Social Networking... but which one? and is it worth it?

[GOSW]

Okay, so my business is basically cottage industry, a small one person (may employ two other people later) designer soft furnishings. Sadly my business is not 100% full time the mo, so i have a 2 day part time job, which i want to ditch. SOooo, i want to bump up my business a lot more and make it full time, but how do i do this?

Im feeling that my lack of online "Social" exposure is flagging behind, i only have an account set up but have never posted a word, mainly because i just dont know what i should do, which one i should put my time into and whether it is worth the effort?

I need a little (not to techy) help and a little advice. The only ones i know of are Facebook, Twitter and Google + and im not very up with them, but im willing and wanting to learn and be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks

 

[AllUpHere]

They will only work as part of a larger marketing strategy. Using them in isolation, and without first identifying what you are going to achieve (and how) is pointless.

Do you currently have any kind of marketing plan in place?

 

[GOSW]

Haha, no i dont, i just replied to your other post about marketing, because im in the dark and dont really understand it

 

[RakeMark]

As a 'marketing for beginners with small businesses' I would recommend Guerilla Marketing. Its about £7 on Amazon. It doesn't contain any information about social media but I think you need to step back a pace and consider your marketing from a wider perspective before zeroing in on social media.

From a social media perspective (forget marketing, plans and social media goals for a moment) it all starts with a message. What do you want to say. Right now very few people will probably hear it, but that's OK, just define your message and start talking.

 

[AllUpHere]

As a 'marketing for beginners with small businesses' I would recommend Guerilla Marketing. Its about £7 on Amazon. It doesn't contain any information about social media but I think you need to step back a pace and consider your marketing from a wider perspective before zeroing in on social media.

From a social media perspective (forget marketing, plans and social media goals for a moment) it all starts with a message. What do you want to say. Right now very few people will probably hear it, but that's OK, just define your message and start talking.

How can the OP possibly know what her message should be, if she follows your advice and 'forgets marketing and planning'?

 

[BHDS]

In terms of a social media overview and getting your message "out there" Gary Vaynerchuk's book "Jab Jab Jab Right Hook" is a good starting point too.

 

[RakeMark]

How can the OP possibly know what her message should be, if she follows your advice and 'forgets marketing and planning'?

Thanks for mis-quoting me. I said
'forget marketing, plans and social media goals for a moment'.

Not forever. Just for a moment. I could have said to putting marketing, plans and social media goals to one side...

As far as knowing what her message should be. I would recommend thinking about what the business is and what its identity is. Is it quirky, is it serious, is it fun? What does it stand for, does it stand for luxury, style, unique, one off, cheap, affordable, environmentally friendly, for the masses? Then give that identity a voice. Then start speaking.

GOSW: Since you are your business look at yourself in the context of your business. What do you stand for. What do you want to say about your business and what it wants to achieve.

The hardest part with low budget, small businesses is getting started. Right now, if you want to begin using social media marketing, I would just start.

Of course a plan will be needed. Strategy is helpful. Learning is something you will do as you go and your plans will change to include that knowledge.

This is a fun journey you're on, good luck with it.

All the best
Phil

 

[AllUpHere]

Thanks for mis-quoting me. I said
'forget marketing, plans and social media goals for a moment'.

Not forever. Just for a moment. I could have said to putting marketing, plans and social media goals to one side...

As far as knowing what her message should be. I would recommend thinking about what the business is and what its identity is. Is it quirky, is it serious, is it fun? What does it stand for, does it stand for luxury, style, unique, one off, cheap, affordable, environmentally friendly, for the masses? Then give that identity a voice. Then start speaking.

GOSW: Since you are your business look at yourself in the context of your business. What do you stand for. What do you want to say about your business and what it wants to achieve.

The hardest part with low budget, small businesses is getting started. Right now, if you want to begin using social media marketing, I would just start.

Of course a plan will be needed. Strategy is helpful. Learning is something you will do as you go and your plans will change to include that knowledge.

This is a fun journey you're on, good luck with it.

All the best
Phil

What you were suggesting will lead her to put the cart before the horse, and could almost be used as a perfect example of 'getting marketing wrong'.

You have now gone on to suggest that actually a good dose of marketing and planning should be used in order to work out what her message should be (the bit I've bolded), so actually, you know you were wrong anyway.

 

[AllUpHere]

OP, have a look at my thread about getting marketing wrong. It will give you an idea of how what @RakeMark suggested is completely the wrong way to think about using social media.

 

[RakeMark]

OP, have a look at my thread about getting marketing wrong. It will give you an idea of how what @RakeMark suggested is completely the wrong way to think about using social media..

That is your opinion and I respect it.

You can make negative comments all day long or you can contribute to the conversation and actually help the OP move forward. I have no interest in a big slagging match, this is wrong, that is bad, I have no interest in mis-interpreting what you have said, I just want to be positive and enjoy my Friday.

GOSW: I hope you read the recommended books and enjoy your exciting venture. Stay positive and enjoy the journey.

 

[AllUpHere]

That is your opinion and I respect it.

You can make negative comments all day long or you can contribute to the conversation and actually help the OP move forward. I have no interest in a big slagging match, this is wrong, that is bad, I have no interest in mis-interpreting what you have said, I just want to be positive and enjoy my Friday.

GOSW: I hope you read the recommended books and enjoy your exciting venture. Stay positive and enjoy the journey.

I contribute plenty, thanks. In fact, have a look at the thread I linked to. It was pinned to the top of the sales marketing and PR forum for a while, and I had dozens of private messages from forum members telling me that it had helped and thanking me for posting it.

I'm not interesteed in a slanging match either, but if someone posts advice that is simply wrong, it's helpful to point it out.

I hope you enjoy your Friday, even if it is the 13 th.

 

[RakeMark]

I'm not interesteed in a slanging match either, but if someone posts advice that is simply wrong, it's helpful to point it out.

I hope you enjoy your Friday, even if it is the 13 th.

May be, instead of 'completely the wrong way to think about using social media.' you could try sharing what you think is the completely correct way of to think about using social media. Then you would be demonstrating through constructive statement why you think my response was unhelpful rather than just saying that I'm wrong.

When I disagree with someone I see it as an opportunity to learn, but I can't see any opportunities to learn from what you've said. In the other thread that you've linked to I have learned a number of things including that a good number of people disagree with you.

As for Friday the 13th, I'm not superstitious, I hadn't even realised until you said.

All the very best and good luck with your business.
Phil

 

[AllUpHere]

In the other thread that you've linked to I have learned a number of things including that a good number of people disagree with you.

Phil

You'll soon learn that on this forum someone will disagree regardless of what is posted. It's usually fairly easy to spot the ones who are worth listening to though.

 

[GOSW]

Thank you for the suggestions, i will look up the books advised and get them.

@RakeMark you explained it very well for me to understand and at least brought up some points to consider and think about, which hadnt even crossed my mind, so thank you for that... Even if others disagree.

@AllUpHere Thank you for your reply, you are clearly dedicated to Marketing, and i will read the post that you linked, but i have to say that for me some explainations are not entirely clear... but then i am not very educated, have dyslexia and so im a bit slow, but im trying.

Something to always bare in mind (although of course you may do so already) but some of out here that start running a business have all what it takes in talent to manufacture, make or even sell there business, but just cannot grasp the fast pace world of marketing, advertising and or social stuff, which is now what either makes you or breaks you. So for us dimbos, please make it readable and easy to understand, even if it needs a little more words or explanations

Thanks all

 

[LawSpark]

This is an opinion only (I am definitely not an seo expert) but Twiter is very easy to use and if you post engaging tweets and or try to link your tweets to popular hastags we (LawSpark) have found it a great way to get your name out there and draw in traffic! And it's completely free

To any techy ppl out there realise this may be stating the obvious but the poster did say she was non-techy..

Guest blogs giving helpful info to people that may use your industry and then promoting them can also work..

 

[fisicx]

I said
'forget marketing, plans and social media goals for a moment'.

Surely everything you do should be related to a marketing goal. If you don't have a plan every step you take could be in the wrong direction.

 

[AllUpHere]

@AllUpHere Thank you for your reply, you are clearly dedicated to Marketing, and i will read the post that you linked, but i have to say that for me some explainations are not entirely clear... but then i am not very educated, have dyslexia and so im a bit slow, but im trying.

Something to always bare in mind (although of course you may do so already) but some of out here that start running a business have all what it takes in talent to manufacture, make or even sell there business, but just cannot grasp the fast pace world of marketing, advertising and or social stuff, which is now what either makes you or breaks you. So for us dimbos, please make it readable and easy to understand, even if it needs a little more words or explanations

Thanks all

If you think a chat on the phone would help to get your head around it, let me know. I'm happy to chat (FOC) to see if I could point you in the right direction.

 

[RakeMark]

Surely everything you do should be related to a marketing goal. If you don't have a plan every step you take could be in the wrong direction.

I think I've covered that in my follow up posts in quite some detail.

Not forever. Just for a moment. I could have said to putting marketing, plans and social media goals to one side...

I further qualified previous statements with:

Since you are your business look at yourself in the context of your business. What do you stand for. What do you want to say about your business and what it wants to achieve.

The hardest part with low budget, small businesses is getting started. Right now, if you want to begin using social media marketing, I would just start.

Of course a plan will be needed. Strategy is helpful. Learning is something you will do as you go and your plans will change to include that knowledge.

After reading the quite comprehensive to and fro, is there something specific that you're unclear on?

As far as putting a step in the wrong direction, Tweets and Facebook posts that re-enforce the Identity of the business and generate interest in the business are steps and they are in a direction. I think that it's unlikely to be in wrong direction. Which is I think is better than standing in the same spot while you spend days / weeks / months planning.

Have a good weekend
Phil

 

[RakeMark]

Something to always bare in mind (although of course you may do so already) but some of out here that start running a business have all what it takes in talent to manufacture, make or even sell there business, but just cannot grasp the fast pace world of marketing, advertising and or social stuff, which is now what either makes you or breaks you.

Guerilla Marketing is a fab book and ideal for marketing neebies. I had read a few different books and read a lot of reading online and when I read Guerilla Marketing I can remember thinking 'This is what I wanted, this is what I was looking for.'

I can hand on heart say its one of the best investments I've ever made.

 

[fisicx]

Tweets and Facebook posts that re-enforce the Identity of the business and generate interest in the business are steps and they are in a direction.

There is overwhelming evidence that the opposite is true. There will be some success stories but in general it's not what you do on SM sites - the benefit comes from what others do for you. Ergo. Promoting yourself on SM sites isn't good marketing. So I would suggest spending a couple of hours planning a marketing campaign is better than social networking.

 

[RakeMark]

There is overwhelming evidence that the opposite is true. There will be some success stories but in general it's not what you do on SM sites - the benefit comes from what others do for you. Ergo. Promoting yourself on SM sites isn't good marketing. So I would suggest spending a couple of hours planning a marketing campaign is better than social networking.

I can see how you're taking me to task about the advice I've given but it seems like silly point scoring. Would you mind actually offering some advice to the OP? What should they actually do? Plan? How do they do that? What are the steps that you think that this person should be taking?

As I have said, when someone disagrees with me then this is an oppotunity to learn, would you mind popping some links on this tread that point to the overwhelming evidence that refutes my comment,

Tweets and Facebook posts that re-enforce the Identity of the business and generate interest in the business are steps and they are in a direction.

Thanks again
Phil

 

[GOSW]

Well, thanks to the thread - "not 100 sure what marketing is or how to do it?" i at least understand "Marketing" a lot better.

RakeMark is correct in what he says -

Would you mind actually offering some advice to the OP? What should they actually do? Plan? How do they do that? What are the steps that you think that this person should be taking?

Planning is all well and good, but when you have little to no idea what to plan, its very pointless.

Now i understand that i should be thinking about my whole image and what i stand for, who my customers are, branding etc.. Im a designer so branding is not too hard and getting across "who i am" or my business i can do. But when it comes to a structure to expand i was in the belief that Social Media or Networking was where one should be... No?

I can blog, but to whom? i could write posts all day but if no one knows im there no one will see it or read it even, so i dont know how that works?

Im not in a financial position to pay for lots of advertising online or in the real world. So im going to have to actually work for it.

I have been following other businesses within the same field as myself, but i have to say i just read a lot of brain numbingly boring posts that include a photo of the coffee break, the dog sitting in the studio and maybe a photo of some orders that are going out. Not something that would personally inspire me to purchase but still.

So now that i understand "marketing" better, im still at a loss to understand how i can use whats on hand to help myself.

 

[fisicx]

Advice is asked for so advice shall be given:

You have a product for sale so you need to identify who your potential customer is and you need to identify the channels these people use to buy products. Once you know to whom and where to sell you need to determine if advertising or direct sales or whatever is the most suitable method.

So for example if you are selling widgets to working females over the age of 20 you may discover they buy online from sites like ebay. So that's where you need to sell your products.

Or you target may prefer farmers markets or accessory stores - so that's where you need to display your products.

If your target spends all day scrolling through instagram or pinterest then you need to continually feed these channels.

Marketing begins with market research. Know your target and you will know how best to market to them. There are no rules, every product and every customer is different.

There are loads of resources, blogs and tutorials on marketing 101. Either your spend months doing your own research or you pay someone to do it for you.

 

[GOSW]

@fisicx thank you very much for that explanation, that is very helpful and surprises me that in fact i have been doing this over some month already, yet i didnt realise it was something people paid others for. It proves that my kind of stuff is to quite a large audience and so i need to use a few different avenues.

Thanks for your time, its very much appreciated.

 

[fisicx]

@fisicxIt proves that my kind of stuff is to quite a large audience and so i need to use a few different avenues.

Indeed you do. Which is why companies use TV advertising, radio, newspapers, posters, websites and in store promotions.

Companies spend millions on market research. The colours on a poster, the fonts they use and even the locations it is displayed don't happen by chance. They will have researched to get optimum coverage.

And remember also it can take multiple impression before people notice your marketing. Which means it's not good doing anything once, you need to do it multiple times over a period of time.

 

[PublicDemandMedia]

Twitter is a really good way to keep your customers updated with your business or provide helpful information to your target audience. PS: if you lack followers, try looking for accounts where you would find people interested in your business and follow them.

Best of luck!

 

[Dynumo]

I don't know if anyone else has already recommended this book, but if you're looking to better understand marketing theory I would suggest this book: Principles and Practice of Marketing by David Jobber.

A bit on the pricey side, but worth it.

 

[fisicx]

Twitter is a really good way to keep your customers updated with your business or provide helpful information to your target audience.

Not true.Tweets only have a life of a few hours which means most of your followers won't even see them. What can extend their life is retweeting but that rarely happens with marketing messages.

 

[RakeMark]

Not true.

I have to say that I think posting 'not true' is really unhelpful. I'm still waiting for a link to the overwhelming evidence you alluded to earlier in this thread.

 

[fisicx]

I gave the reason in my post: because of the very short lifespan on a tweet most people won't even see your marketing messages.

There no link to the evidence, it's the amalgamation of a lot of research and testing by myself and others. I work with someone who until recently was in charge of SMM for an international brand and they can demostrate that direct SMM is of very little value. Indrect SMM that can help (but not that much). It's not what you do, it's what others do for you that make a difference. And this doesn't mean sharing or retweeting - stats show a lot of this is automated and has zero influence.

 

[RakeMark]

There is overwhelming evidence that the opposite is true.

Hi fisicx

I'm not after a Friday fight, but you have very strong opinions that I'd like to know more about. If you don't have any evidence that's OK, you can think the opposite to me but without evidence I'm unconvinced.

it's the amalgamation of a lot of research and testing by myself

That's not evidence. Evidence is a body of facts or information. And you should be able to share it.

I take you're point about the lifespan of a tweet, its a very good point, but I believe that it fails to disprove what PublicDemandMedia said.

You have a friend in SMM. It is of very little value. So it did give some value. I'm glass half full, so what was the value it gave?

Examples of values I get from social media: I'm currently talking to Tesco via Facebook. I get updates about classes at my local Gym on both Twitter and Facebook and I can book myself in by replying. I get updates about rugby for my son via Facebook. Social Media adds value to these organisations.

 

[fisicx]

Of course it does - that's the whole point of social media.

But if you use SM to promote your business as PublicDemandMedia suggest then people soon start to ignore your posting/tweets etc.

What I haven't posted here is the evidence I have collected over a lengthy period of time. Some of it was paid for and a lot is commercial in confidence so I can't make it public. But to give you are taste: a UK brand had 3.5 Million likes on facebook. When they suspended the facebook acount growth continued exactly as before. None of those likes contruibuted to the growth of the business.

 

[RakeMark]

Twitter is a really good way to keep your customers updated with your business or provide helpful information to your target audience.

Like updates to classes from a gym or customer service from a Supermarket? True or Not True?

I think we are basically agreeing here. If you're firing out spammy tweets that shamelessly self promote then no-one pays attention for the short time that its available.

If you add value with good information like fitness and nutrition tips, class times and motivational quotes, then this could well add value.

 

[CWT2k1]

Facebook is officially dead unless a company wants to pay to advert on their site. If you were one of our clients, as a cottage, I would suggest doing a lot of blogging on travel sites, and your website, as well as Instagram and Pinterest. These are visual platforms which will do a great job for a cottage.

 

[RakeMark]

I would suggest doing a lot of blogging on travel sites

Why travel sites?

 

[Louis Porter]

If you're having trouble identifying what you believe your message should be, consider just sitting down with a friend and chatting about your company. Because you're with a friend, your guard will be down. Let yourself ramble on and ask your friend to take notes about everything you mentioned. That way you'll really identify exactly how you position your business in your own mind.

After reviewing your notes, you'll be able identify some key aspects of your company that you subconsciously feel are worth mentioning. That way you'll be able to align your SM messages to it and ensure consistency.

Understand your business, what it is now, and what you want it to be tomorrow. Then you'll be better equipped to achieve your success.

As for twitter, I believe the 80/20 rule applies. Essentially you have to make sure you don't over promote your own content/service. This will make sure your readers won't get bored and frustrated with you. Good luck.

 

[SMR Locksmiths]

If you're having trouble identifying what you believe your message should be, consider just sitting down with a friend and chatting about your company. Because you're with a friend, your guard will be down. Let yourself ramble on and ask your friend to take notes about everything you mentioned. That way you'll really identify exactly how you position your business in your own mind.

After reviewing your notes, you'll be able identify some key aspects of your company that you subconsciously feel are worth mentioning. That way you'll be able to align your SM messages to it and ensure consistency.

Understand your business, what it is now, and what you want it to be tomorrow. Then you'll be better equipped to achieve your success.

As for twitter, I believe the 80/20 rule applies. Essentially you have to make sure you don't over promote your own content/service. This will make sure your readers won't get bored and frustrated with you. Good luck.

That is a very good idea! Will be exercising it in near future! thanks!