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

Share This Page

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rebecca Beasley on August 12, 2008 at 8:45pm: Nice to meet you Glynis, but I'm a little concerned.
Did you read anything I had to say about social networking
mistakes? Maybe the comments brought it too far away for
you to see it?
Here's a link for your review just in case you missed the point.

Becky Beasley; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cami Walker on August 12, 2008 at 9:16pm: Excellent article. Thanks so much for posting! I run a social network and am a member of MANY and these guidelines are helpful to anyone trying to "market" themselves with social networking strategies.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laura Parker on August 12, 2008 at 11:03pm: Thanks so much for this very useful information. Until very recently, my business has been primarily face-to-face and my referrals have come from word-of-mouth. I am new to using social networks and I appreciate your advice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lori Denny on August 13, 2008 at 10:00am: Our business experience is similar to yours Laura. We do computer work for people, which is usually face-to-face, with some remote support. Almost all of our business has been through customer referral, and my efforts to get our company name and what we do out there involves several different types of networking events. It is always helpful to know the "ground rules" in new situations, and I found these guidelines to be very helpful too!

Lori Denny
http://www.sta.rtup.biz/profile/LoriDenny; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by WendyJRoan on August 13, 2008 at 1:48pm: Becky, may I call you Becky? I couldn't agree with you more. You are so right on! Nobody wants to be pitched to... not even the guys that do the pitching! I can see a "Pitch" from a mile away and I don't even pay attention to them.

I have gotten the best results by using the exact methods you wrote in the article above.

What sticks in a person's mind more... someone who is very helpful or someone who is flat out trying to get you to buy something? For me, the answer is an astounding -- the one who offers to share what they know with me - no strings attached! If I find at some point I need a service they offer, I am going to immediately contact them.

Why?

Because
1) They have proven to me that they know their business
2) They took time out to be helpful and I know they're busy
3) I now have a relationship with them and am fairly sure they won't leave me hanging

These are the very three key points I try to express in my own actions.
1) Offer help, excellent content, and feedback - no strings attached
2) Take the time to really help them solve a problem
3) Always be true to my word and loyal to my own advice

Becky, I feel too many people just want sell, sell, sell to make a buck. We all want to sell, but more than that, we must want to see our potential customers and friends be happy and their problems solved -- more so than the quick buck.

Yes, it is true! It takes time to build up those relationships. In the long run, though, it's worth it!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by howard lee on August 13, 2008 at 3:44pm: Dear Rebecca,

I read you are article and agree with most of it social networking is about being social. I have doing social networking for about 6 years. In that time I met a lot of people and done business with a few. That's ok because I am online to do business. That't how I make a living. In my profile I have my business because that's who I am. I really not interested in getting to know some one that way just to do business. I found out to many times in business a great friend is not the best person to do business with. I rather know a person only on a business level. A person personal life is of no interest to me. Still you had some good points.

Thanks
Howard Lee
Wirehead Technology; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maureen Sharib on August 13, 2008 at 1:58pm: I am guilty of ALL these things - I've linked back to this on several venues.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Consuela Kenyon on August 13, 2008 at 2:04pm: This information is very helpful, this is all pretty new to me and I'm sure I have done a few "don'ts".LOL

I hope that I have not offended anyone in the processs, we all make mistakes and I'm just thankful there are others out there that are willing to give good advice that will enable me to present myself and my business properly in the future.

I always welcome helpful hints and others personal opinions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Raenel Breucop on August 13, 2008 at 2:08pm: Wow, so now what - is it too late? I didn't know this info before - got referred by email to read this? Am I deleted or is this a warning? Or can I make amends and go forward or just leave the network?

Live and learn - what's the next step.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Clay Lyon on August 13, 2008 at 2:53pm: Now if they just had an article for Common Social Mistakes!

Raenel, I had what I think is the same first impression from the article: how on earth would you ever introduce yourself to a stranger in real life without an introduction (sounds like Saudi Arabia)?

Perhaps we can wear our written profile on a chain around our neck so people can read about us first and choose to say hello, or not!!!

Soon we'll have embedded chips read by others bluetooth - probably warning them that we're near and they should move out of range!

Still - it is indeed a good article; helpful pointers and common sense...; ▶ Reply to This