Top 3 Social Networking Techniques That Will Jumpstart Your Marketing Efforts

Have you ever joined an online group and saw the other members promoting particular businesses to each other? For example, a handful of cloth diapering businesses are promoted over and over again on some of the mom forums I’m a member of.

If you’re one of the busineses promoted often by your online group, you know that it’s been a long road to reach top of mind awareness in your community.

But if you’re new to the whole social networking scene, it may seem like an unwelcoming clique, where being cool and being online the longest are the only ways to get your business on that oft-promoted list.

I’m here to tell you though that it IS possible to get yourself on the list of businesses that are talked about online. And I’m going to tell you exactly how to do it. But first, before you get out there and start making your first contacts, you need to make sure you have your business in order:

1. An outstanding product. You aren’t going to get to the top of the promotion list by selling dirt-encrusted ice to Eskimos. Make sure you have a product that meets your target markets needs and that does what it is supposed to do.
2. Excellent customer service. Now more than ever, people go online to purchase products for two main reasons: Better prices and better service. Why go to the local drugstore to buy pregnancy tests when you can call an online dealer who will answer all your questions, in the privacy of your own home?
3. Shipping and return policies. Makes sure your prices are fair and competitive and that you have well-thought-out policies. And make sure they’re posted on your website.

Once you have the basics down, you’re ready to start telling the world about your business. But first, consider this: Social networking isn’t selling. You aren’t going to go to an online group and sell the members on your product. You’re going to go get to know them. You’re going to build a relationship with them. Then they’re going to ask about what you do and that’s when you can tell them. Pretty soon, someone is going to buy your stuff. And if you’re product is great and your service is great, then that someone is going to start telling others. And that’s social networking for business in a nutshell.

Of course, taking that tidbit of truth and creating a social networking campaign out of it is another story. Below are three techniques you can use to get started:

1. Forum networking. Unlike forum marketing, you aren’t just joining forums and putting a link in your signature, or purchasing ad space. In forum networking, you must become a valuable member of the community. Share your knowledge, help other people, and provide information that is needed. For example, let’s say you sell baby slings and you find a forum full of parents who believe in attachment parenting and live in your state. You’ll want to join their forum and then socialize with them, just as you would if you’d joined the forum for purely social reasons.When you see questions being asked about baby slings, provide information. Never promote your own product in your posts. Depending on the rules of the forum, you may be able to link to your website in your signature or in your forum profile.Once people notice your helpful answers, they will start clicking through to your site. And soon, those who purchase from you will start posting reviews and recommendations.
2. Facebook. With facebook, you can friend colleagues and members of your target market. Then keep them updated  through your profile of any news you may have, or link to articles on your blog that contain information beneficial to your customers. You can also create a group of people who will benefit from your product or service and communicate with the group. You can create a fan page for your products and you can even run very affordable and targetted ads. But primarily, you want to get to know your customers through Facebook.
3. Twitter. This is an excellent way to communicate with your customers. You can send them messages, like announcements of a free event you’re hosting, product updates, and tidbits of information that will benefit them. You can also answer questions your customers have — and ask them questions as well. For example, twitter would be an excellent place to poll your market about new color schemes for a new line of baby slings.

Of course, I’m just scraping the tip of the iceberg with these short paragraphs of information. You can learn more about a social media marketing at Product Sellers Talk Radio.