How Social Networking And Email Marketing Work Hand In Hand

There are many online marketing strategies that small business owners can utilize. With so many options it can be confusing as to the best investment of your time. Two strategies that are closely tied together and work well together are Social Networking and Email Marketing. These two strategies work hand in hand to grow your list and grow your business. All it takes is 30 to 60 minutes of your time, once a day or every other day to engage with your contacts via Social Networking. If you publish an ezine or online newsletter you can connect this way as often as once a week or as little as once a month via Email Marketing. Either way, consistency is key.

First let’s define these two terms. Social Networking is the use of a website, such as FaceBook to connect with people who share personal or professional interests. Email Marketing is the use of email messages, such as in the form of an ezine, to contact existing and potential customers.

How can you make these strategies work for you? Here are some suggestions you can try using one strategy or a combination of both.

Example 1: You’ve just attended an in person networking event and collected a number of business cards. What to do with all those cards? Connect with those you have had conversations with (you can jot notes on business cards right after an event to help with your follow-up). Was someone interested in your services but not quite ready to work with you? You can request their friendship via social media and keep in touch that way. And/or you can invite those you’ve connected with to sign up for your newsletter.

Example 2: Your upcoming ezine is complete and scheduled to send next week. Post a series of invitations to your social networks to sign up to receive your ezine. Include a teaser of the next issue describing what useful information or special offers they will receive as a subscriber.

Example 3: You have a number of ‘friend requests’ in your social networks. Be selective. Research who is requesting to connect with you. If this person is in your target market then respond with a personal note thanking them for the connection. If it is someone you have connected with previously who is not already on your mailing list and who you feel would benefit from your ezine, then you may also want to invite them to sign up.

With each of these strategies remember, it’s about quality not quantity. Only friend those that you can provide value to. You want to grow your list and connect via social media with people that are in your target market. Be consistent by posting relevant content and educating your mailing list with informative articles via your ezine regularly. And make sure you get permission to connect. With the volume of information we get through social networks and email, no one appreciates your unsolicited messages.

If you are not yet using one or both of these complementary strategies, give them a try. You can attract new and repeat customers, while building loyalty and there are little or no costs associated with either method. (You may incur a small monthly fee for your email marketing, depending on which provider you use.)

Whether you are offering services or products, doing business online is crucial to the success of any business today. Practice these techniques regularly and watch your list of prospects and your business grow.

3 Simple Ways to Consistently Grow Your Business

Business owners can get stuck in the area of Revenue Generating activities. This initially seems like a good thing, however, it’s important to devote time to other aspects of running a business to enable you and your business to grow and prosper and the cycle of Revenue Generating activities to continue. Business Development is one of those areas.

Here is a guide to help you know where to focus your attention during the time you make for Business Development. I have broken it down into 3 main areas with a definition, suggested activities and time frame for each:

1) Marketing – selling of products or services: the business activity of presenting products or services in such a way as to make them desirable*

Suggested activities: Spend time working on your website and marketing materials. They are your ’store front’ so to speak and a reflection of you and your business. Check that all your information is current including contact details and upcoming events. Ensure website links work. Keep content fresh and regularly post new articles to your blog. Ensure your business cards and logo match your website. They may be in need of a fresh new look. Have an email marketing plan in place or send out a newsletter on a regular basis. These materials leave a lasting impression about your company.

Time Frame: Marketing activities can either be scheduled in amongst Revenue Generating tasks throughout the week (for example, 1 hour twice per week). Or you may prefer to include these in a day entirely devoted to Business Development.

2) Networking – practice of gathering of contacts: the process or practice of building up or maintaining informal relationships, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages such as job or business opportunities*

Suggested activities: Network regularly in person, via Social Media and Forums. Build relationships with fellow business owners in your industry and those in your target market. Meet regularly both online and in your community. Attend trade shows. Become actively involved in Social Media and Forums providing useful information to your contacts and group members.

Time Frame: Schedule in 30 minutes or less each morning to spend on Social Media sites and in Forums. This doesn’t seem like a lot of time but by being consistent you maintain an ongoing presence and build relationships. The same goes for networking events that you attend in person on a regular basis.

3) Training – acquiring of skill: the process of teaching or learning a skill or job*

Suggested activities: Are you keeping up with the latest technologies? Let’s face it, technology is changing on an ongoing basis and it’s not possible to know it all. Listen to your target market in your networking activities and find out what their needs are. Learn something new that provides a solution to their needs. Attend informational teleclasses to discover new trends that will help you serve your clients better. There are many resources to learn just about anything online (live or self-paced) or in a classroom setting. This applies to almost any industry. Even my hairstylist keeps up with new trends in her industry through teleseminars.

Time Frame: I have found it best to focus on training during my weekly Business Development day where I have longer stretches of time to concentrate without interruption.

Remember, when you devote time to Business Development you ensure the constant flow of business to your company. Keep current clients and attract new ones by allocating time in your schedule to maintain a professional image through your marketing efforts, cultivate your business relationships and add to your skill set. These all translate into opportunities to generate more revenue and live the life you love.

*source: Encarta dictionary