Social Media

Social Media Time Management Tips

February 11, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

Who has time for social media, right? You are busy running a business! I mean come on! Even though it is mostly free, social media still takes time and effort to really see results. But, isn’t that true of any marketing? It all takes time and consistent effort, and social media is no different. It is just a new way to market online. I think the benefits of social media outweigh the effort and time you have to put in. There are ways to manage your social media efforts, however, that can make the most of your time.

Use a tool like www.tweetdeck.com or www.hootsuite.com to manage multiple accounts. You can connect your Twitter, Facebook Fan Page, and LinkedIn accounts all within one tool, and post to all 3 at once.
Use the available tools to automatically pull your blog posts into your various social media accounts. There are plugins available on WordPress to post to Twitter automatically, you can use the Notes application on Facebook, and there is a WordPress application for LinkedIn. You don’t have to do anything – other than actually write on your blog, and it will be posted to all of your other accounts.
Use the Share This and ReTweet This tools to share articles and blog posts that you find interesting and think would be interesting to your network. They are becoming much more common on blogs, article and news sites. You are able to share a link with just a few clicks. As you are catching up with industry news online, also consider what is worth sharing.
Schedule time into your day – put it into your calendar and make it routine to check your accounts daily. Make sure you respond to replies and comments. And take some time to interact with others.
Use your phone to share interesting thoughts, pictures, and events throughout your day. Smartphones have made this very easy to do. So it doesn’t take much time to post throughout the day.

You do have to commit some of your time to social media. But, you can put systems in place and use the available tools to make it easier and more efficient. Just like any other form of marketing, the more consistent effort you put in, the better the results.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webtreatsetc/ / CC BY 2.0

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Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: internet tools, Social Media

No Time for Social Media? Make time!

February 8, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

One of the most common reasons I hear for not using social media is lack of time. I absolutely understand this. Especially as a small business owner! You are super busy, doing just about everything, and the thought of figuring out one more thing is just too overwhelming! But, I also think you can’t ignore what social media can do for your business. And the fact that social media is completely changing the way we do business online! The tools may change, but being social online isn’t going anywhere. So, what are you to do – I say make time for social media.

Start by choosing one social network to begin using. Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, YouTube, a niche site, a forum, a blog – just pick one.

Commit to using that one social network. Fit time into your day to spend time on the site – listening, learning, interacting. Schedule in the time everyday! Whether it is in the morning with your coffee, during your lunch, in the afternoon. Find the time and commit to it every day!

Listen and Learn from others. Pay attention to how others use the site. Read what they are talking about. Comment, connect, interact with people there. Create your own content and share. Don’t just jump in and start bombarding people. Take it slow, and use it as a learning process.

Once you have spent some time getting up to speed with your first social network, join others. The same general rules apply to every tool – be real, be authentic, be helpful, be caring, and build relationships. So once you have gotten the hang of one of the sites, you can take that knowledge and apply it to the others. Although, each social network or group has their own set of rules, so don’t forget to listen first whenever you join a new network.

Then, once you have spent some time on a few of the sites, you can determine what social networking tools will be most beneficial for your business. And focus your efforts there. But, you have to start somewhere, and waiting until you have the time means you never will. Just take it slow and work social media into your current marketing – see where it takes you!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbie73/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Filed Under: Business, Social Media Tagged With: Business, Social Media

Customizing your Facebook Fan Page

January 28, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I am on a little Facebook kick. People are spending a lot of time on Facebook and the site is growing very quickly. With the amount of traffic Facebook receives, it makes sense for businesses to start participating on the site. Once you have set the basics up for your Fan Page, you may want to consider customizing it. Now, this is not a technical blog, so I won’t go into the how to customize your page, other than offering a few tools. But, I wanted to share some ways that you can make your page more customized for your business.

1. Use a custom “Welcome” landing page to send new visitors to – this page can include information about your business, a call to action to “Become a Fan”, and some of the benefits you will provide to your fans. This custom Welcome page helps to simplify the process and get you more fans.

2. Integrate your blog – you can use the Notes application to pull in your blog feed, allowing your fans on Facebook to see each new blog post you create. Once it is set up, you don’t have to do any more work – your posts will pull in automatically. There is another application called Networked Blogs that accomplishes this and the ability for Facebook users to follow their favorite blogs through Facebook and see what blogs their friends are following.

3. Add links for your other social networking profiles, such as your Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. As new users find you on Facebook, they can also see what other networking sites you participate on and connect with you further. Check out Lennar Sacramento’s fan page below. They have made it very easy to find multiple ways to connect with them.

4. Add your email newsletter sign-up box. The more you connect with your fan on Facebook, the more they will want to interact with you. Offering a way for your fans to also sign up for your newsletter makes it easy for them!

Here is another fan page that has added some customized features to provide great information for their fans:

Think about how you can engage with your fans – what will they benefit from? How can you customize your page to make it most useful to your fans? The more you are able to connect with, provide useful information to, and help your fans, the more results your business will get out of using social media.

And, of course, if you would like help with any of this, please contact me!

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Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: Facebook, Social Media

Let your Personality Shine through Social Media

January 20, 2010 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

One of the things I love the most about social media is the fact that authenticity is supported and encouraged. Social media tools are really designed to let you share your life, who you are, and your business. They allow you be a real, 3 dimensional person online and this has tremendous value.

Going back to the fact that people do business with people that they know, like and trust. The first step is know – you have to allow people to get to know you. And social media tools offer you many ways for people to get to know you. But, only if you let them. It is important to share not only your business side, but also some of your personal side – the part that makes you who you are! Share photos, talk about the TV shows you are watching, the songs you listen to, the books you are reading. These are the bits of information that will connect you to others. There are many real estate agents who know what you know, but you are the only one who loves Glee, like me, and enjoys mystery novels, so you are who I want to work with. Because we have a connection beyond I need to sell a house, and you sell houses. Now, you still have to show me that you are knowledeable, and professional, and know what you are doing – but on top of all of that, also show me some of who you are outside of work.

It is kind of like when you are applying for college – and the schools want to see you are a well rounded student – you have to have the grades, but also extra curricular activities and volunteer work and whatever else that sets you apart from all the other students with the same grades. This is what social media does for your business – gives you the tools to show you are well rounded. That you are a real person. And I think that is pretty awesome!

Photo information - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickwheeleroz/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Filed Under: Social Media

Why Real Estate Agents Have to Use Social Media

January 11, 2010 By Devon Zimny 2 Comments

OK, so you are a busy real estate agent, running around showing houses, dealing with clients and lenders and appraisers. And now you are supposed to learn all of these new sites, figure out what social media is and even write blog posts? Who has the time? And what is the point? I completely understand all of the reasons you have for not trying social media. But, think about all of the reasons TO use social media!

Like, your web presence for example. You most likely have a website, which is a must have, and that is great! But, that is no longer enough. Your website is giving a potential client 1 chance to find you. But, if you add a blog, a Facebook fan page, a You Tube Channel, a Twitter stream (all indexed by the search engines, by the way) – you now have many ways for a client to find you! Each blog post, twitter update and video is a new chance to be found online! With over 80% of home buyers using the internet to start their search, you need to maximize your presence so you can be found!

Another benefit of social media is building new relationships and strengthening current ones. Facebook and Twitter are great tools to check in with your network, keep up with their life, and get to know them better. This just builds a stronger relationship and when they are ready to buy or sell a house, who will come to mind – you! You also build trust with your fans and followers – as you share information and a little about you, they begin to trust you. And we all know, people buy from, hire and work with people they know, like and trust.

Social media offers another way for you to provide customer service to your current clients. It offers clients multiple ways to contact you and you can easily update them on their status. It also offers an easy opportunity to get questions answered and to share those answers with you whole network. So you are continuing to provide value.

Social media is also a great way to easily share your new listings with your whole network. A quick status update and link and you have now let everyone know you have a new listing!

So, even though social media may seem like a time waster at first, it ultimately can be huge for your business (and even save you some time in other areas). There is a wonderful opportunity to share information, connect with potential clients, and to build your reputation and your business. You just have to jump in and the possibilities are endless!

Now, if you would like some help getting started using social media, check out my Quick Start to Social Media Program and Social Media Assistance Packages.

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Filed Under: Real Estate, Social Media Tagged With: real estate agent, realtor, Social Media

Social Media and Holiday Shopping

October 30, 2009 By Devon Zimny Leave a Comment

Yes, it is still a little early for holiday shopping talk! But, this past weekend there was an article in the Sacramento Bee, our local paper, called “Specialty Stores, Boutiques Need Survival Smarts.” The gist of the article is about the need for specialty and niche stores to be prepared for less business this holiday season. With many people still out of work or cutting back, holiday spending is expected to be down again this year. Also, many shoppers plan to shop at large discount stores, instead of smaller, specialty stores. Most of the shop owners in the story have planned, and have less inventory. But, there was no mention of using the internet or social media to help increase business. This is not really surprising to me, even with the rapid increase in adaption of social media, there are still plenty of people who don’t believe in it. But, being a huge fan of social media, my immediate thought after reading the article was that specialty stores should be using the internet and social media! I think there are many ways specialty boutiques can use social media and the internet to boost business. But with the holidays quickly approaching, there are a few tools you can start using now!

Twitter – would allow you to connect with others in the area, share promotions, and share unique gift ideas. This article from Mashable has great information on how to find local Twitter users to connect with. Just spending some time each day to connect with others on Twitter can help get your name out there, and find those customers searching for your products. Plus, it is free! Yes, you have to put some time and effort in, but if you are passionate about your business, then this isn’t hard to do. You can reach a whole section of the community that spends a lot of time online, who may never know your store exists otherwise.
An email newsletter is also a great way to reach customers. Sending out coupons and promotions reminds your list subscribers of your store. With the rush of the holiday season, these simple reminders via email are very helpful! Plus, you can share new products and unique gift ideas. Participating on Twitter can also generate more subscribers to your list. People who find you on Twitter, can then sign up to receive your newsletter – giving you another chance to follow up.
Creating a Facebook Fan Page is another great option. Make sure to let all of your current customers know, so they can become a fan. That will help to spread your business among their friends. You can start discussions about holiday shopping, finding unique gifts, and the holiday season to get your fans involved. As well as sharing your promotions and sales.

Being a busy, working mom, who spends a lot of time on the internet for work and play, I feel like joining the social media conversation should be a no brainer. The opportunity to reach new customers is huge! With a little time and effort, specialty stores could really increase their business this holiday season. To get started, grab a free copy of my report “Social Media 101: Top Ten Tips” using the sign up box on this page.

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Filed Under: Internet Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: Business, holiday shopping, Social Media

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