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The new buzz word is Social Media Marketing and make no mistake, it’s here to stay.  Social media is using online communities for increasing your business/practice exposure, building relationships, and ultimately creates an incredible opportunity to be responsive to your market and allow your clients/patients to know how much you care.

Businesses have found out this is THE way to market and brand their business.  No longer is Twitter, and Facebook just for teenagers.  Why?  Because “word of mouth” advertising (as we’ve preached for years) has always been – and will always be – the best form of advertising.

That’s what Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, three of the largest social media sites, are all about… making contacts, building relationships, gaining trust, and showing you care.  They are “word of mouth advertising on steroids” and…most of it’s FREE!

It’s one-on-one contact in the best of forms, but at the same time you have the ability to reach hundreds, (even thousands) of people.

What does social media marketing mean to consumers and business owners?  Social media is a bridge that gives you access to people, information, and even companies that in the past, you didn’t have access to.

Networking has always been the way to meet people (customers/consumers), and these sites are networking sites.  Joining in on the conversations is “shaking handsâ€? and networking.  AND what’s so good about this??  You don’t even have to close your business/practice, travel to a meeting, and loose precious production time!  It’s all done online…24/7.

Newspapers, magazines, telephone books/ads …print media is no longer in control (that’s why they are having problems).  Users are in control and it’s a total mind change!

You can now do for free what it used to cost thousands of dollars to do…make contacts.  With this new change comes new “rules of engagement”.  These social media sites are not about making sales, they are about making contact, building relationships…earning trust and credibility.   Then those contacts tell everyone they know, who tells everyone they know about you, your business, service, or product.

That’s word of mouth advertising in the best of forms…people telling a LOT of other people.  But remember, the two most important principles of social media are authenticity and transparency.  Whatever is done must be done with quality.

Social media allows you to monitor and be more responsive to your target market.  Paying attention to questions being asked and statements being made within your target market allows you to:

• See what your clients/patients are saying about you, your employees, your business/practice – good and bad
• Respond directly – one-on-one
• Get to know what your clients/patients really want –  not what you think they want
• Build solid relationships –  establishing credibility and gaining trust
• Show your clients/patients their opinions really do matter – you care

8 Benefits Social Media Brings To You

• Allows you to build a community network easier
• Gives you a platform to build and promote your practice (personal) brand
• Provides income opportunities
• Opportunity to become a thought leader in your area of expertise
• Makes it much easier to share information as you network with your community
• Provides a platform to be heard, if you are willing to listen to others
• Provides access to valuable information easier, faster, and in real time
• Gives you a platform to participate in networks that at one time you didn’t have access to

Bottom line: Through today’s technology and social media channels, you have instant access to communities (networking – word of mouth) and networks at all times.

The Internet’s only 15 years old.  Social media sites are less than 6 years old, it’s just getting started.  It will be awesome to see what comes down the pike and how creative businesses/practices will be in using social media marketing to make contacts, build relationships and grow their business/practice!

So, how about you?  Are you still sitting on the surf board or are you ready to “ride the wave” …Social Media Marketing – (IS) The Wave Of The Future!

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Still not sure about Social Media and what it can do for your business? Read this & get your Free Special Report http://bit.ly/5Pi0hl Would you like to learn more about using social media to increase your visibility, build profitable relationships, and grow your practice? Livvie Matthews, Social Media Specialist, Blogger, and Speaker helps you build relationships and provide customer solutions within your targeted market through your printed marketing content and savvy social media strategies.  Follow on Twitter @Livvie_Matthews e-mail Livvie@writebusiness.net Visit http://www.WriteBusiness.net/blog or http://www.WriteBusiness.net View on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin/in/livviematthews  Connect on Facebook -http://facebook.com/copywritingandsocialmedia

 

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