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Twitter and Facebook and Blogs..oh my!  YouTube and LinkedIn and Amplify…oh my!  Are you wondering how to fit all the pieces of the social media puzzle together? Are you feeling overwhelmed before you even get started?

Social media doesn’t have to be overwhelming, you can keep it simple…yes, simple.   There’s all the talk about social network sites, all the technical programs available, all the tools, all the applications, and there’s video…it goes on and on.  Where do you start and where does it all go?  How does it all fit together?

Putting jigsaw puzzles together is a great past time and if you’ve ever put one together you know you start out with putting your outside pieces, your frame, together first.  This becomes your “template” and your guide for where the rest of the pieces fit in the puzzle.

When starting with social media think of it as your jigsaw puzzle.  You’ll need to define your objectives, define your target market, and create your strategy.  In other words, define what it is you want to accomplish by using social media (your objectives), who do you want to reach (your target market), and how you are going to accomplish those objectives (your strategy).

Do you want to become the “go to” dentist in your area?  Are you wanting to grow your “family” dental practice?  Maybe you want to become “The” cosmetic dentist in your area or want to grow your practice’s email list.  Just what is it you want to accomplish?

Your objectives, target market, and strategy become your plan of action and your plan of action becomes your frame…your puzzle template. 

Once these pieces are together you’re ready to start filling in the rest of your puzzle…choosing your social networks.  To do this, you’ll need to be clear on your target market and familiar with which social networks they prefer to use the most. 

Let’s put this in perspective:  If you work out of 3 treatment rooms in your practice and your patient is seated in TR 3 and you’re seated in TR 2 waiting for that patient, you aren’t going to accomplish anything…you’re not where your patient is.  In other words, if you are on Twitter and your target is on Facebook…see the importance?  You want to go where the “eyeballs” are…be known and be seen where your target market is.

Just like your regular puzzle, you add one or two pieces at a time.  When choosing your social networks, start slow with one, possibly two, of the network pieces.  Many like to start with Facebook or Twitter and a blog.  As you get comfortable with these pieces, you have the option to add more pieces to your social network.  But the key is finding and working within your comfort level.

Whether you’re putting together a 500 piece puzzle (a couple of networks) or a 2000 piece puzzle (most of the networks) keep working and soon your social media puzzle will all be together in one good fit!

Technorati Tags: Dental Marketing, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, overwhelming social media, social media plan of action, social media puzzle, social media puzzle pieces, social media strategies

Opportunities abound with social media.  Social media platforms, social media strategies, social media marketing, but often it’s hard to get your message noticed.

Brian Rice of Social Media Today says:

…the question is how business owners can get themselves noticed without getting themselves marked as spammers.

In his post 5 Things You Should Do in Social Media to Get Heard Brian gives 5 easy to follow tips for getting your message noticed and heard. 

My favorite is the 1st one: Keep Your Message Simple.  I’m a big believer in keeping it simple.  Never underestimate what your audience knows…keep it basic.

Brian ends by saying “Social media is an art.  And like any other art, the more you practice social media the better you will become!”

Which one is your favorite?

 Keep being social!

Technorati Tags: engaging social media, Get your message heard, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, Social Media

Good morning everyone!  Today, I just wanted to do a “Being Thankful” blog post.  It seems there are quite a few people I know, who are going through some very tough situations in their lives right now.

There are those who have lost their jobs, those who have sickness within the family, and those who are sick themselves. 

It’s so easy for us to complain about what seems major to us, but when we see what our loved ones and neighbors are going through, we realize…our problem is very minor.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in self, and not be looking at what’s going on around us.  I’m so guilty of that.  But then something  happens or someone says something and you realize someone may need your help.  I’m not talking about financial help…if you have that to help with, that’s great, but what I’m talking about is, your support. 

So many times if we can just be there to listen…let me repeat that…to listen, it would mean so much.  We all could use someone to listen to what’s going on.  Even if you don’t have the answer, as a matter of fact, the person you are listening to probably isn’t wanting an answer…they just need someone to listen.

I’m so thankful I woke up this morning.  I’m thankful I was able to get out of the bed and move around.  I’m thankful  I do have a job to go to.   I’m thankful for my wonderful, loving family.  I’m thankful for great co-workers…are you getting the picture here?  Think about it…really think about it.  Start a list of what you are thankful for…you woke up today didn’t you? 

So, my challenge to you today:  Who around you is having a tough time…could you just offer to listen to them today.  It will be a blessing to them to have you listen, but the bigger blessing is to YOU…for taking the time to listen.

Be positive: Uncertain times can bring about anxious and uneasy feelings.  Being positive and maintaining a positive attitude is critical at this time.  You have a tremendous opportunity for impacting your team’s attitude.  Accent the positive!

Celebrate successes:  Concentrate on what’s going right instead of centering on what was done wrong.  Your “success��? metrics may have to be measured on a smaller scale for now, but celebrate your accomplishments each week!

“Pin-Point Focus��? your marketing:  What worked in the past may not be what’s needed for today.  Re-evaluate (closely) the content of your marketing materials and web site content to make sure they are valid and applicable to today’s changing marketplace.  These are tight times.  You need results for right now, not long term results… that can come later.

• Rewrite your web site content to communicate value, risk free offers, and  stress guarantees
• “Pin-Point��? messages emphasizing value, cost savings, and special discounts
• Emphasize free trials, free gifts and even free shipping
• “Pin-Point��? what your customers can expect for their investment
• Increase online marketing and e-mail marketing – reduce time spent branding.

Make it personal:  Keep current customers happy – do not take them for granted.  Now is the time to “talk��? to your customers by e-mail or telephone. Talk about the uncertain times, their new concerns and changing values, where do they stand in these challenging times, and what you can do to help.  Let them know you are there for them.  You can bet your competition is contacting them!

• Remember:  It’s more cost effective to market to existing customers than trying to get new customers, especially in downtimes.
• Keep sending direct mails and e-mails (set up autoresponder e-mail campaigns)
• Continue marketing and advertising – now is not the time to stop or cut back! This can help you gain a larger section in your marketplace and establish your expertise, especially if your competition is cutting back during this time.

Be seen:  Always…keep your name in front of your customers and potential customers.  Whenever there’s a change, a new web site or new/updated content, your business opens, or you write an e-book,  e-mail your customers, business associates, and even friends.  Also send out Press Releases to the media and post to online Press Release sites.  Publicity is the most powerful way of advertising and it’s Free!!

Social media is using online communities for increasing your business/practice exposure, building relationships, and ultimately creates an incredible opportunity to develop profitable relationships, to be responsive to your market and allow your clients/patients to know you care. 

What does this new marketing arena  mean to you, a business owner?  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.  You can now do for free what it used to cost you thousands of dollars to do…make contacts. 

With this new change comes new “rules of engagement” from traditional marketing. 

5 Rules of Engagement for Social Media Marketing:

• #1 – Social media sites are not about making sales, they are about making contact and building relationships…for establishing credibility and trust.  Word of mouth advertising
• Build a quality network- target the people you associate with in your niche market
• Give quality content – building your brand/your time
• Consistency- Be consistent with your time, your content, your marketing
• Transparency and authenticity- A strategic key: Whatever is done must be done with quality!

Remember:  You are developing profitable relationships.  Everything you do should have a strategic intent.