Use Social Media Properly by Offering Value

I am sure you have been hearing the social buzz of using Social Media to promote your home business.  By that I mean using Facebook or MySpace or Twitter or Digg to promote and market.  Sounds like Social Media is a good idea, doesn't it.  It can be, if you use it the right way.  Seems obvious, why would someone want to do it the 'wrong' way. But so many do it ...  the wrong way. Instead of using subtle marketing techniques, they blatantly advertise.  There is a difference.

The idea of using Social Media is to build relationships, make connections with others both inside and outside your industry or profession.  The goal should be to develop strategic business partnerships through friendship.

The correct way to use Social Media is promote or market yourself, not cram your business opportunity down someone's throat.  This is such a turn off and goes no where. In fact, when I get a request for befriending someone, the first thing I do is look over their page for valuable content.  If they are providing information that will help me to be a better business person, a better wife, a better mom, and better person in general, they are attracting me towards them.  Their request for friendship quickly gets approved.

However, if after scanning their page or posts, and I see nothing but advertising and nothing further of value, I won't be following them back or accepting their request for friendship.  So they have lost a priceless opportunity to connect with me. You generally only get one shot to make a first impression.  What first impression are you giving?

Advertising is defined as "the act or practice of calling public attention to one's product or service."  In this realm of marketing, that is not the correct practice.  Lead with yourself, not your business opportunity.  You need to start with gaining the respect and trust of your followers. You need to being giving before you make any attempt to take.

Give some thoughts to your Social Media practices.  Are you building solid relationships, providing valuable information, or are you irritating and annoying those that could potentially become apart of your network over time?

Remember the bottom line is this – provide value!   The more you give, the more you’ll get. Providing value driven content will keep your readers coming back.