Social Networking

Social Networking.  Ten years ago, social networking meant standing in a room with a hundred people you don't know, introducing yourself and giving out business cards.  With the advent of sites like MySpace, Facebook, and The Steampunk Empire, social networking has taken on a whole new aspect as  method of connecting with friends and family.  However, it has one other major benefit to the artist/businessperson: the ability to reach your customers.

Many, if not most, major businesses have a page on Facebook.  It is method of letting your customers know what you are up to and what you plan to do next.  You'd also be surprised how many cool ideas you can find from your customer's suggestions.


There are at least a dozen sites and more books on how to utilize Social Networking Sites, many of which you can order from my web portal (provided at the bottom for your convenience).  I would recommend any of the "Dummies" or "Complete Idiots Guide" books as they are usually the most user-friendly.

Since this isn't a technical guide, the various technical details will not be provided here--invest in yourself and buy a book written by an expert.  Instead, utilization is something that is important to you as an author.

First, follow the list of DON'Ts.

DON'T use your personal page.  Set up a separate page for your business.  Even working from home, it is important to keep professional life and personal life separate; after all, it's not your customers' business what church you go to or who your friends are.

DON'T allow your family to use your business page as a way to simply say "hello" because you've been gone a while.

DON'T sign up for flash games on your business page.  It ruins your image and makes it look like you don't take yourself seriously.

Finally, DON'T ever place personal problems on your business page.  While this may seem basic, a lot of people miss this detail, and it drives away customers.  Customers don't want to know about YOU.  They want to know about YOUR PRODUCT.  Talk about things in terms of THEM.

For more information on Talking in terms of THEM, read any sales book by Jeffery Gitomer (www.gitomer.com).  For books on Social Networking, visit www.amway.com/vallerand, register if you're a first time customer, then click on OTHER PRODUCTS; PARTNER STORES; BARNES AND NOBLE.  And thank you for your patronage.