If your potential buyers are online and spend time on social networks, you clearly need to engage them through social media. How you choose to do so is a different question. Should you create an in house team and train them, should you hire an agency specializing in social media campaigns?

The answer simply comes down to time and money required to achieve an effective social media presence. If your employees are not fully booked, you have the funds to train them and their time is better spent engaging customers online than taking care of another aspect of your business, than your soon-to-be in house social media team is the answer. Of course, those you plan to train to take on the social media effort should have some idea of the Internet and social networks and require a limited amount of time to learn the tricks of the online world. In this scenario, training from an expert is paramount. It might cost you, but it is a lot faster and yields better results than throwing your staffers in the lake and expecting them to learn swimming on their own. Continue reading

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I’ll keep this one short and sweet. I get a lot of Twitter direct message spam. I overlook some of it, because it’s unintentional. I don’t think all Twitter users a) realize they send direct messages to those following them with Mafia wars requests and b) can tell how utterly annoying it is when it comes a few times a day from different people. But I draw the line at so called online professionals doing the very same. Stop! It’s annoying.

Yes, if you have a twitter account that you use casually to fool around with friends, by all means, play all the Mafia Wars you want. But if it’s a business account and you are trying to show how much of an expert you are, you should know better! No, you can’t get away with it as easily! You’re on probation! I follow people in my line of business because I admire them. We can brainstorm, discuss our ideas, share news. But I can’t look up to spammers or waste my Twitter time on them

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Bikers are an interesting group to observe. And seeing them interact with each other and with “outsiders” has helped me learn a few tricks that can be successfully applied to social media. Anyone thinking of a successful campaign on the social web should watch them closely, learn, and then apply.

1. Once you’re in, say hello to the others

When it comes to bikers, it doesn’t matter if you know those you meet on the road. You honk, or wave your hand, or find another way to say hello. You will always get a cordial reply. No matter how new to the group you are, you will get a warm welcome. Leave all shyness behind and take the plunge, you won’t regret it. And interacting with the rest is ten times more fun than just acting like a loner. Continue reading

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