Here is a short video I did sharing how business professionals can search Twitter for targeted prospect pools and begin to grow their twitter followings in a very targeted manner.

Let me know what you think.

When you get into the realm of the small business owner, you will find that social media is truly creeping in at an amazing pace. The majority of this can be found by the usage of social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Some of the basic benefits of using these sites would include the ability to make business contacts and maintain the links that you need between yourself and them.

The sites that I mentioned can be utilized in several different and very beneficial ways.

With Facebook, both an account for yourself as well as for your business can be created. By developing good communication with customers and contacts, you can eventually get people to just opt in to get messages from your company.

Creating a LinkedIn account is an amazing way of finding and communicating with professionals all over the world, even those who are already in a field specific to your own. This is a great way to share ideas with someone who already knows about what you do because they do the same thing.

Finally, when using Twitter, remember the great benefit that you get of promoting your business in such a few short words. You will find that when you look at other tweets from business owners that they are short, sweet, and to the point most of the time. This is yet another way of bringing customers to you.

Always remember that it’s the content of what you have that is most important. Useless and boring information will get you nowhere, but the opposite will provide for a truly strong and growing business as you head into the future.

Learn more how you and your small business can get started on Linkedin: LinkedIn Power User Strategies Webinar every Thursday at 4pm EST with live Q&A

Hummingbird How To Videos, Learn how to use an automated twitter following software that is intelligent. Growing a targeted twitter following is an art and a science and these videos along with the software will explode your twitter account.

Last month I heard  on CNN that Twitters new member signups had dropped off its pace and was leveling out.  Yet after seeing this report from Pingdom, maybe Twitter doesn’t have a growth problem after all. According to Pingdom, Twitter saw an all-time high of more than 1.2 billion tweets in January. Twiter CEO Evan Williams also said last month that the site was hitting records “across all the metrics that matter.”

The reports show that tweet volume grew by 16 times from January 2009 to January 2010. Within the past three months, tweet volume has grown at around 17 percent. Which would leave one to conclude that maybe people are going deeper into the conversation and engagement process with connections.

While many people question the validity of using Twitter for Business, the data lends to the fact that companies should pay more attention to this space.

Grab our complimentary eBook: How Your Company Can Begin to Profit Using Social Media

As a business professional, so much information is available on using Social Platforms to generate business success. With so much noise, I wanted to take the time to provide the business world with three key categories of resources. They are key social media advisors who come not only highly recommended, but have the trackable experience as well. Next, I will share key tools that can help streamline your processes’ to better utilize your time invested. Finally, I will share key educational pieces you may want to take advantage of, before you review these resources take a look at this video.

Advisors
Nathan Kievman CEO of DemingHill, A Leading Social Media Firm
Chris Brogan Considered one of the foremost thought leaders in Social Media and well sought after advisor.
Mari Smith Considered to be the Facebook Queen
Seth Godin Considered to be a foremost business thought leader

Tools
Ping.fm: For Status Updates this tool will save you countless hours of time.
Hummingbird : Growing a targeted following on Twitter is tough enough.  This tool does it on automation.
Google Alerts : Listen to your audience. Without knowing what your target market or competitors are doing online how can you expect to get a creative edge in your marketing process? You must use Google Alerts to keep an ear to the masses.

Education Material
Trust Agents

Twitter Power 

Linked Into Marketing

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LinkedIn Power Users Webinar Every Thursday 4pm & 7pm EST, can’t make it go ahead and register for the playback.  Grabl your spot : http://bit.ly/3wzq9Q

As a business professional, owner, or manager why would you want to engage this space for your business? I asked the same questions and pulled together some videos I have found that help answer the question as to why do it?

Watch this one first:

Watch this one second:

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After seeing these videos, if you would like to learn more on how to engage Social Media For Your Business and create a complete Social Media Strategy, contact us at support@mycorporatemedia.com  , put in the subject, “Help my company with our Social Media Strategy”

For all practical purposes, I will demonstrate one way that companies can benefit using Social Media.

Answer: Through Status Updates

When used correctly you can:

• Generate Leads
• Create Brand Advocacy
• Generate Opt-Ins
• Create TradeShow Buzz
• Secure meetings when traveling

Lets just cover the Big Three LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. If your company will spend a small amount of time building a targeted following with each, then the above listed results can happen on a regular basis.

When utilizing status updates you want to create thought provoking and action requiring headlines. Just like you do in your business in front of your customer you can engage in qualifying questions and event announcements that will create the above listed results.

Some things to think about:

Be sure to bring value to your community with a 12:1 Ratio: meaning be sure to post 12 useful updates that require no commitment or acknowledgement to your company in order to post one that will drive results for your company. This creates authenticity with your community. Next, when you do post announcements, events, or qualifying questions be sure to provide links to your site, opt ins, or blog in order to bring your connections to the next step in your sales process.

These are some example updates that can help you get started in creating opportunities for your business:

EXAMPLE 1: “I will be at the ACME convention in February, looking forward to exhibiting, www.acmecompanywebsite…” You will be surprised but this you may have others who reply back letting you know they are attending and want to meet up to discuss opportunities.

EXAMPLE 2: “How do you currently approach your XYZ category?” This question is built around your qualifying questions in your business. Again be ready for responses back that you can potentially turn into opportunities. This is a soft lead generation approach through Social Media that will be widely accepted as it is not aggressive marketing.

EXAMPLE 3: “Join us for a -TOPIC- no cost webinar with live Q & A today at 4pm EST with –LINK-“ this may require putting together a webinar, but when people sign up you secure their contact info to take it to the next step.

Hopefully these three examples get the wheels turning and helps your business take the next step in capitalizing in using Social Media for Business.

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Be sure to grab our:

Fast Start Guide to LinkedIn
Fast Start Guide to Twitter
Register for our next LinkedIn Power Users Webinar with Playback
Five LinkedIn Power User Strategies