Let Go of Your Inner Control Freak
7
Comments
Having trouble with your inner control freak when it comes to a social media marketing strategy?
Check out this great post on SIM Spin called 5 Tips to Measure Success in Social Media Marketing. Then read on.
A lot of the people I talk to about social media want to know how to track it. How can they measure the results? What can we project as far as sales? These are difficult questions to answer. Certainly there are ways to see how much traffic to your site comes from, for example, Twitter, but sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how well social media is helping you.
I think we need to shift our thinking about marketing results in terms of having absolute control and ability to micromanage the results and just sit back and let it happen. You won’t see results overnight, but if you use social networking sites correctly and participate in the right conversations, you will see a positive change. You will see traffic to your site increase. You will see sales climb. Just relax and let it happen.
Let’s all take a deep breath and let out all those years of being control freaks, of needing to know exactly how everything will pan out. Marketing 2.0 is happening as we speak. There is no precedence set. We are making history with internet marketing and social media. Do you want to go along for the ride or sit this one out and regret it later?
FREE 21-Page Internet Business Idea Guide
Enter your name and email below and we’ll send you our unique 21-page guide chock full of Internet business ideas – for free! Your information will be kept private, of course.
Susan Payton is the Marketing Eggspert, and owner of 
Susan, you make an excellent point. I had a meeting with a local client earlier today and the first thing they asked when I mentioned using Social Networking to increase their traffic, sales and build up their client mail list was “what’s in it for me?” and “when will I see the profits?”.
I deal with business owners every day and have learnt to look past the ones who come out with a greedy attitude like the one I met today. Sometimes, it’s better to just walk away from them instead of involving yourself in a project that will inevitably go downhill.
Anyway, that’s a rather long-winded way of saying I completely agree with you, and it would be great if small business owners could take that view and be more accepting when people like you and I make useful suggestions to them.
Matt–
Thanks for the great comment! People just have trouble understanding that the old rules of measurement (and of everything in general) are thrown out the window. Too bad we’re the only ones that get it!
It can be really hard to let go of the old way of thinking sometimes, but it must be done. I think the problem is, managers want to know where to invest their energy to make the most profit. In social networking, that is quite difficult. It is very hard to say which source is giving you the most business, so focusing is more difficult. Letting go of the control is the ONLY way to relax, and reap the benefits of social marketing.
I agree with you, Susan, and think this philosophy can apply to bloggers as well who are interested in seeing traffic results. It won’t happen overnight, but hard work and interaction will pay off and help to develop a core community, which will only grow from there. Thanks for the advice.
I don’t know if i compeletly Agree. Im one of those control freaks. I like to know exactly what is giving me the results I have.
Some people say better lucky than good…I say better good than lucky.