This article is part 3 of 4 which recaps the roundtable discussion that were held at the recent FMI conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.
After splitting the attendees up into four groups, we assigned each a separate topic for them to discuss. Feel free to click below to read the previous article.
1 – Blogging and Sharing Websites Marketing Efforts (Led by Dave Dreas)
2 – Personal Website Marketing Efforts (Led by James Patrick)
3 – Social Media Marketing Efforts (Led by Kimerbly Miller)
4 – Differentiating your Niche and Brand Online (Led by Teri Simmons-Crenshaw)
The third discussion we are sharing is social media marketing efforts for talents which was led by Kimberly Miller.
The main topics of discussions for this topic were:
Facebook
Facebook seemed to be the social media method most commonly used by attendees, and the tool with which people are most comfortable. Facebook allows for both pages and personal profiles and both are helpful to have. Some individuals shared that they have a personal profile where they can friend request people but they use it for branding purposes (e.g., Jane Smith Figure Competitor). Some strategies for improving Facebook utility included the following:
– Share other people’s information – relevant blogs, quotes, pictures and articles.
– Tag others when appropriate.
– Be respectful of posting on others pages. Do not spam them with your content without permission.
– Insure you get copyright privileges when posting things. (Do not steal others content without giving appropriate credit).
– Look who is “liking” your information and make personal contact with them. Say thank you. See how you might help them. People liking your content are already invested in you. Work to further build that relationship. This was by far one of the most helpful pieces of information shared during the roundtables.
– Post genuine comments on other people’s pages.
– Post regularly.
– Remember it’s not all about you! Make content more about others.
– Asking questions is a great way to facilitate interaction on your page.
– Offer something free to people (e-books, free consultations, etc.) as an incentive.
– If you are using Facebook to promote your brand or business, be professional and write updates that people can understand. Inside jokes are not helpful for being inclusive on your site.
Twitter
Twitter is growing quickly in popularity and can be a helpful tool in connecting with others. If you haven’t tweeted it helps to get tips from others who are familiar with the application, so you understand how to use it. Some strategies for using twitter include.
– Connect with groups. These are like-minded people with shared interests. This can be helpful in building your followership and staying in the loop.
– Watch what you post. People are paying attention to what you write. Make sure your posts represent what you aspire to do and how you want to be perceived.
– Tweet to others and recognize people’s accomplishment.
– Follow people and companies you have an interest in working with and get to know what they are about. This makes you more aware of who they are.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is widely used in the professional realm and serves as a mechanism for people to connect with others with whom they might want to do business.
– Spend some time thinking about how you want to represent yourself on linked in and develop a profile.
– When requesting connections, if you don’t know the individual, take the time to write a personal note stating who you are and why you want to connect.
– Be selective about who you include in your network. Others will look at your network as a representation of you.
– Post status updates on linked-in, or consider linking some of your social media networks so that you only have to make one post and all mediums are updated.
– Pay attention to key words you use when you write your profile. These are searchable.
Overall
Social media can easily consume your time; thus, it’s helpful to set parameters on usage. Set aside an hour a day (or whatever time frame you have available) and dedicate yourself fully to it. Once the time is over, turn it off and move on. This will help you stay on task. Social media can be a valuable tool in building your business and worthy of the time it takes. If you are not currently using it, start with one medium and go from there.
Kimberly Miller is a commercial and fitness talent, stylist and writer based in Arizona. You can connect with her through her website at www.KimMillerStyle.com or listen to her as the co-host of TheProExposure podcast.
STAY TUNED TO THE UPCOMING POSTS ON THE LAST ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS.
James Patrick
www.jamespatrick.com
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