In the new economy there is one major truth that stands above the rest. Trust equals revenue. If you are a small to mid-sized business it is the amount of trust you can build between clients that strengthens your brand.
With trust comes happy clients and with happy clients come referrals. Trust is a fundamental block of building business. Marketing is built under the assumption that stories can create an emotional bond between a consumer and a brand… a client and a service. Can you tell a story… create a service and en experience that builds trust?
Social media can help you build that trust.
1. Content
Content is the number one way you can build trust with potential clients. By creating meaningful and thought provoking content you are building a bridge to later sell that person on your services. Talk about what you do on a daily basis. When I say you.. it means you are writing and communicating stories that happen to you on a daily basis.
2. Be Transparent
This can also pertain to content or how you use a specific social network. Be human. The people who are interested in your thoughts and suggestions want to know about you as a person. They could care less about a sale you are having or the amount of money you can cut off their bottom line. They want to know how you helped LARRY the plumber or Susan the account.
3. Picture of Your Day
When you are using social networks make sure you put up pictures of your daily life. If you have a cell phone with a camera takes some pictures of your daily routine and share them with your connections. Just don’t over do it. We can only look at so many professional business or glamor shots in a day.
4. Picture of You
Use your real picture. I don’t know how many times I have said this. Don’t use your logo. There is only one exception to this rule. If you are using Twitter for your business and personal (see my company @Brandswag for an example).
5. Saying Thank You
If somebody helps you share information or decideds to retweet a post.. make sure you thank that person. They are helping you spread the word… they are your online evangelists.. If you miss a thank you.. don’t let it kill you.. but try to make the most of the people that help you out.
6. Do Not Auto-DM on Twitter
See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM
7. No Hard Selling
I don’t care about your enewsletter or the new lotion you are selling. Also, just because I reply to a tweet or a message does not mean you can message me back and sell your wares. Social media is a long sell process. You are developing content in order to gain an order of trust with people in your area of influence. We are now experiencing a relationship driven economy… get on the train.
8. Time is Important
Remember that you are building relationships.. do not trust the people that tell you to add 1023920 friends and make $10,000 a month. It is a load of crap. Build your following slowly… create relationships in an online environment that can be transferred offline.
9. Criticism is Important
You will be criticized. It is a truth of open communication. Take it with stride and respond. If you are debated… make sure you debate back. Stand up for what you believe and you will gain trust with the people who are listening…. and watching.
10. Have fun
Good Lord… is it that hard? You have the ability to connect with thousands… and thousands… and thousands of people from every nationality… and life experience. Just imagine your ability to expand your knowledge base and learn?!
One thought: If you are not enjoying and having fun with what you do… quit… go find something else.
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Love your last point, mainly because I think a lot of people still forget it. Doing this should be the best part of your day, it's new, fun and exciting to work in the SM space. Things are constantly changing, evolving and changing direction. Just try and surf it and enjoy the ride.
[...] View original here: 10 Tips to Build Trust with Social Media… [...]
I'll add one more: Be Sincere!
If the only reason you are using social media is to get more buisness, it shows. The relationship comes before the sale, not the other way around! The problem when you're faking the relationship–like after you make the sale–is that your friendly communication stops. When you enter the social space, be a real person, act like one, care like one, and talk like one. Understand that the those using social media know who’s there to market and sell, and who’s there to build relationships. We can tell really quickly that you’re hoping to introduce your product or service to the conversation. We know if you're not sincere.
Brilliant post. Thank you for putting these points down so clearly. It just reinforces that social media is all about building relationships with people. Just because it is online doesn't change the essence of how you build a relationship.
[...] also recommend reading Kyle Lacy’s (@kyleplacy) awesomesauce post 10 Tips to Build Trust with Social Media. If you’re looking for more respect then 9 Twitter Tips that will help you gain respect in [...]
Don't forget, be patient. Twitter relationships are not built in a day. At 140 characters an interaction, you have to talk time to get to know people and build relationships.
Also, when you finally have repport established, try picking up the phone. Nothing replaces real life contact for establishing genuine relationships.
[...] also recommend reading Kyle Lacy’s (@kyleplacy) awesomesauce post 10 Tips to Build Trust with Social Media. If you’re looking for more respect then 9 Twitter Tips that will help you gain respect in the [...]
Thanks for listing my post in the related post and I think this post is really helpful for me to understand social media more to do more with social media…
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