Anybody who is looking to make money online and wants to use social media as part of your marketing strategy…pay attention.
Facebook. Myspace. Twitter. LinkedIn. These social media services are built on one thing: relationships. Now, if you were having a social gathering and somebody just ran into your room and started pitching their product, how would you like it?
Answer: You wouldn’t like it and you might even want to stuff their product straight up their ass.
My Facebook inbox has been receiving an increasing number of messages from people who just don’t get this.
This is SPAM. These people have never tried to connect with me any other way. They befriend me and then immediately market to me. They have no reputation. They have never provided me anything of value. And what has Charles Dudley sent me – twice?
Dear David Risley,
This will be a powerful, life-changing tele-training series to help you solve your work at home problems. If you have ever struggled with cutting through all the information that is out there on the market place, then you have found your home.
Simply register below and you will be on your way to Work At Home Success. I look forward to sharing this exciting event with you.
http://workathomewealthteam.com/
To Your Success!!!
Charles Dudley!
The REI Dominator (http://reidominator.com)
So, right out of the gate, this guy is pitching me a teleseminar. Again, no relationship. And utterly pathetic sales copy to boot.
Social Media and Marketing
Yes, you can use sites like Facebook for marketing. But, you need to have a relationship with people before you market to them. Otherwise, it is spam.
You have some internet marketers that understand this and use social media properly. John Reese, for example, uses Twitter. He got into the middle of a digital feud with Mashable because of their overreaction to an internet marketer using Twitter. However, Reese uses Twitter properly. He actively engages his audience and he very rarely (if ever) uses his Twitter profile to pimp products. John Reese understands the use of these kinds of sites.
The idea is that you get to know the person before that person starts promoting to you. The smart marketers understand this. The stupid ones don’t and end up giving a bad name to everybody and cause overreactions like that demonstrated by Mashable.
Social media is a lot more work to use correctly as part of a marketing program. It takes rubbing elbows with people. It takes real networking. If you do it wrong, all you will do is build up animosity with the people you were trying to reach.
David has been blogging for 15 years, and generating a six-figure income at it for the last 12. He is the founder of Blog Marketing Academy. 
David Risley has been building and operating authority blogs for 15 years, and operating a six-figure business doing it for a decade.
I am juct begining to bring social media into my marketing efforts.
I so agree. I get messages like that every day nowadays on Facebook. And if you look at Linkedin’s threads on the discussion forums, most just scream: “Hire me! Pick me! Buy from me!”. There’s just hardly any value anymore. I don’t even feel compelled to check out Linkedin discussions anymore due to this.
A forum on Ning I belong to has members who litter the forum EVERY day with their blatant advertising. I wonder if they really get any leads from it. I don’t go there anymore as there’s nothing of value for me. I want information, I want to learn from others, I don’t want to buy from strangers who haven’t proven anything to me, just as you say.
And truth is, I only buy from people I “know” online, from people who have consistently shared knowledge and information with me, whose emails or posts I enjoy and whom I have followed for a while. The “I know, like and trust” factor is so important.
I so agree. I get messages like that every day nowadays on Facebook. And if you look at Linkedin’s threads on the discussion forums, most just scream: “Hire me! Pick me! Buy from me!”. There’s just hardly any value anymore. I don’t even feel compelled to check out Linkedin discussions anymore due to this.
A forum on Ning I belong to has members who litter the forum EVERY day with their blatant advertising. I wonder if they really get any leads from it. I don’t go there anymore as there’s nothing of value for me. I want information, I want to learn from others, I don’t want to buy from strangers who haven’t proven anything to me, just as you say.
And truth is, I only buy from people I “know” online, from people who have consistently shared knowledge and information with me, whose emails or posts I enjoy and whom I have followed for a while. The “I know, like and trust” factor is so important.
Dave, this is really timely for me, as I’ve just this week set up a fan page for my blog and have been inviting friends to join. I’m wrestling with the balance between leveraging my relationships and becoming a blog pimp. I suppose I’ll find that boiling point when friends begin to push back or stop participating.
Dave, this is really timely for me, as I’ve just this week set up a fan page for my blog and have been inviting friends to join. I’m wrestling with the balance between leveraging my relationships and becoming a blog pimp. I suppose I’ll find that boiling point when friends begin to push back or stop participating.
I agree. Making money needs some skill, technique and strategy and most people don’t always have them. Sometimes being slow could be a lot better than being fast. The image you present yourself is also very important.
I agree. Making money needs some skill, technique and strategy and most people don’t always have them. Sometimes being slow could be a lot better than being fast. The image you present yourself is also very important.
This post says it perfectly. Relationships and trust are 2 key factors that can never be dismissed no matter what medium is being used. I need say no more. Great post!
This post says it perfectly. Relationships and trust are 2 key factors that can never be dismissed no matter what medium is being used. I need say no more. Great post!
I have never been on any of these social media sites, although I have friends who swear by them. I had been tempted to try my arm at advertising with them and fortunately came across your article before I did anything.
You give very wise advice, as always, and I can see how a carefully created plan of action is needed.
Socialise sincerely first before attempting to do any advertising.
I have never been on any of these social media sites, although I have friends who swear by them. I had been tempted to try my arm at advertising with them and fortunately came across your article before I did anything.
You give very wise advice, as always, and I can see how a carefully created plan of action is needed.
Socialise sincerely first before attempting to do any advertising.
“The idea is that you get to know the person before that person starts promoting to you. The smart marketers understand this.” I think this says it all.. thanks for the Article
“The idea is that you get to know the person before that person starts promoting to you. The smart marketers understand this.” I think this says it all.. thanks for the Article