How many minutes do you believe were spent on social media in 2012 just in the U.S.? If you guessed over 120 billion minutes, then you were right, according to Neilson’s Social Media Report.
In today’s world, social media is so large that it is an indispensable tool for independent and freelance consultants to land more clients.
[source: Consulting Café] Social media is completely changing marketing strategies in three important ways: word-of-mouth recommendations are skyrocketing, consumers are more informed than ever, and the opportunity for active engagement is enormous. Here are 8 ways for you to take advantage of this new opportunity and make social media work for you.
Use a great picture: Yes, we know it sounds shallow, but show yourself in your best light! Looking professional to potential clients is extremely important. We even recommend investing in a professional photographer.
Maintain relationships and connections: Easily keep in contact with your entire network. The nearly unlimited options for real-time communication allows for quick and easy maintenance of many relationships. And certainly don’t hesitate to connect or re-connect with people from past networks, whether it is a client from 5 years ago or your favorite professor from college! You will be happily surprised with how this small time commitment increases word-of-mouth recommendations for your business.
Join LinkedIn!: According to a recent study by The Bloom Group, businesses seeking consultants look nearly twice as more frequently on LinkedIn than on any other social network. LinkedIn is becoming the new yellow pages for companies searching business services and they will certainly be looking for your services there. Take advantage of the free full-page advertisement!
Take time making your profile: It is possible to make a profile on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn in just seconds, but it is important that you take the time to be sure your page clearly and accurately represents you. For example, on LinkedIn, don’t list too many skills you have because it will begin to discredit them, but don’t list too few because you will seem less skilled than others. Finding the right balance between too much and too little is important when designing any profile page.
Brand yourself: What sets you apart from another Independent Consultant? Brand yourself by participating in forums, creating a blog, or updating your social media websites with interesting industry news. When a potential client sees this activity, they will be reassured that you are an expert. A great place to start is Guru Answers.
6. Encourage positive reviews: Social media is a great way to put a good word behind your name. Encourage past clients to post reviews on sites such as Glassdoor.com and Skillpages.com. Even if a potential client is not looking on these specific websites for your services, a general search will reveal these reviews to attest to your incredible work.
Keep your audience active: The three types of posts that gain the most attention on Facebook are pictures, questions, and polls. If you keep your posts focused on these three things your audience will be more likely to grow quickly and be interactive.
Don’t worry about your ROI: While some metrics are available to measure the success of your social media campaign, they are confusing and inaccurate. Instead of complex formulas, look for simple correlations and an increase in your audience’s reactiveness.
These quick, easy steps are a great way to jump-start or improve your reputation in the realm of social media marketing and see benefits almost instantaneously.