The Top 10 Mistakes People Make Using Social Networking for Business

Those new to social networking or social media marketing - even some experienced using it - can easily get caught up in the moment, when positing. With such things as a serious sales pitch, cynical postings, invalidating a follower, protracted and unfriendly responses to someone unhappy with comments or products. While one comment can cost you, think about how a combination of these can take their toll. Void any good previously created on your pages.

Here are the top 10 social networking and social media marketing mistakes you can make:

1. Shameless Self-Promotion

By far, the worst thing you can do is use your social media site as a sales page. People on these sites don't want to be marketed to. They want to socialize, network and share common interests.

2. Buying Your Friends

On Fiverr.com and other freelance sites, you'll find people selling friends for social media sites. It may be tempting to pad your profile with fans, but this is a deadly mistake. In most cases, the 'friends' aren't even real people. If they are, count on the fact they're not really interested in your page or postings. Do this enough, and it will become obvious to real people who show up to visit your page.

3. One-Way Exchange

When people comment, or ask questions on your page, you must respond. You need to reply to questions, thank posters for comments and suggestions. In short, make visitors and followers feel welcome. This shows you're an approachable, responsive brand that cares about customers and clients.

4. Doing Nothing

What makes a social media site popular is interactivity. If yours just presents information about your brand, and nothing more, people won't stick around. Use the apps and widgets available to make your site interactive.

5. Social Media Neglect

Maintaining a social media site requires checking it regularly. Try to set aside time, daily, to post, comment and respond. The brands, most active, generally are the most popular; with the most active followers. Try to carve out a little time and include it in your schedule.

6. Fighting Words

Regardless of remarks made, never respond by complaining, insulting or fault-finding with a poster. Doing this can quickly brand you as unprofessional. Not just to the commenter but to other followers and visitors. Always be considerate, polite and friendly. Keep things positive even when you'd love to give someone a serious piece of your mind.

7. It's All About Me

If your page does nothing but talk about you, your products and services, people won't stay interested. Share tips, resources, links to other valuable info and articles. Create surveys and polls to discover what fans and followers would like to hear more about. Then create it or find it and share it.

8. Wallflower

Don't wait for people to visit your profile. Get out there and socialize. Make friends, spend time on other profiles. Take time to get to know people. You'll be surprised at what a difference this makes.

9. Inappropriate Comments

Whenever you're logged in, be extremely self-aware. Every statement you make - every suggestion, every comment - reflects your brand. Make them clear and concise. Show your personal side but steer clear of sharing too much personal info. Show yourself as a professional. A biz owner who can be counted on to do the job if hired. Someone people want to follow, refer and positively talk about.

10. All Over the Place

Create continuity by sticking to topics related to your brand. While it's okay to digress, show your personal side, sticking to related brand topics is best since it's what fans care about, most. And, very importantly, why they follow you.

Bottom line, respect your followers and fans, treat them well. Respond to questions and problems with care; provide additional info, if needed. Present them with valuable info, resources and links they can actually use. Show them you appreciate and value them. And they will continue to respect and follow you.

Through strategic use of social media marketing, website search engine optimization, and advanced customer relationship building techniques, Jean helps clients garner greater credibility and visibility needed to deliver high-value results by leveraging their on and offline presence. For your Free 40 page report: "The Down and Dirty Facts Why Your Biz is Losing Cash and Clients by Failing to Start a Conversation on Social Networks.

And How to Turn it Around" click this link - http://tinyurl.com/7zo5hdx

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The Benefits of Networking With Like Minded People

When we are given the choice, we gravitate towards people who are similar to ourselves. Despite the old adage 'opposites attract', it can be said that it is romantic relationships that bloom brightest when it comes to the matter of like mindedness, however a crucially important aspect of driving your business forward effectively is by associating with like minded people who share the same professional ambitions and attitudes as your own.

Building relationships with such people will help you construct your business more actively and efficiently because you each share the same infectious drive and determination that in part defines the entrepreneurial spirit. No matter how niche your area of interest or expertise may be, in this age of connectivity it is almost a certainty that you will be able to find a group of individuals you can strike a chord with. Many opportunities exist for attending events on differing scales of formality where you can start bonding face to face and strengthening your connections.

Bouncing ideas off these kinds of people is invaluable. Such environments lend themselves incredibly well to both the spark and evolution of ideas and creative thinking, cross examining their feasibility with people who like you, should be well versed in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a proposal. You have effectively got a focus group right there in front of you. Whilst as we know how liberating it can be to unleash your latest rant on your poor victim, detailing the assortment of obstacles that have landed in your way, such a network of like minded professionals should be able to offer up more tailored and specific advice and guidance to your problems rather than people simply just being an ear. Though you might not know it, you have travelled the same paths and hurdled the same obstacles to get to where you are today. Your learning curve can be dramatically shortened by having like minded people share their experiences with you, more than likely helping you fast track around future setbacks.

You should ask yourself, what is your professional network like at present? The work of leading motivational speaker Tony Robbins is well worth investigating. He suggests that "you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with" which might be a scary thought but it leads on nicely to a quote with which you may be familiar. "If you look around a room and you're the smartest one there, then you're in the wrong room". The chances are, if you're working from home then this statement will ring true, unless your dog happens to be Lassie. You are a product of your own environment, so if your interpretations of your surroundings are becoming increasingly negative, it is time to ring the changes. A fear of the unknown can unfortunately play a factor in inhibiting you taking action and these sorts of events require you to be open and receptive to sharing experiences, but be brave and take those steps remembering that you are all in the same boat and that there are no stupid questions.

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