Clarity of Vision

A recent conversation reminded me that nothing in social media is really “new”. Networking sites, bookmarking, and using different mediums for your message have all been around for some time. Forums used to be called message boards, blogs have been used for a better means of interactivity than websites for years, and we’ve been connecting on the Internet since it appeared on our radar.

True, the sophistication, automation, and applications are all moving ahead at light speed, but the tools have been here for awhile.

What we also don’t realize in the rush to jump on the wagon with social media is that despite the seemingly rapid movement of the web, to be successful in a web-based business is no different than any other business—it takes more than just a few days or weeks.

Yes, there are those who have struck it rich fast, some with one-hit wonders, others who have made it seem like it’s an overnight phenomenon. However, if you ask any of the big Internet Marketers how they built their positions, my guess is that they’ll tell you it took them time. The average off-line business takes 2-3 years to become established. The web might be a little quicker, but in my experience, not by much.

One of the biggest mistakes I made and see others making is to jump in without a plan. In fact, most don’t even know who their niche market is! They make the same mistake I did—falling in love with what I had to offer, instead of finding out who wanted it, if they even did.

In the next few posts, I’ll give you a start on what to think about as you build your plan, how to find your niche market, and then how to speak to them using the tools of the web, no matter what you call them. Social media, the idea of using the viral nature of the connectivity of the web can be powerful, but only when you know how to harness what it offers. Here’s what’s coming up:

1. What is your vision for your product/service/business and why does it exist (purpose)?

2. Who is the niche market you plan to target?

3. What does that niche market need?

4. Can you fill that need?

5. What keywords would your niche market use to find what you have to offer?

6. What medium are they using to connect and find what they are looking for?

7. What 1 or 2 strategies can you focus on that will target your niche at the same time you are following your vision/purpose?

With all of the questions above answered, you can now establish your mission objectives (goals) to help you accomplish your vision. Getting answers to each will take some brainstorming and time. So, take a breath, get focused, and stay tuned!

If you haven’t already subscribed to the RSS feed, now is a good time. When you do, you’ll be notified every time I post!

One of the hottest topics in business, whether online or offline, is how to increase your list, the most valuable asset of your business. To do that online, you have to get people to find you. That involves driving traffic to your site, whether it’s a blog or website. The concept seems simple, but why aren’t people flooding to your site?

What I hear often from my clients is that they don’t know what to focus on first. There are so many options in social media, there’s a lot to consider. Since traffic doesn’t come from just one source, where do you start?

Here’s my tip: Create a strategic plan!

What does that involve? Here’s a quick overview of how to get started…

1. Remind yourself about the purpose of writing for social media (no it’s not to drive traffic; that will be the result, but the purpose is to build credibility and trust!).

2. Know your target market so you can write in their language.

3. Niche your market to its narrowest target. For example, targeting “writers” is too broad. Targeting online writers is still broad. Social Media Writers is better. Social Media Marketing Writers is much more specific.

4. Once you zero in on your target market, make sure they exist! Compile a list of 50 - 100 keywords. Use Google Alerts to test the frequency of those keywords, and what sites come up when searched. You’ll see if anyone is actually searching for what you offer. (Doing this will also give you information on who is talking to the same audience, so bookmark those blogs for commenting on later.)

5. If your target market is alive and searching, find the social media they are using (blogs, networking sites, etc.).

6. Focus on one to begin. There are more things to think about and do in your overall strategy, so focusing on one in the beginning will help you avoid overwhelm. Having a target market also alleviates this overwhelm. You’ll know where to place your energy.

7. Start commenting on other blogs. Even without a blog, you can utilize this method to start to drive people to your website. Once your blog is up, you can exchange links with those blogs and build your expert status.

That’s a good start. I’ll be sharing more in future posts.

For now, Write On!

Marilyn