I hope you enjoyed my last two Twitter Articles. Based on the emails, feedback and comments you did… In case you have not had a chance to read them, here they are
To Tweet or Not to Tweet - http://bit.ly/B3Zc1
To Tweet or Not to Tweet-Part II- Do Not Jump Ship Just Yet - http://bit.ly/tWtpk
A lot of questions were based around success of social media and obviously Twitter. I have gotten several new clients that MAY of started from Social Media. The old adage it takes 13 touches to get prospects comfortable and in a position to trust you. Well Social Media can accelerate the touches and they count.
Most people who follow my blog, my tweets, check out my LinkedIn profile get to know me and they see my thoughts and ideas. It is like they already know me before they meet me. Social Media has the uncanny ability to give social proof because they can see who I know, connections we share, who I interact with, who recommends me and my expertise.
So following the old relationship selling model... you get people to like you and trust you before you ask them to buy from you.
Twitter is a communication tool just like email... It is one piece of my marketing & sales process. I can not say revenue was generated just because of Twitter. I think it enhanced and strengthened the relationship and at least put me in the set of vendors when the need arose. It helps keep me top of mind. I have met a lot of people through Twitter and Social Media, but I may of also met them at an event and got their twitter handle and continued dialogue there that lead to a lunch that lead to a proposal etc.
What I really like about Twitter... and one of the main advantages is the access to leaders in your industry and also your target industries. You do not have to have permission to hear their voice. Facebook and LinkedIn are based on an agreed connection. Twitter is more open. You do not need their permission to hear their tweets unless they protect them and that would defeat the whole purpose of Twitter.
So everyone has to define his or her own success... Determine what that looks like. What conversions are you trying to get. Then put tactics that will be working toward that conversion. Just like the first line of every sentence has a goal… to get you to read the next one. For me, it is to increase my exposure, to increase my contacts, engage and strengthen my existing relationships and help cement my expertise in marketing and branding. My conversion is to get people to want to engage me in dialogue, to invite me to speak at their events, to pass my content on to their followings and also to get revenues indirectly.
If I were completely honest... I am in Social Media to exert influence. My tweets, my blog posts are all about sharing my ideas and thoughts to show that I can be a trusted resource. To show that I am an expert in my field and a true thought leader. I hope you are reading this article right now and saying in your head, “I like his insight and this guy gets it.” I hope you share it with all of your friends and contacts. Does that mean I will get sales from it…NO. Does that increase my chances for a cup of coffee with you? I believe it does and have had 100’s of cups to prove it.
So do not just take my word for it, get out an experience it for your self.
Hi, I have just been using twitter to communicate with my favorite celebrities. If you send them a tweet, they or some one working for them will sometimes respond. I like Serena Williams because of how she plays tennis, I like her personality and Venus and her are very talented fashion designers.
While in Bejing I sent her a tweet and got a response. I have had responses from other celebrities.
I like your ideas on how to use twitter as a piece of the marketing and sales puzzle.
fred
Posted by: Fred Held | October 13, 2009 at 05:45 PM