Common Social Networking Mistakes

There are a few mistakes that people make when using social networking sites to try to get more exposure for their business. These mistakes can be minor and not amount to much, or they can be fatal and cause you to lose your business and never make contact with anyone.

Naked Profile.
If you try to use social networks by just signing up and sending bulletins and emails to people, you’re missing the point entirely. If you don’t have a profile that’s the first thing people notice. You’ve already ruined your credibility and made yourself look like a scammer. Anyone who doesn’t take the time to at least set up a simple bio page has nothing to present. Even if you add friends, what are they going to see? No one wants to do business with someone they don’t know. To them you’re like a stranger lurking in the shadows with no real identity. You also want to have a nice picture of yourself so they will see it when your activity comes up in the search engine of the site. If you don’t have a picture people see you as the default no pic blank photo and this makes you look like you’re not professional or trustworthy.

Your About Me Page is all about your business opportunity
This makes you look like you’re broke and you need someone to sign up for your opportunity because you need to pay your light bill. Your about page should be about you and who you really are. It’s not the place to promote or advertise. People want to know you, not what you do or how much money you make.

Too much hype
We already know that your business is the next best thing since buttered bread, but when you have too much hyped up claims about how your business is making you a millionaire in three days, we can see right through it. If you’re that rich why do you need to use social networks at all? You should be on a warm sunny beach somewhere enjoying your good fortune.

Sending ads in comments and friend emails.
Oh boy..that one is a big no no. When you use your friend’s comment box to post an ad or banner for your business, you’ve shot yourself in the foot. Do you honestly think they’ll sign up for your business just because you shove it down their throat?

Put a link or a banner on your profile just in case someone wants to know what you do, but the main thing you want to do is present YOURSELF as someone who is credible and has a handle on who you are as a person.

Social networking is all about making friends, being helpful, and being REAL.
People want to do business with people they can identify with and who they can get to know as a friend first and foremost.

If they want to know what you’re doing to make money online they will ASK YOU. Then you have the opportunity and the PERMISSION to tell them and they won’t feel like they’re being sold to.

Rebecca Beasley has been online for 16 + years and has written
hundreds of articles to help newbies and oldies alike.
© July 13th 2008 All rights reserved

Tags: branding, bulletins, e-mail, howto, internet, introductions, marketing, networks, profiles, social

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cris Delgado on September 11, 2008 at 10:55am: Hi Rebecca
Thank you for taking the time to explain
here how others can and do make great
friends and business associates .

So many feel it isn't worth the wait to
introduce and cultivate a friendship/casual
relationship first. What I have found
over the years on forums is that people
will ask you in just a short time what it is
that you do or what you're in to if you just go
along being yourself, posting your comments
on the forums, and being friendly.

It also helps to visit others' pages and leave
comments that are relevant to the person. For
example, pay attention to their theme and their
pictures or videos--comment about what they are
presenting there.

Anyway, I do appreciate this group. It is terrific
and I have made some great friends already!
Cris; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John on September 11, 2008 at 10:55am: I really do not advertise my business in my profile other what it is seeling business paper . But on the IM or Y mess you can do all the selling you want .
Your goal should be to set up a blog people read.
Just like real world propecting you say what you do ,then you let the customer decide . It works; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rev. Paul Denby on September 11, 2008 at 11:02am: Thank you for the great information; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phil Burgess on September 11, 2008 at 11:32am: Thank you Rebecca I have been following a social network marketing programme ans felt that some of the participants were being a little pushy. This is all relatively new to me so I am feeling my fee. In the past my work has been sharing my skills and experiences on a face to face basis with groups and individuals. Now I live in an isolated village in southern Spain and unless I can attract client to come to my centre then I have had to find another way. I have decided to try to share ideas and experiences through the internet but thi is all new to me. However my way is definitely your way and it may no be instant riches but after a few months it is paying off. I have made some great friends, helped a few people and some of my friends are asking about what I do and showing real interest. I hasten to add that so far I haven't tried to sell anything. I am working on my product and the feed back from friends is helping. It is good for me to feel that I am doing marketing this right. Thanks again for your post.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chuck Bartok on September 11, 2008 at 11:33am: I may have commented on this Fantasic post before.

But Kudos again Rebecca.

Social Networking has been working for years,

Thousands actually, and has been the foundation of businesses
for almost 50 years.

Keep up the Great Work.

I love your enthusiasm; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Prophetees Leerma on September 11, 2008 at 12:21pm: Good morning this was great advise for us newbie's like me. I appreciate your honest. I will come back and re-read this post to refresh my memory. God bless your effort and time in this matter.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Miller on September 11, 2008 at 12:44pm: Thanks Rebecca. I am still pretty new to social networking. Your post gave me a clearer understanding of the 'how to'.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Debsgreatfinds on September 11, 2008 at 2:56pm: thanks for the tips; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Irma White on September 11, 2008 at 4:08pm: Great information, Rebecca. I especially like the point about spamming in an email or when making comments. That is a definite no, no.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diane on September 11, 2008 at 9:34pm: Thank you for this. Very well said.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy and Leon Davis on September 11, 2008 at 9:49pm: This is the first time I have seen suggestions as to how to use these sites.
Thanks,
Peggy Davis; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Debbie Morgan on September 12, 2008 at 1:22am: These tips are great, Rebecca. Thanks for listing them for us.

One thing that disturbs me about social networking that you might want to include in your list of mistakes are people who push their business during the first interaction with a new friend.

I've had it happen many times. I accept a friend request and BAM! they hit me with their business and are asking me to join. They haven't taken time to get to know me, ask about my interests, hobbies or how I'm doing but there they are pushing their business in my face.

I am gracious about it and thank them for sharing but it's annoying and unprofessional.

Thanks, Rebecca, for this great discussion.; ▶ Reply to This