Refrain from using social media to promote yourself by posting "check this out" or any such verbiage on anyone's profiles or Twitter accounts. It is annoying and doesn't get your message out. Turning your social media bios into advertisements for yourself, your product, or your art can kill your credibility. Over-self-promotion will irritate your audience, alienate them from your brand, and possibly turn them against you. Always use concise, yet objective, copy on any and all social media accounts.
Last, but not least, use social media daily to establish relationships with people you would like to do business with. Censor yourself from pitching these potential business contacts right off the bat. Being genuine is the number one rule of any social media. Establish relationships long before asking, not demanding, if they would like to subscribe to your "Newsroom" (see step two). If the contact you ask to subscribe doesn't, don't stop being polite to the contact. Work on growing the relationship to the point where your contact asks to subscribe to your "Newsroom."
#2) Develop your own "Newsroom." Unadulterated publicity feeds cost money. Don't have the funds to invest in a nationally distributed professional news feed? Create your own press releases and put a section entitled "Newsroom" on your website. This simple feature furnishes the impression that you an experienced and polished professional. A "Newsroom" caters to both media and inquiring minds by offering an insight to your services and/or products by the way of a media platform.
The "Newsroom" feature should offer frequent and slightly boastful updates about yourself, services, and products. In addition, if there are any blogs, clippings, or related news content, this is the place to showcase those links. It is also extremely helpful to add a feature to your newsroom, outside of an RSS, for people to subscribe to your updates. A subscribe feature affords direct marketing (and bragging rights) to your customers while pitching any subscribed media.
#3) Give back, get back. Teaming up with a charity is beneficial for several reasons. Find one in your area which your services can benefit. The first benefit of volunteering your time, and talents, to a non-profit is obvious. You are doing something good to help others. Second, charities and non-profit organizations often have established press contacts and events that will offer you a shared media value. Third, validity. Most media, and potential customers and/or investors, are impressed with businesses (and people) who offer their time to a non-profit. If you become involved with a charity you can use the non-profit as a reference and as a badge on your social media sites. In return, the charity will often co-promote your services in related press releases for any events you become involved with. This is a win-win opportunity for all involved.
Article comments