Generating Sales Through Social Networking?
I’ve been talking to a number of people lately who have all asked me some variation of the question, "How do I turn social networking into results… sales… new business?" That question is often followed by a discussion involving "fear." I am finding that most business professionals who are around the age of 30 and above, are either afraid of making a mistake that will hurt their reputation, or admittedly don’t really understand what social networking is all about… at least not from a business generating standpoint.
My answer to these things often comes in the form of a question. Being a sales person, you might have guessed that! The best way for me to provide a solution is to understand your specific need… right? So I normally ask something like, "What type of results… sales… new business opportunities are you trying to generate?"
You have to remember that I also just recently entered the social networking scene. I, like many other business professionals, signed up for an account on LinkedIn and let it sit dormant for at least a year. It wasn’t until I decided to launch SalesBlogcast.com that I began harnessing the power of social networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, along with social bookmarks like Digg, Technorati, and StumbleUpon.
*photo courtesy of inju
When I discovered the power of social networking, I quickly learned that I could meet a lot of great people at any minute of the day… or night! That’s where the real power of social networks really hit me… the internet removes all time and geographic boundaries!
When I launched SalesBlogcast.com, I expected people would only be asking me about sales and leadership. I never expected to be answering questions about social networking!
Let’s bring these ideas full circle. Here’s what I have decided to do. Every month, I will recommend a "Book of the Month," listed on the upper left hand side of the site. I will read the book and encourage all my readers to do the same. Clicking on the link will lead you straight to the book on Amazon.com. At some point during the month, I will write a review discussing my thoughts about the concepts in the book. In the comments section, I encourage all of you to add your personal review and thoughts on the book. This will be our monthly mastermind session to invest in ourselves, apply new knowledge, collaborate, share personal experiences, and make each other better!
June 2008 Book of the Month - Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Get a head start on the July 2008 Book of the Month - The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies
What experience do you have in turning social networking into into results… sales… new business?
My answer to these things often comes in the form of a question. Being a sales person, you might have guessed that! The best way for me to provide a solution is to understand your specific need… right? So I normally ask something like, "What type of results… sales… new business opportunities are you trying to generate?"
You have to remember that I also just recently entered the social networking scene. I, like many other business professionals, signed up for an account on LinkedIn and let it sit dormant for at least a year. It wasn’t until I decided to launch SalesBlogcast.com that I began harnessing the power of social networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, along with social bookmarks like Digg, Technorati, and StumbleUpon.
*photo courtesy of inju
When I discovered the power of social networking, I quickly learned that I could meet a lot of great people at any minute of the day… or night! That’s where the real power of social networks really hit me… the internet removes all time and geographic boundaries!
When I launched SalesBlogcast.com, I expected people would only be asking me about sales and leadership. I never expected to be answering questions about social networking!
Let’s bring these ideas full circle. Here’s what I have decided to do. Every month, I will recommend a "Book of the Month," listed on the upper left hand side of the site. I will read the book and encourage all my readers to do the same. Clicking on the link will lead you straight to the book on Amazon.com. At some point during the month, I will write a review discussing my thoughts about the concepts in the book. In the comments section, I encourage all of you to add your personal review and thoughts on the book. This will be our monthly mastermind session to invest in ourselves, apply new knowledge, collaborate, share personal experiences, and make each other better!
June 2008 Book of the Month - Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Get a head start on the July 2008 Book of the Month - The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies
What experience do you have in turning social networking into into results… sales… new business?
Aside from the fact that social networking can really generate business throughout the globe it can also be utilized to create great friendships in the same manner. I have been active throughout the social networks you point out above and a few more. The result being, that I have been able to learn a lot about the international markets and - above that - how business is done on them.
Meanwhile my companies has customers from pretty much every continent on the globe, leading to a pretty impressive recommendation list which again is exceptionally useful to generate new clients.
Yes, there are times when your reputation can easily get "damaged" - but that all happens under the mass collaboration aspect which means that if you have negative coverage of some sort it will at least grant you attention.
Furthermore, you can generate visibility and credibility through third party validation. If a potential business parter of lead looks up your name, one of the first search results will be your profiles on the social media platforms which - o wonder - will only contain your positive recommendations etc.
Hope I was able to help a bit with this insight
Lars Hilse
Web Strategist | Speaker | Social Networker | Entrepreneur
http://www.lars-hilse.de/
direct +49 4835 9513030 | mobile +49 173 5433491 |
Germany +49 (0)1801 5557775788 | UK +44 (0)870 9749050 | USA +1 206-203-5212
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Great idea Doyle! I look forward to the "sharing of the minds" on the book review!
Have a great week!
Paige
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Gday Doyle,
I just blogged about the advantages of "NET working". Check it out at http://www.thegurudev.com/?p=54
I want to know what the next big thing in generating sales will be?
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This is a great article... thanks for linking it up! I really like your point about not having to wait for the next event. "Net working" really changes the scope of things doesn't it!
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Doyle,
Take a look at this site: http://www.onedegreeconnected.com/
I'm an active member and if your interested in joining please use my code: df229007. The introductions can do a much better job of explaining to concepts than I can here!
Dale
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This is Great stuff! I am not in sales, but even though Salesblogcast.com is about sales and leadership, I always try to appy your teachings/lessons to my non sales occupation.
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