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

I am new to the social networking arena, and have been putting a lot of time and energy in getting my companies name out there. I was trained in the old school of cold calling, and it has worked wonders for me thus far. Now, I hear about this new technique, and I have decided to give it a try. I have joined this group, facebook, twitter, linked in...bought face book ad space, updated our website to include social bookmarking along with making the site much more functional for online ordering. So with all this will I increase my sales?? What are your thoughts?

Jennifer Foley
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Foley Business Forms & Print Solutions
www.foleybf.com

Tags: networking, printing, products, promotional, social

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Foley-Rogdakis on November 22, 2008 at 5:41pm: Thank you for your response! I am glad you like this question. It was one that I was curious about and I am glad there has been a good response. I guess the way to go about it is to get to know the "right people". People where a relationship is mutally beneficial. But I guess one never knows who can help them out there, or who you can help. Hopefully both can happen to me!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tony Marino on November 22, 2008 at 8:06pm: Jennifer!

First, allow me to congratulate your on your wedding!

Purposeful marketing will make a difference. "Willy-Nilly" marketing will (in most cases) not be all that fruitful. No matter what medium you choose to advertise within, you must have your marketing ducks in a row. That is, you need to have a carefully choreographed plan and process in place.

1. What is your "why?"

2. What does your prospect conversion pipeline look like? Do you even have one?

3. Do you have you online web property capture page optimized? (Remember, you only have 15 to 20 seconds to capture those suspects and prospects.) Your landing page better "sizzle."

4. What is your follow-up plan of attack? Do you have a strategic follow-up plan in place? (You should always (as a rule) never expect prospects to ever buy on their first visit. You MUST have a mechanism is place to nurture those relationships. Remember, your prospects (your intended target audience) do NOT know who you are, or what your widget is all about.

5. Finally (I should have made this one, #1), you must know what the heck you are selling. What is your story? Can you explain what you do in 15 words or less? If not, you need to clearly define your messaging before ever taking your product or service to market. Remember, if you don't know what you do, you audience will never have a clue. People don't buy things they know nothing or very little about (particularly in today's economy).

Jennifer, seek the assistance of others that have been there, done that, and doing it now! I must tell you, I never market (or attempt to market) anything without first running the idea and concepts by my brilliant partners and colleagues. Neither should you! Two heads are better than one. That stated, please do be sure to listen and ponder over the advise provided to you by those considered to be an experts. They are a whole lot of "self-proclaimed" gurus out there who can't even close an open-faced sandwich, let alone a sale. The business you save, may be your own!

Happy marketing and great blessings,

Tony

Tony Marino
CEO, Founder
America Web Works, LLC.
http://www.americawebworks.com
866-824-9684

Executive Producer/Host
Marketing Antics Live!
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Permalink Reply by Gopal-theVFusionGroup on November 24, 2008 at 1:02pm: You will see results with time provided you dedicate yourself to networking with people on a variety of sites consistently. You need to establish a presence and yourself as someone that others can relate to. If you just pitch a product or business opportunity (like so many others) you will either be forgotten, or more likely be viewed as a nuisance. Just treat these social networks like you would any other person-to-person meeting or hangout.

Be cool, be real. Interact with people on a human level. Never pitch anything, at least not directly unless you are asked. It really depends on each situation. Brand YOU Inc. and establish yourself as a knowledgeable leader and people will seek you out, rather than you having to ''sell'' them. I am sure from your prior sales experience you have probably seen the best conversion through relationships you have built. Building your business online in social networks is no different. I am sure you will do well. Keep in touch and let me know how things are coming along.

Gopal (The Musical Mad Scientist and Entrepreneur)

www.boom.thevfusiongroup.biz; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 25, 2008 at 10:32am: I believe it will. I started a Ning site for therapists ( TherapyNetworking.com) and have reports from members there that it has helped their business, which in turn has helped mine (Find-a-Therapist.com) I think social networking sites are the way of the future. Poeple are so hungry for connnections and information, and this is the perfect way to get it. This site has a wealth of information and I am eager to explore it.

In that sense, it has already helped me!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 25, 2008 at 10:33am: Hi Tony, You are offering great advice! I second everything you said! :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Urian Communication Specialist LLC on November 25, 2008 at 4:58pm: Hi,
This is my first time joining in and i hope that I can add something to the network , I work for the largest government contractor and it has truly hurt my business . I am looking for someone that can help me through this and give me some positive advice . I am in the field of telecommunications and data networking , Thanks .; ▶ Reply to This

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; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lesha on November 25, 2008 at 6:05pm: Teach me Please,thanks, I need someone to put me on task and give me a step by step or just a good old kick in the ass, Lhitz; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bill Skywalker Edwards on November 27, 2008 at 9:35am: Be helpful. To me that is the real key to successful networking. When you join a group either on-line or off-line. Be helpful. Think, "How can I help you.", not "How can you help me." You can get what you want, if you are willing to help others get what they want.

Bill
Small Business Web Development Services; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Barbara Siragusa on November 28, 2008 at 3:39am: Personally I have met a lot of great contacts through networking. So, I have to say that it can work..I do see that people get turned off when you throw your product in their face too much. So building great relationships with like people can be awesome!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Torres on November 28, 2008 at 2:54pm: Hi Guys,

I have to agree that networking seems to work best when there is a connection among people. I try to get to know the person on a personal level first before I even start to think about talking business. Mainly because once you establish that relationship the person will eventually ask you what do you do for a living or what type of business are you in. Therefore there is no need to come out directly, and try to impose your business on someone who may not want hear what you have to say. Forums like these are a great way to make connections with people from all over the world which you may have never gotten an opportunity to meet them. Anyway Jennifer I wish you and the others in here much success.

Ben; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laura Cummings on November 28, 2008 at 8:18pm: I am glad to read your responses and relies. I am new to this stuff also. We have been making beaded items for a long time and selling them at small craft shows or rendezvous. When we decided to buy a .com and try to sell on-line, we had no idea how to go about it or who to approach. I researched a lot of MLM's and they totally turned me off. I am not a sales person, but I think I make a good friend. I would like to be your friend. Thanks.; ▶ Reply to This