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

Share This Page

Attachments:

FoleyLogoRGB.gif, 19 KB

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Caeser Elmi on November 21, 2008 at 8:27pm: Trust is the most valued factor in having someone commit to your business proposal. In other words, why should I trust someone I don't know to be my business partner? Trust can be built, how? The way you express your interests, which should ALWAYS be not yours, but your prospects.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PaulaNQ on November 21, 2008 at 10:02pm: I've been doing the social networking thing for about a year now. I started out not having a personal agenda to sell anything in particular but just to check it all out. Throughout the course of the year things got a lot more sophisticated and there became an "art" to social networking.

I think you are looking at a combination io things. Getting into the right social circles, so to speak, is number one. The other is having a well-laid out plan to market to those people, which it sounds like you have. I fully appreciate your comments that at the end of the day that we are ALL here to sell and build brand image/awareness. So whether I am directly spamming you (which no one likes, of course) or promoting myself as your new best friend, the intention is the same -- to get your interest in my business. It is equally annoying to me to have an ingenuous "pretend friend" as it is to be spammed. The answer lies somewhere in the middle. Sometimes I think it is good to be direct and identify a good collaboration or joint venture from the get go -- but only when it is sincere.

Good question and one of my favorites. Wishing you the very best of luck in the land of social networking!

Paula Quick
Quick Coach Solutions for Your Life, Business & Spirit; ▶ Reply to This

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 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

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 Jay Philips on November 22, 2008 at 4:00pm: Hi,

My website is not for sales just for networking. I actually joined this site because the tips were great on marketing.

Just joining all those groups you mentioned isn't going to increase sales. You need to be active on those groups so people can see your info and become interested.

Thanks,
Jay
All Realms: http://www.allrealms.com
LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/1264937; ▶ 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!
http://radio.americawebworks.com; ▶ 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 Joan Hague on January 14, 2009 at 9:23pm: Hello Tony,
Your expert advice to Jennifer is one of my Main reasons for joining this Social Networking Forum. We can all learn from each other. Yes, it's about building relationships,and many times we even get to enjoy the bonuses attached,like learning from the experts.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joan Hague on January 14, 2009 at 9:28pm: Garland,
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will take your suggestions and put them in action.
Great advice.; ▶ Reply to This

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