As a business consultant one of the toughest things I face is to educate entrepreneurs about social media and to convince them that anyone can adopt it.  As I create strategic social media campaigns I often revisit my early adoption of Social Media tools and educate my clients about lessons learnt.  Here are 20 of my favorite tips and tricks to make Social Media work for you and your business !

The key to social networking is to do the following:

1. Listen to conversations: For social media newbies, the best strategy is to listen, observe and follow conversations. Understand the Lingo, understand the concept that not all social media is created equally.  Each social media tool has it’s own lingo and will benefit your business in its own unique way.
2. Learn from others: As an observer of social media, you are not only trying to learn the lingo and how it works but your goal should be to learn from the experts-industry related or social media gurus
3. Be innovative and creative: Your posts,  links you share,  thoughts and ideas should be innovative.  Create excitement and unleash the creative monster within you and let it be free
4. Create a community: Create a community of mentors, experts, clients, suppliers, people you randomly like and even competitors!  Just the way you need a support system in life, you need to create a support system in your online community as well.
5. Be helpful: This is probably the most simple yet most overlooked method of engaging in social media.  People love those who are helpful and support them.  If someone posts a poll, take a few minutes to answer it, if someone asks a questions, take out time to answer them.  You need to be able and willing to give if you want to receive.
6. Be patient: One of the things that early social media adopters forget is that they have to be patient.  If you are comitted to your brand and social media mission, then be patient.
7. Be nice: No one likes a meanie.  Being nice on Social media entails taking criticism in a stride, helping out others, being polite and curtious.
8. Be an expert: Look into your innerself and see what you are good at, are you good at being a multi tasker, are you good at finding online deals?  Are you good at quoting people, see what you know and talk about that.
9. Be honest: Noone likes a phony, be honest with others if you want them to be honest with you.  If someone asks you a questions, be honest in your opinion.  People can generally spot someone who is not being honest.
10. Add a personal touch: Social media is much like a face to face networking event,  you want to be memorable, you want people to know you, well if you add that personal touch they will appreciate it more.  The whole point of social media is to add a human touch to your company’s brand name.
11. A picture is worth a thousand words: People love pictures, videos, slides and animations.  Leverage youtube, slideshare, twitpic, facebook and all the wonderful resources out there to host your multi media and share it with your online communities.  Nothing gets more clicks and creates a stir like putting a link to an intriguing picture, video slideshow or animation.
12. keep it short, keep it simple- People want it short n simple.
13. Make it easy- Don’t ask people to do complicated things, don’t abbreviate and make people guess what your message it.  Keep it simple, keep it straightforward
14. Do not sign up for every social media tool out there: Study the existing tools and choose which one you are most comfrtable with and will help you achieve your goal.
15. Cross Promote: If you are signed up on multiple social media sites, cross promote each site and use your website to promote your social media sites.
16. Never leave behind an incomplete profile: Often times people will get an invitation, they start a profile and just leave it-HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL and a huge mistake.  Always complete the profile and keep it updated.  Don’t think you will be using it?  Delete the incomplete profile.
17. Google/You tube/ Help- make them your best friend: Don’t understand how to use a social network tool?  Need help with a problem-google it!  You are probably not the first one to face that problem!  There are blogs, videos, websites dedicated to helping out people. In addition to the user manuals and help sections on the social media sites.
18. Ask others: Can’t find what you are looking for online, ask people.  People on social media sites love to talk and help people out.  No harm in reaching out to them!
19. Enjoy every second  of it: Socia Media is a great way to have fun, you can share opinions, educate, learn and make great connections.  Take out time on a daily basis to maintain and grow your social media efforts.
20. Hire a pro: Don’t think you can take out the committment for your social media campaingn/efforts?  Hire someone to do it for you!  Check our services to learn more !

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