACTLY which social networks your target market is hanging out in. This will tell you where you should be spending your time. And most importantly, you will see the return on your time investment as you'll be connecting directly with the people who are already looking for you. Doing your research always plays a big part in determining how successful your social networking marketing will be.

Take the time to interview your current clients, as well as any prospects whom you've met with but aren't working with yet. You can send them a short survey via Survey Monkey or simply pick up the phone and ask them. You can also use a tool like Flowtown which will analyze your email list and tell you exactly which social networks your subscribers are participating in. By taking the time to research which social networks your ideal prospects are interested in, you will demonstrate that you are committed to helping others and serving their needs. You're not just following the crowd because it's the "in" thing.

These networking tools are no longer just for high school friends to hang out on. They are valuable resources for your business if used wisely. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a presence on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or ever engage there.

All of these platforms are also great tools to boost your search engine ranking. So if you have a well-developed profile that will help folks to find you when they're searching for you online, that may be enough. But what you want to seriously consider is which social networks you should concentrate your time and marketing efforts on. Think about it, wouldn't you rather have 100 highly qualified and targeted potential clients to engage with and learn from rather than 2,000 people on Twitter who have no idea of your expertise and talents? Of course!

So, which social network will it be for you - or rather your target audience? There are other communities to consider in addition to the "BIG 3". There could be a smaller group on a Ning network just waiting for a trusted advisor like you to join in the conversation. Take your time to do the research and find the best solution for you and your community. Make the commitment to participate in the conversation for at least 3 months before evaluating your performance. You'll need at least that long to get comfortable and start developing relationships with the folks you meet.


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Fay McLean, The Business Makeover Mentor, is the founder of the Client Building Blueprint, the proven step-by-step system to magnetically attract more clients, make more money as a service based professional, while having more time off to enjoy it all. You can claim your F.R.E.E. Instant Access to my audio and transcript "7 Steps to Attract More Clients, Make More Money Quickly and Consistently" by visiting http://www.TheAussieBusinessCoach.com