Social Networking Customer Acquisition 101
Spend Your Time Building Connections not Pushing Your Product
This is the most common mistake in social networking that almost 99% of all members of social networkers make daily. Never ever mention your product in your first email or comment.
This is the basic process that has a 10 fold greater success rate than anything else:
1) Send them a message or post a comment on their wall asking a question about their business.
2) Send out a friend request to each person that responds to your comment or message. 99 out of 100 friend requests will be accepted, and these are members that are actively checking their messages.
3) Respond to each message with a personal message and try to work in mentioning your business while writing about theirs. Once again, 99 out of 100 people will naturally take a look at your website as a courtesy and to see if you might be a potential customer for them. Now you have successfully added friends that will open your friend wide emails, and you have guaranteed that each member will visit your profile and website. Along the way, you will also find other members' products and services that will benefit you and your business. That is how networking creates customers.
Key points to remember:
+Do not blindly send out 100 friend requests every other day. If you are reaching your limit in requests, then you are wasting your time. Only send a friend request if someone has sent you a message, posted a comment on your wall, or posted a comment on a blog.
Take Care of Your Friends List
1) Do not abuse the “send message to all friends.” There is a reason why there is a limit to how many friends that you can send a message to at once. It makes it difficult to spam. Spamming on social networks does not make money period.
2) You should send only one message a month to your friends list. Make it a nice short to the point message that has some tie in to the network that you are on. Once a month messaging works. Anything more than once does not. Spend your time building your friend list, and then give them one phenomenal message a month.
3) If you are going to start a group or host an event, then the same rules apply. Once a month and focus your energy and efforts around one group or event.
Key points to remember:
+If you have more than one site that you are promoting, then you have one too many. Having 10 Ning sites, that you invite every friend to, just increases your chance of failing by 10 times. Do one thing with excellence, and you will be a success. Spread yourself too thin, and you will be lost in mediocrity.
The Right Way to Use Blogs to Get Customers
1) You should write blogs that ask questions that appeal to everyone on the site. All you have to do is put the question in the title, and then write a really good answer from yourself. These are the blogs that you want to use in site wide messages and in welcome comments to new members.
2) The goal of your blog should always be to generate comments. People that post comments are action takers and 8 times more likely to buy your product or service. Respond to each comment mentioning what you do while asking about their business, and then send a friend request the next day.
3) You should have a one really great blog that explains who you are and what your product or service does. You only give out this blog to the people that show an interest. This is the blog that you can use to close customers.
Key points to remember:
+Do not waste your time posting, sharing, or pushing blogs that are advertisements for your services. It does not work. You are wasting your time and destroying potential connections.
The Bottom Line
Social networking is different from every other marketing medium on the internet. What works elsewhere does not work in this realm, and it will not work here.
Each network is like the goose that lays the golden egg once a day. There is only one way to get the golden egg, and if you do it any other way then you kill the goose.
This is the only proven methodolgy to get a steady flow of customers via social networking:
1) Engage the member by asking them a question.
2) If they respond, then send a friend request.
3) Reply to the comment or message and politely work in what you do while tying it in to their business.
4) If they show interest, then close with a blog post that explains what you do with a link to your website and a phone number.
5) If there is no initial interest, then continue to send them one quality message a month to entice interest.
It took me two years before I learned the process, and gave in to the fact that this is the only way that works.
This is the most common mistake in social networking that almost 99% of all members of social networkers make daily. Never ever mention your product in your first email or comment.
This is the basic process that has a 10 fold greater success rate than anything else:
1) Send them a message or post a comment on their wall asking a question about their business.
2) Send out a friend request to each person that responds to your comment or message. 99 out of 100 friend requests will be accepted, and these are members that are actively checking their messages.
3) Respond to each message with a personal message and try to work in mentioning your business while writing about theirs. Once again, 99 out of 100 people will naturally take a look at your website as a courtesy and to see if you might be a potential customer for them. Now you have successfully added friends that will open your friend wide emails, and you have guaranteed that each member will visit your profile and website. Along the way, you will also find other members' products and services that will benefit you and your business. That is how networking creates customers.
Key points to remember:
+Do not blindly send out 100 friend requests every other day. If you are reaching your limit in requests, then you are wasting your time. Only send a friend request if someone has sent you a message, posted a comment on your wall, or posted a comment on a blog.
Take Care of Your Friends List
1) Do not abuse the “send message to all friends.” There is a reason why there is a limit to how many friends that you can send a message to at once. It makes it difficult to spam. Spamming on social networks does not make money period.
2) You should send only one message a month to your friends list. Make it a nice short to the point message that has some tie in to the network that you are on. Once a month messaging works. Anything more than once does not. Spend your time building your friend list, and then give them one phenomenal message a month.
3) If you are going to start a group or host an event, then the same rules apply. Once a month and focus your energy and efforts around one group or event.
Key points to remember:
+If you have more than one site that you are promoting, then you have one too many. Having 10 Ning sites, that you invite every friend to, just increases your chance of failing by 10 times. Do one thing with excellence, and you will be a success. Spread yourself too thin, and you will be lost in mediocrity.
The Right Way to Use Blogs to Get Customers
1) You should write blogs that ask questions that appeal to everyone on the site. All you have to do is put the question in the title, and then write a really good answer from yourself. These are the blogs that you want to use in site wide messages and in welcome comments to new members.
2) The goal of your blog should always be to generate comments. People that post comments are action takers and 8 times more likely to buy your product or service. Respond to each comment mentioning what you do while asking about their business, and then send a friend request the next day.
3) You should have a one really great blog that explains who you are and what your product or service does. You only give out this blog to the people that show an interest. This is the blog that you can use to close customers.
Key points to remember:
+Do not waste your time posting, sharing, or pushing blogs that are advertisements for your services. It does not work. You are wasting your time and destroying potential connections.
The Bottom Line
Social networking is different from every other marketing medium on the internet. What works elsewhere does not work in this realm, and it will not work here.
Each network is like the goose that lays the golden egg once a day. There is only one way to get the golden egg, and if you do it any other way then you kill the goose.
This is the only proven methodolgy to get a steady flow of customers via social networking:
1) Engage the member by asking them a question.
2) If they respond, then send a friend request.
3) Reply to the comment or message and politely work in what you do while tying it in to their business.
4) If they show interest, then close with a blog post that explains what you do with a link to your website and a phone number.
5) If there is no initial interest, then continue to send them one quality message a month to entice interest.
It took me two years before I learned the process, and gave in to the fact that this is the only way that works.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Breslow on -
Thank you for this eye-opening reminder to STOP SELLING. I know I've slipped into this without realizing it and your post is a terrific reminder/wake-up call to build relationships first...always. I see this akin to a common phrase I use with my sports clients (not a promotional comment!),,and that phrase is, "Don't chase the competition...chase the dream." For them this means to stop focusing on everyone else...and focus on the inspiration and positive energy of your own dream. I see your message in this post as being very much the same.
Thank you again.
David
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Permalink Reply by Rahul Desai on -
Great post and so true. For long, I have been trying to explain this to my team but many of them consider it as slow and time consuming process. This requires patience & plan, which are not so common qualities.
All said and done, it is definitely time consuming process so planning self-time is as important as planning how to connect with target audience. I guess, when majority starts understanding the process and purpose, we would start getting less and less spam and the ROI of time will improve.
Rahul
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Permalink Reply by Mohamed on -
Thanks for sharing what you have learned through hard survey. It makes me more comfortable to go forward as I see some good news and a future reward by spending time at Internet in a different approach.
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Permalink Reply by Black Honey on -
Thanks for this information, SUp.biz, but to tell the truth, I don't believe this is the only way that works. I think the best thing to do is just be yourself. To ask people questions just to manipulate them into becoming a possible buyer is a tactic that any savvy business person will see through straight off. I find what works for me, is building a strong, genuine friendship base. I make my business relations fun and social. As a result, people are interested in what I'm doing, what I'm about, because I have a genuine interest in what they're about. I don't reach out to everyone on the internet. I find that is a waste of time and energy. I try to focus on people and businesses that I feel are a match for building viable friendships that include the heart. People make the mistake of thinking that business and personal relationships are two separate entities. But they're not. It is a known fact that people buy from those they know and trust. But I have to add, people buy from those who they know and trust IF it is something they need. I find for me, the best way to go is just to be myself. If I ever ask anybody a question, believe that I sincerely am interested and need answers ~ not because I'm trying to get them to buy from me. What has always worked for me is being sincere. Thanks again for the opportunity to post my feedback and opinion.
Warmly,
Brenda
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Permalink Reply by M. Rita Metts on -
Thanks for the information. I agree about the need to avoid spamming to attract customers.
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Permalink Reply by Juana Rene on
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Thank you very much. I am totally new to the Social Networking/Internet Marketing arena. And I saw in your post some mistakes that I have been making. Not all of them, but some, and since I am just getting started I have time to correct my errors and head in the right direction.
Again,
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by David Foster on -
This is an EXCELLENT post! This is exactly the way that I show people how to effectively market using Social Networking!
Thanks Brandon!
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Permalink Reply by Slavica Todorovic on -
All already known, but told in new agreeable way;to learn it like a song by heart;if every member respect your say,this network/and others/could be again and again better.One thing i notice regarding to blog is my writing,which i know is not acceptable by everyone,but it is dedicated to ones who really like literature, writing, philosophy,self improvement and hope there are always ones to read and love it.
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Permalink Reply by Ron Williams on -
I agree with you. Most people think that they are the only ones trying to grow their business. I would rather network with 5 people that are willing to help others, than 100 that just spam me about their PRODUCT.
I send request to people that I think (we) - both parties would reach a win-win from networking.
If we help each other we could get more out of it without a doubt, NO one has ever done business with themselves and made a profit, so why would I want to do business with you when all to talk about is your business and how I can help YOU!!!! If I see you helping others I would be happy to reach out and try and help YOU.
Thanks for sending me the Blog and I wish everyone great success.
Ron
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Permalink Reply by Winnifred Cross on -
Thanks..this is great information. Just to concur with you on some points. Far too often we get caught up in trying to get a sale, pushing our products, that we forget what networking is all about...building relationships and building the trust in these relationships. We all need to remember that it is through this trust that get product sales.
I am relatively new to social networking so having this guideline to work with is really good. thanks for sharing
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Permalink Reply by Goran Forssell on -
I agree with all you said!
I get a lot of emails that are very like a spam....
and often even the questions and blogs are a way to sale!
I told it a few of times and must move to junkbox some of our "friends" here...
Networking is a philosophy, not a gratis showcase to sale, often, very stupid products ...
Thank you!
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