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10 PR stars reveal secrets for social media success in 2013

by at 4:25 pm 13 Comments

Seats at a tableWant to kick-start your social media optimization in 2013? Of course you do. 

I asked 10 distinguished PR and social media pros to share their views on how it can be done. 

Here are their responses, with my appreciation for their insights!

Margo Mateas, Founder, The PR Trainer:  “PR pros need to remember to take time to become part of the communities they want to reach, and not just engage in ‘driveby’ social media. It only takes a second to ‘Like’ someone else’s post or to leave a supportive comment. This strengthens trust and makes it more likely for them reciprocate the next time you’re promoting something.”

Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO, Pure Performance Communications:  “Take the best of your communications past into 2013; your ethics, accountability, critical thinking and great communications skills. At the same time, be open to different types of engagement through social media, by experimenting and embracing new technology to build stronger relationships with stakeholders. You need to be 10 steps ahead to counsel senior executives about the changing media landscape, and on the same page with savvy, wired consumers to understand their preferences and to better serve their needs.”  

Brad Phillips, Mr. Media Training, author, The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely, Positively Need to Know Before Your Next Interview: “Few public relations professionals can keep up with all of the new social networking sites that seem to pop up on a monthly basis. So as a New Year’s resolution, PR pros should try to familiarize themselves with each of the platforms—and then commit to participating in the one that is most likely to help them reach their audiences and accomplish their goals.” 

Amy D. Howell, CEO, Howell Marketing Strategies, LLC:  “Our firm will be measuring how the social posts are driving more traffic to client websites and how that is helping their SEO. We have completed upgrades to client websites to include integration of social platforms.”  

Jeff Domansky, The PR Coach & Principal, Peak Communications: ”I’m excited about 2013. It will be the year of the ‘visual.’ Whether you’re storytelling, blogging, content marketing, doing media relations or social PR, great pics and video will drive your success. And everything you do better work on mobile, too.”

Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs: “Focus less on what you think you ‘have’ to do to maintain a social presence. Focus more on what is meaningful for your brand.”

Stacey Acevero, Social Media Manager, Vocus/PRWeb: “Think about social media as a book, or a timeline of the story of your business. But it’s not storytelling, it’s telling a true story well–so write social media posts that inspire conversation, share thoughts and real outcomes that resonate with your audience. Be less ‘braggy’ and involve the insights of others in your PR story.”

Joan Stewart, aka The Publicity Hound: ”Recycle your content, create it in multiple formats, and share it on the social media sites. Example: Take a how-to blog post and turn it into an MP3, and then a video (record yourself offering 3 tips from the article), and then a slideshow for LinkedIn, and then a series of photos for a Pinterest board. Note to self: Do this in 2013 and stop creating content from scratch!”   

Michael Cherenson,  APR, Executive VP, Success Communications Group; 2009, Chair and CEO, PRSA: “Social media is public relations and today’s professionals, to better serve their clients and help advance their own careers, need to invest in training and learn how to re-learn the art of communications. Every public relations professional must become an active participant, native to various social media platforms. And PR pros need to recognize Google’s algorithm is now one of our most important publics; your content needs to entice your audience and Google’s search engine.”

Shonali Burke, Principal, Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc.:  “I see far too many PR pros functioning in a bubble. Offline, they live and work in the bubble of the agency world, and online they don’t interact with people from different industries and walks of life. One of the best things about social media is the way it can connect you with just about anyone else in the world who is using that platform. It’s amazing what we can learn from people so very different from us. So as we embark on 2013, let’s rediscover what makes social media so wonderful-the ability to converse with literally just about anyone.”

Which piece of advice will you be focusing on in 2013?

Filed Under: Branding, Business, Online Marketing, PR, Public Relations, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 (more) things every social content marketer must know how to do

by at 10:01 pm Leave a Comment

In business, 2012 has been a banner year for social content and marketing. How have you fared, and where are you heading in 2013?

The Content Marketing Institute’s latest report, B2B Content Marketing: 2012 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends concludes that marketing on the major social channels grew approximately 15-20 percent as compared to 2011. 

As more of us jump on the social content bandwagon, I wanted to share some thoughts and resources that can help.

Here are five things social content marketers must know how to do:   

 1. Repurpose and reimagine your content. This means curation, updating older posts, and much, much more. 

How to build and operate a content marketing machine

Two funnels, two types of content marketing 

2. Embrace visuals.  Prospects like to see things. Remember show-and-tell in grade school? Effective online marketers know that the ‘show’ element rules.  Think beyond infographics.  Consider video testimonials and fun images. And yes, charts and graphs with hard data are part of the mix, too. 

12 ways to visualize data, without infographics

 64 Pinterest marketing tips and tactics

Photo sharing for your B2B online marketing

3.  Use keywords to create quality content for your target audience. If it’s B2B or B2C, you must have a constant handle on the trends and challenges affecting prospects and clients. If conversion rates are on your mind, the following links will come in handy.

31 easy ideas to create content your customers want

Tools and resources for keyword search  

4.  Cross promote your content. Cross channel marketing, which includes online and offline, mobile, display ads, and e-mail campaigns, ought to be the centerpiece of your strategy. Businesses and brands that use this approach on a regular basis will lead the content marketing pack in 2013. 

6 steps to a cross channel marketing plan

Report: Cross Channel Marketing in 2012

5 lessons in cross channel marketing

5. Be sticky. Malcolm Gladwell covered this in his best-selling book, The Tipping Point. What makes some websites, blogs, products, and brands explode and stay on top for the long-haul?  

Let’s get sticky!

Is your website deliciously sticky?

5 secrets of shareable content

Finally, here’s a gem from Gary Friedman of Restoration Hardware. ”Great brands don’t chase customers; customers chase great brands.” 

 

Filed Under: Branding, Business trends, content, Digital, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The 4 business communication pillars of our future

by at 5:56 pm 2 Comments

Whether you’re a digital native or a digital immigrant, business communicators must have a rock-solid foundation to succeed in our technology-centric world.

The future of our organizations —and careers — rest on these four pillars: 

1. Accessibility: Our point-of-entry to decision-makers is social media. Social channels have opened doors to the media, business leaders, decision-makers, thought leaders, and prospects that we could never have dreamed of. Are you using this new-found accessibility in an effective way? For example, on #Follow Friday (Twitter), it is nice to mention people in your circles, but be sure to include those whose attention you are trying to capture. You can also retweet them. On LinkedIn, join groups where your ideal clients hang around. Your goal: Slowly build rapport and bring the conversation offline.

2. Curation: Filtering relevant information to power your internal and external communications play a pivotal role in business. You may not be tickled with the thought of being a publisher, but sorting through news stories and posts that impact your niche, clients, and employees, has many benefits in our attention-starved world. Andrew Birmingham writes on CIOAustralia.com: “Companies are increasingly exploiting corporate social networks with the ultimate payoff being increased sales from the provision of faster and better information for customers.” Your goal: Become a trusted and valued resource.

3. Education: Intellectual capital — the content between your ears — has never been as important as it is today. You may not always admit it, but you have vast knowledge and experience that others need. Learn something new every day so you can educate others. Your goal: Sell your knowledge. 

4. Scalability: How will you manage future growth? With mobile, e-commerce, online media monitoring, brand marketing, and the Enterprise, new business models are evolving. Are you equipped to build on what you already have without business disruptions and technology disasters? Your goal: Be sure your house of cards doesn’t collapse.

Warren Buffett said: “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

A final thought: Check out my 21-day, free video series, Speaking of Communication. It’s packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for blogging, social media, publicity, and business communication. The box is on the top right.

 

Filed Under: Branding, Communicators, Interpersonal Relationships, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

7 ways to communicate like an Olympic star

by at 4:40 pm Leave a Comment

Opening ceremonies for the summer Olympics take place in London this week.

What traits do athletes competing in the 2012 games need to bring home the gold? 

Determination, focus, drive, motivation, and a competitive will to win are the qualities that come to mind.  

Successful professionals have developed these same attributes as well.

Here are quotes from seven Olympic medalists about their experiences. Their insights apply to each of us.  

 1. “When I race my mind is full of doubts: Who will finish second, who will finish third?”-  Noureddine Morceli, Algerian athlete, 1996 Summer Olympics

 Communications tip: Self-talk is the most important communication you will ever have. It determines your success or your mediocrity.

 2. “It was my favorite memory of all competitive events, because it was brand new and it was exciting.” – Scott Hamilton, American figure skater, 1984 Winter Olympics

 Communications tip: Develop your creativity. Notice that Hamilton didn’t say the games were notable because they were boring and stale. Instead, he goes for thrilling.  

 3.  “When we stage the Olympics it will inspire kids all over the country. A kid in Scotland or Ireland will be encouraged to take up sport.”- Daley Thompson, British decathlete, 2-time winner at the Olympics

 Communications tip: Set the stage for success and inspiration. The ‘stage’ is your website, blog, videos, pins, e-mail marketing and news pitches.  

 4. “A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.” Jesse Owens, 1936 Summer Olympics

 Communications tip: Clear your mind of idle chatter and be in the moment.

 5. “I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.”- Mia Hamm, American soccer player, 2004 Summer Olympics

 Communications tip: In your PR and marketing campaigns, be sure you know the precise time to light the match. This applies to public speaking and blogging, too.  

 6.  ”Never put an age limit on your dreams.” –Dara Torres, Olympic swimming champion

Communications tip: You can reinvent yourself and your brand. You can learn new technology and ways to do things. Don’t believe me? Get out of your own way and see what happens.  

7. “Nobody needs to prove to anybody what they’re worthy of, just the person that they look at in the mirror. That’s the only person you need to answer to.”- Picabo Street, former Olympic alpine skiing champion

Communications tip: If you’re communicating weakness instead of worthiness, it’s time to make changes.  

Olympians are committed to going the extra mile.  Are you?

Filed Under: Branding, Communication, Public Relations, Self-Confidence, Social Media, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Social media health check: Is your strategy on life support?

by at 10:45 am 10 Comments

It’s time to zero in on your social media strategy and determine if you’re having an identity crisis (online, of course). Do you think your digital strategy is healthy or lingering on life support?

 

Your messaging must be: 

  • Cohesive
  • Integrated
  • Consistent

 

The Big Picture

Keep in mind that strategy is the big picture and tactics are the everyday activities to help you achieve success in your big picture (vision).

Do you have a written vision of what you want to achieve and why it’s important to you?

This is not about money. It’s about doing work and providing products and services that you are genuinely passionate about. Don’t panic; you won’t need a 63-page business plan. A few lines can provide clarity and a foundation for our next steps.

Does your staff know your vision? Are they enthusiastic and fully committed to it? Do they use the same verbiage and language in describing the company as the CEO?

Have you identified your niche, ideal client, and target market?  Do you know their specific challenges, needs, and problems AND how your company can solve them? Which Twitter chats and LinkedIn groups are decision makers involved with? What’s your message to them? If you are a B2B company, you must focus on what your customer’s customer needs.

Think of your marketing like this: Your prospect and/or client has pain (problem) and you have the medicine (expertise) to ease their discomfort. Focus on the results you get for people, not the title on your business card.

Let the Journey Begin

To create a cohesive, integrated, and consistent strategy, the place to begin is with your website. This is the hub of your identity and activities.

The goal is to use various social and traditional communications to lead people to your site. Once there, you want to keep visitors interested and engaged with valuable information and a clear call to action. Be sure your site is easy to navigate. Simplicity is a good thing.

What do you want visitors to do? Sign up for something, watch a video, subscribe to a newsletter or download a free e-book?

Keep a watchful eye on Google Analytics to see the bounce rate, time spent on the site, and other important metrics. Your focus should be on list building and your sales funnel (monetization).

Another critical part of your online presence and website is the title tag. That’s the short phrase or descriptor with keywords at the top of your site. This phrase can help you hyper-focus on your services.  These few words directly impact search engine optimization and rankings.

This point may seem obvious, but be sure to have a professionally designed logo, color scheme, and visuals that communicate the heart of your company. The tone and feel are important.

Your 11-point-Checklist

  1. Your blog. Like your website, your blog must be current, offer sound advice, and be written in a casual voice. How often do you post? How do you decide on content and frequency? Hint: It goes back to the challenges of your niche market. Does more than one person post? Is the voice of your blog in harmony with your main messaging? Who are your readers and why have they chosen your site over millions of others?  
  2. Your e-zine or newsletter. Does your newsletter include the title tag from your site? Encourage people to connect online by listing your social links and URL.
  3. Your videos. Do you have an opening and closing slide with your company name and/or logo? Is your website woven into the text so the speaker can subtly promote it as a resource?
  4. Your e-mail marketing. Does the same common attitude of helping people shine through? Don’t sell; build relationships with your target market. Use your title tag descriptor, and forget the jargon, rhetoric, and BS.
  5. Your social profiles. Do your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and your other channels have (nearly) identical language that’s crystal clear in describing how you help people?
  6. Your business cards. Are business cards are a thing of the past?  I don’t think so, but not everyone agrees.  If you have cards, do you have one or two social links listed? Do you really need your fax number or is it obsolete?  Your logo and consistent punchy phrase of how you solve problems and get results is what people are looking for. Clear, uncluttered, visually pleasing. Dump the cutesy titles; focus on the prospect/client.
  7. Your e-mail signature line. This is an area that tends to be forgotten. Your social links, website, and anything that separates you from others should be included. Use live links as well. Remember, the goal is to get people back to your site or profile.
  8. Your “about us” page. These pages tend to be static, but if you update them periodically with staff changes, awards, accomplishments, and links to new testimonials, it can be compelling for visitors to stay on your site and poke around.
  9. Your Pinterest boards. Is it absolutely clear from your visuals and pictures the field/industry you’re in? Is your profile congruent with your bio, title tag, e-mail marketing, and blog?
  10. Your bio line. Do you have two versions (long and short) that are used at the end of your bylined articles, white papers, and case studies?  
  11. Your traditional print marketing pieces. Many industries find success in mailers, print advertising, and other traditional marketing channels. Do these pieces have that thread of consistency and clarity that are congruent will all of the above? Is your message, clear, concise, compelling, and visually appealing? Does your contact information and call to action stand out?

Now, what can you do to improve the health of your social media set-up? If your organziation needs help and an outside analysis, contact my office now, mention this post, and receive a discounted fee! You will have a complete report in just 7 days!

 

Filed Under: Branding, Business, Online Marketing, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

6 Ways to Become a Social Media Magnet

by at 7:23 am 11 Comments

Are people drawn to your blog, profiles, networking channels, and videos? Are you aware of your brand’s magnetic fields of energy that push and pull? What are you doing in social media to expand this magnetism? 

Here are 6 ways to become a social media magnet that will impact your brand and identity: 

1. Develop your online persona. What do you value, stand for, and know? Your style will define your brand. What does it feel like?  

2. Use your true voice. Write and speak from the heart. You’ll be more attractive to others.

3. Understand the fine art of charisma. Charisma is magnetism, allure, and appeal. It’s what makes you special. Charisma draws people to you, online and in real life. It builds instant rapport.

4. Know who you’re trying to reach. You can’t be all things to all people. Zero in on your target audience and how you can best serve them. When others begin to trust you and your message , they will want to be in your circle.  They’ll likely bring friends.  

5. Convey a message based on emotion. As Simon Sinek writes in his book, Start With Why, people buy into why you do what you do.  The what and how (logical part of our brains), will follow. Your Tweets, posts, and articles should focus on your passion and emotion. People will buy into emotion before they buy into a process.  As Sinek reminds us, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. titled his speech, ”I Have a Dream.” It wasn’t titled,  “I Have a Plan.”   

6. Give and take. Magnetic fields receive and emit energy and light. Remember, it’s the push and pull. Others will pay attention to you when you interact, converse, retweet, share, and invite them in. Be the bright spot in someone else’s day. Talk about impact and magnetism. Wow. 

Creating your brand, identity, and magnetism takes time. It’s about creating a buzz that everyone wants to be a part of.  The goal is to be a social media magnet, and not a crap magnet. Your time has come.  Hasn’t it?

P.S. If you want to be an ace at communication, sign up for my free, 21-day video series, “Speaking of Communication.” Learn tips and strategies on PR, social media, blogging, branding, and more.

Filed Under: Branding, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

2 Reasons Your Company Needs Brand Ambassadors in Social Media

by at 1:07 am 1 Comment

Who is the president of your fan club? You know, your biggest cheerleader. Who is the person with fierce loyalty who absolutely believes in what you represent? (Let’s exclude relatives from this.)

In our world, these fan club presidents and cheerleaders are also known as your brand ambassadors. Regardless of their title, social media channels will help them cheer you on and tout your business far and wide. They market for you when you are asleep, in meetings, driving your  car, or coaching soccer with the kids.

I recently interviewed Shel Holtz, an online communication authority with more than 30 years of experience consulting with companies including PepsiCo and National Geographic. He told me that its essential employees in small and large companies have access to the Internet and social media channels while at work.  Shel maintains if they don’t, you’re missing huge opportunities. 

1. “Superficially, organizations might think they’re protecting themselves, but in keeping employees from networking in ways that they’re comfortable doing it, it prevents employees from engaging on behalf of the organization. I don’t mean as official spokespeople, but to talk enthusiastically about where they work.”

2. “There is no better way to get someone to believe in a company’s product than employees being enthused when talking to their social networks about the quality of the products and services that they work on.  There are countless ways that employees can improve a company’s bottom line by engaging with their own networks.  So this really means that there has to be a shift away from preventing contact with employees to educating employees how to behave in those kinds of contacts.  There is no better recruiting tool.”

Consider these brand ambassadors the new way of gathering testimonials or business references. The greatest difference is that brand ambassadors do what they do without being asked. Talk about authenticity and credibility.

Unsolicited testimonials from people who think you’re the best thing since sliced bread are priceless. 

Filed Under: Branding, Online Marketing, Social Networking Tagged With: , , ,

4 Ways to Boost Your Brand with Social Media

by at 11:56 pm 1 Comment

“People are talking about you whether you like it or not. So you may as well be involved in the dialogue.” 

That’s the message from Elizabeth Pizzanato, vice president of Brand Communications for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. I interviewed her at a recent public relations and social media conference organized by Ragan Communications. 

I wanted to share her insights with you because her message is so important to businesses, both large and small.  I know you’re working hard to increase your visibility, credibility, and revenues.  We’re in the midst of a technology revolution that can be scary and exciting at the same time. Clearly the tools we use to deliver our messages have changed the way we promote our products and services. You and I both know that some of these methods of delivery may not be best for our particular line of work or industry. It’s essential that you learn about them and decide if they could be beneficial. If not, just move on. 

As Pizzinato reminds us, the key is to have an integrated approach. She offers a four-point checklist: 

Listen to your clients and customers are saying about you, your product and service.

Respond and be part of the conversation. Then react. Take in what they are saying and start a two-way dialogue.

React to what people are saying by changing your products and services.  Take in that feedback. It’s free consumer research.

Sell through social media channels. Use technology to sell what consumers want to buy from you. 

According to Pizzinato, “Social media does not replace traditional publicity; it augments it. It’s becoming more and more dominant and we can’t ignore it. For instance, if I’m doing a food and beverage promotion and I want it to be an integrated campaign, I look at all the channels, and social media is one of those channels that maybe I wouldn’t have considered five years ago. Am I going to promote it in the magazines, am I going to send an e-mail blast out, am I going to put it on Facebook, or am I going to Tweet about it? It becomes part of the marketing mix and the marketing toolbox.”

My favorite take-aways from this interview: Her point that social media is free consumer research. And the opening line to this post:  “People are talking about you whether you like it or not. So you may as well be involved in the dialogue.” 

By the way, if you want to learn more about publicity, social media, blogging, PR, and interpersonal communication, I invite you to sign up for my free, 21-day video series, “Speaking of Communication.”

(Photo Credit: Ricardo)

Filed Under: Branding, Business, customer service, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

The ABCs of outstanding social media and business communication

by at 5:10 pm 12 Comments

ABC letters on fridge

The way you communicate in your business relationships is directly tied to your revenues, reputation, and success. Of course social media and technology are forcing us to set new rules, boundaries, and etiquette.

Back to grade school we go!

Here are the ABCs of outstanding social media and business communication:

A is for authenticity. In the case of social media and online networking, the old adage, “Fake it ’til you make it” doesn’t work. Genuine is in; fake is out. Be yourself. 

B is for brand. Every message, tweet, blog and communication should reflect some hint of your brand and who you are.

C is for control. Be careful not to slam or insult anyone online as it can come back to bite you in ways you have never imagined.

D is for dialogue. Get involved in the conversations, groups, and chats with meaningful contributions that reveal both your expertise and personality. Communication is a two-way street.

E is for Easy Does It. Before you jump into conversations, take a look around. Follow chats, tweets, and groups. Find the opinion leaders, and movers and shakers. Then slowly get involved.

F is for forge relationships. Pay attention to your loyal followers, ideal client, and competition. Thank those who retweet or share your information with others and connect with them offline. Follow what others are doing and comment on their blogs and sites. Interactive is a beautiful thing.

G is for get in front. This is about being proactive and making things happen. It’s not about being aggressive, obnoxious, or ”in your face.” It’s subtle marketing, branding, and sharing value—online.

H is for headlines. Catchy news-style headlines of 5-8 words (including keywords) that address people’s needs/challenges will attract readers and followers—and help your SEO efforts.

I is for identify. Identify your niche. Identify your area of expertise and passion. Identify industry leaders. Identify trends in your field. Identify your ideal clients. We are in an amazing age where we have access to CEOs, prominent business leaders, and superstars that we never could have mingled with before.   And don’t forget, identify your competition and watch them, too.

J is for just get going. Don’t whine that blogging takes too much time, or you’ll have to learn new technology. Look at social media and online networking as a breakthrough opportunity that the world has never experienced. Imagine the stories you’ll tell your grandchildren! If you want to bellyache instead of learn, get back in bed and pull the covers over your head. Everyone else is going places.  It would be nice if you came along.

K is for knowledge. Know your followers, why they connect with you and what you provide to them. Then give them more of what they want. If you don’t know what they want, start asking them.

L is for limit your personal life when doing business. It’s great to share your personal insights or “lessons learned” but too much information about your private life when you are online to build your business reputation can backfire and destroy your credibility.

M is for mistakes. You’re bound to send out a message with a wrong link or misspelled word. Fix it if necessary, apologize, and move on. It happens to everyone. The nice thing about social media— especially Twitter— is that it’s a very forgiving community :)

N is for notice the little things. Someone may tweet or post a message about their birthday, the flu, or their upcoming presentation. A few quick words wishing them good luck or asking about the topic of a workshop helps build relationships. People appreciate being recognized.

O is for own it. Be passionate about what you do. Your enthusiasm will leak into all of your spoken and written words.  Friends, followers and connections will pick up on this immediately. If you don’t own it and love it, it’s time to rethink what you’re doing.

P is for professional. Use your profiles, posts, and messages in professional ways. Present yourself online to prospects, clients, and the world as a top-notch pro who walks the walk and talks the talk. This should be evident in all of your social channels. It must be congruent with your traditional marketing materials, website, articles, and press releases, too.

Q is for quit trying to sell. If you post a link that offers tips, make sure it leads to a page with the information you promised, not a sales pitch to buy your book or register for a webinar to get the tips.

R is for rapport. Connect with people through your blog, links, articles, e-zines and videos. Give them an opportunity to get acquainted with you. Developing friendships online is similar to real-life friendships. You connect with some people immediately and others take more time. There are a few you will never click with. That’s OK. Go for quality, not quantity.

S is for sharing. Share your expertise, insights, wisdom and assistance. That’s what social media is all about. Be willing to donate the seeds of your intellectual capital, knowing you are building a brand and reputation that will eventually take root. In other words, share your smarts but don’t expect an instant Return-On-Investment.

T is for thank you. Express your gratitude and thanks to others who provide helpful information, share your messages, posts, and tweets with their circles. Acknowledge people when they comment on your blog and Linked In questions.

U is for use everything that’s available. Don’t get nervous. You don’t have to use all of the applications, gadgets, downloads and software at the same time and right now. Commit to learning a new technology or program and build from that. Use these tools to your advantage as you grow your business and online presence.

V is for visuals. Social media is interactive. There are different ways that people learn and communicate. Use a broad approach to include various styles and age groups. Pinterest, video press releases, and Instagram can help you get creative. 

W is for write with clarity. Whether you are writing a white paper, short blog post, or question on Linked In, use language that is clear, concise and compelling.

X is for the ”X-Ray Approach.”  In order to effectively communicate and relate to people, you’ll need to get inside their heads and emotions. Read their content, eavesdrop on chats, and ask good questions. You’ll soon be able to diagnose their pain (challenge) and determine if your products and services are the cure.

Y is for yell if you need any help. People love to help. Periodically toss out your questions or challenges to the crowd and allow them to connect with you. Tap into their experiences, ideas, and resources to help with your learning curve.

Z is for zany. Sure I talk about being professional and sharing your personality, but you can let your hair down in a zany and fun way. For example, on Christmas, my blog post was titled, Santa’s communication pitfalls. Another post that was lots of fun: 21 signs you’re a social media fiend. Maybe it’s not totally zany, put you get the picture. It’s OK to have fun!

Communicating online requires us to write the line, walk the line, read between the lines and often tow the line. Are you up for it? It can be as easy as A-B-C.

(Photo Credit: hav_time)

Filed Under: Blogging, Branding, Business, Communication, Digital, Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,