…yet it doesn’t feel like work. Life is good. Do what you love and you’ll love what you do!

Here is an interesting research article from Mashable…supporting what I’ve been preaching, over and over again regarding Social Media Networking.

http://mashable.com/2010/01/26/marketing-top-priorities-2010/

If you’re a business owner, and do not have your business on Facebook or Twitter, you’re truly missing a large share of people and more importantly, opportunity. There are over 380,000,000 Facebook users. People are on Facebook and Twitter when they have any amount of free time. Why wouldn’t you expose your business to these peeps on a daily basis?

If you finally do come around and get in the game, make sure you follow a few simple rules:
1. Don’t ADVERTISE your business, rather interact with fans, friends and followers–people are on these sites to socialize, not be sold.

2. Post useful information that people can actually benefit from, OR if you have a business of the entertainment nature (restaurant, bar, etc.) then post humor and interact that way.

3. Most important rule…if you start a Facebook Fanpage or Group or a Twitter profile, don’t start it if you’re not going to work it. It looks like your too lazy to do it or just aren’t that into it and THAT is not a good reflection on your business.

You don’t want to make your business appear as though you’re about to go under or just not passionate about it. Consumers like to frequent trendy, knowledgeable businesses that are up to the latest and passionate about what they do…it will show up in customer service and repeat business!

When you’re working on creative for your company, be it print, tv, radio, etc. please, for the love, talk to me! Or if your product is targeted toward an older version of me or younger, talk to them. Talk to the people you’re trying to reach the way they need to be spoken to in order to actually put them into action.
You’re wasting your ad dollars (investment) if your verbiage is appropriate for a baby boomer, yet you’re trying to get GenXers in the door. So make sure you’re on the right media vehicle first, and then, make sure your lingo will “talk” to YOUR target demographic so your message ACTUALLY gets heard. If your message is wrong for the people you’re attempting to reach, they’ll just hear this…”blah, blah, blah”, or from back in my day “wohnt, wohnt, wohnt”.

…it just gives you a bigger mouth! Whatever the medium you choose to advertise your business, i.e. tv, radio, print, etc. Try to use a form that is true to word of mouth advertising, like real customer testimonials. Potential customers will believe sincerity before they will believe a paid talent/actor. Try it…you’ll be very happy you did!

…I’ve posted blogs on this topic before, but I think it’s important to keep the message going. Often times I see businesses who literally advertise on Twitter, Facebook, etc. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a bazillion more times…PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO BE SOLD ON SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS!! So, stop it! Just give useful info or connect with friends, followers, and fans by making interacting statements. Show them you have a personal side without getting too personal. It works and you won’t be getting the heavy sighs, eye rolls and verbal oyes and ughs, which, you don’t know you’re getting but trust me, you are