Does promoting your business on this site and others really result in sales?

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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, COO on November 20, 2008 at 2:17pm

Social networking is just like face-to-face networking. You want to meet alot of people and build relationships with others that may need your product at some point in the future.

Many people forget this and resort to constantly promoting products and not building relationships. The goal should be to meet people and maintain contact through the site, but to also eventually get a phone number and make a call to talk on the phone. That is the best way to go about turing social network relationships into real relationships that turn into customers.

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Permalink Reply by Zahir shamsery on November 29, 2008 at 9:06am

Very well articulated.
Thank you for guiding me.

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Permalink Reply by Dr.Luther Brotherton, Pharm.D. on December 30, 2008 at 10:58pm

Great advice..

That's my philosophy also.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Deans on January 21, 2009 at 3:30pm

I agree.
Constant promotion just gets up people's noses.
I find that lurking on Social Networking sites and responding to blogs and discussions started by others that touch on my areas of expertise in a way that (I hope) demonstrates that expertise is the best way to attract work. In any case, mine is a profession in which new work comes from personal recommenbdation and such networking whether on line or in the real face-to-face world.

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Permalink Reply by Irma White on November 20, 2008 at 3:17pm

I agree. Relationship building is the key. Think about it like this -- if you went to a social gathering would you introduce yourself and then immediately say 'buy my product/service? Of course not. Well the same rules apply at the social networks.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Foley-Rogdakis on November 20, 2008 at 3:21pm

I totally agree with everyones thoughts about just spaming and telling people about your products or services. But everyone knows that a main reason that anyone is networking on this site, others, or in person is because in the end they want to increase sales. So my question now is, if you do put yourself out there and connect with others personally, do you believe that personal connection is what adds to sales, or is it getting your name out there on the internet and building your brand?

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Permalink Reply by Ron Monteith on February 28, 2009 at 9:23pm

You've probably heard it said.... "know you ~ like you ~ trust you" ..... those are the folks we like to buy from if possible. A few folks are just "tire" kickers and we always have the price buyers regardless of anything else.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jones on April 19, 2009 at 3:28pm

Yes, absolutely. Building credibility and trust are essential for long-term business relationships.

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Permalink Reply by Warren A. Veach on November 20, 2008 at 5:08pm

Jennifer,

If you do put yourself out there and connect with others personally, then yes, you do stand a very good chance of increasing your sales.

The key, however, is to connect on a personal level first, and then make the transition to business. In the physical business world, it is quite common to walk into a place of business, introduce yourself to the manager and make your 30 second “pitch”, or as you already know, hit the phones. In my time I have done a lot of both as well.

In both of these circumstances, however, you have something going for you that you don’t in the online world. Presence.

When you meet somebody in person, you connect on more than one level. You connect physically, visually, and audibly.

On the phone, you only connect audibly, and seldom can close the sale on one call. You probably will have to make another call, and then maybe another. However, if you can turn one of those calls into an appointment, now you connect on a higher level (physically), and you are closer to the sale.

When doing business online, you seldom have the ability to connect on a more intimate level than electronically, unless you purposefully seek out people within your service area. Therefore, it may take more contacts to produce the same results, but it is not the same as driving across town seven or eight times to land the client. It can be, and often is, more time effective. It is not easy to set an appointment to do a presentation in somebody’s office at 11:30PM, but I can send a quote by e-mail.

If you deal in strictly online products, it really doesn’t matter, but if you deal with a physical product or service or are hindered geographically, then you need to focus building your relationships and contact base within the “service area” of your business.

For example, I am a licensed insurance agent in the state of Texas. While I will accept an invitation for “friendship” from just about anybody, anywhere, I focus my outreach on people I can help in my state. Don’t get me wrong, it is not that there aren’t a lot of wonderful people in Arkansas, but for the purpose of networking in order to build a relationship for business, it is more practical to do so within my “service area”.

Nothing will replace the personal visit, nor the cold call, but if done properly, online marketing can be very effective. It just takes a bit of a different approach.

And it appears that with the changes you have made to your website, the addition of an electronic newsletter, and adding the ability to order from an online catalog, as well as putting your name and face (never discount the weight that carries) out there and becoming part of the online world, you are embracing the changes in strategy and making the most of them.

I hope this goes more towards answering your questions than it did towards adding to them. Oh, and before I forget, I’d be honored to be added to your circle of friends.

Have a GREAT day,
Warren

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Foley-Rogdakis on November 21, 2008 at 8:24am

Thank you so much for your thorough response. I think this does make sense. I do feel thus far that along with printed products that I am very good at selling myself once I get in front of people. That is the main reason I have gotten my client base so far. There are tons of printers out there, but my customers choose to work with me for me. And I am proud of that. So I can truly understand why one would have to build a relationship first, before others feel comfortable making a business relationship also. I guess for the online business I am hoping that the people who don't necessarily care who they order from for items such as promo products or imprinted forms, and just want to order online w/out the hassel of dealing with a sales person would be my new target when it comes to online marketing. I guess we will see how it goes. In the meantime I look forward to networking with who ever would like to.

Thank you for your insight!

Jen

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Permalink Reply by lesha on November 25, 2008 at 5:49pm

I can learn so much from you. I would be honored if I could befriend you as a follower,Lesha

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Permalink Reply by Toyin Ojo on January 13, 2009 at 5:06am

Warren,

Thanks so much for this great response. Though Insurance sales have been categorized as 'slick ricks', I'd certainly buy insurance from you.

I have done extensive sales as well, and you're absolutely correct on all counts. Even when you pick up the phone to make that first call, if you're lucky enough to connect with the decision maker (B2B sales), you still have to take the time to connect on a personal level, otherwise, you won't get the appointment.

Personal connection should never be underrated. I've just started this online marketing journey, and on all the sites I've been, most people greeted me with their 'personalized generic' greeting, after some time, you get tired, especially when you've read the same 'personalized' greeting from 5 different folks selling the same site sign up program. I got cross eyed a few nights ago.

Anyhow, thanks again and I look forward to learning on this site.

Toyin

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