Good Day Class.

Hello Class

It’s great to be here. Today’s lesson is longer than normal, so let’s get started.

Today’s Lesson

I’ve long believed in the idea that we need to cultivate and nurture our customers and clients in order to foster natural, meaningful, organic relationships.

Social media marketing – using websites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the like – is the perfect vehicle by which to achieve this – to tend our social garden, if you will.

We’re all in this blogging and social networking gig for some sort of personal gain, but it’s important to remember that there is real and measurable value in taking time to place the needs, interests, and strategic goals of others before our own – at least some of the time. I say “some of the time” because we should of course always remain mindful our own interests.

We just need to be sure that we take time to keep the social part of social media alive and well.

Hey, Thought You Might Like to Read This…

Remember back in the “good old days,” when the “How to Climb the Corporate Ladder” Gurus would suggest that we clip out newspaper or magazine articles our higher-ups or customers might find useful, and then offer them as a means of building our reputation as intuitive, informed, and valuable individuals?

This is pretty much the concept we need to using to drive our social media efforts, only now we can send links through services like Twitter! Pepper these links with the right hashtags and we can increase our following because some folks out there felt they received some benefit from the little golden nuggets we’ve found!

Each “hey, thought you might like to read this after our last conversation”-type Tweet brings us one step closer to clients and customers thinking “Hey, that person is a darned useful member of my network!”

Never forget that people do business with people they like.

The Post-Man May Only Ring Twice, But You Should Deliver News and Tips More Often…

I am, at times, all over the map with my social media efforts. However, one thing that’s kept me in line (as if that’s possible) is a blueprint I’ve set up for managing my days. As we move ahead with our respective Search Engine Marketing and Social Media Marketing efforts, I really feel that a key to ongoing success is developing some sort of repeatable process – a routine.

I like to look at my social network as a neighborhood. On a flexible but orderly schedule, I pop by and say “¡Hola!” to folks, leave some useful tips, news and information, and then get the heck out of their way.

Remember: It’s never about making the sale. At least not overtly. You’ll develop your book of business over time.

For now – just plant a few seeds in quality soil (carefully selected / targeted contacts) – fill up your watering can with useful and nutritious info – and drip, drip, drip your presence in front of your audience.

In closing, take time to weave into your brand a helpful bit of occupational Umami – a subtle and fresh sense about you that says I’m a helpful and valuable member of your social network! Make this a key part of your brand, and you’ll land on the must-follow and must-know list of more and more people as you go along.

Today’s Assignment

When using social media, are you also marketing yourself and/or your blog?

Has it worked?

Have a story to share?

Comment here so we can all learn together!

Kevin Sandridge is a social media enthusiast and Florida Home Loans Specialist based out of Winter Haven, Florida. He blogs regularly over at his Florida Mortgage Blogger blog discussing topics ranging from mortgage news and trends to online social media efforts.