Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

 

Scroll to top

Top

10 Comments

What's YOUR Social Media Strategy?

At Maria Shriver’s recent Women’s Conference in California, I told more than 2,000 women that if they’re NOT immersed in social media now, they’re making a BIG mistake.

Afterwards, hundreds of women emailed and approached me to say that while obviously they knew about sites like Twitter and Facebook – often, thanks to their kids – they didn’t fully appreciate what it could do for them. There’s an assumption that the sites are only for making friends, not for advancing a career.

Let me tell you what I told them: To be effective on social media, to get hired or to attract clients for your business, you must be very clear about your strategic purpose.

I’m not on Facebook or Twitter to make friends. I’m certainly not knocking friendship — and many of you may be among my friends on the sites — but my strategic purpose is to get women to attend Women For Hire career expos and register for Spark & Hustle, my new series of three–day conferences for current and aspiring small business owners.

But if all I posted on Twitter and Facebook were pleas to buy this, pay for that all day, everyday – my friends, fans and followers would flee. Fast.

To avoid that, I must give in order to get.

I share resources and advice. I pass along nuggets and observations that I believe can help career–minded women who are thinking about their next step – whether it’s going after that promotion or starting a brownie business from home. I solicit ideas for my regular workplace segments on ABC’s Good Morning America. I answer tons of questions from jobseekers and I help solve challenges for small business owners.

And what I’ve learned in the past couple of years on Twitter and Facebook is that by being upfront and accessible, I get plenty in return because my social media pals know me and they know that I give as much as I get. Let me be clear: you don’t have to give until all the energy is sucked out of you. You can expect something in return. That’s not a crime and there’s no shame in it. It’s perfectly acceptable — encouraged, in fact — to look out for yourself and your career.

Some entrepreneurs might say it’s an awfully time–consuming way to conduct business — and they might have more efficient ideas on how to do it — but I know it works for me and millions of others. The same is true for jobseekers: Finding, following and engaging with recruiters, hiring managers and people who work where they want to work has proven to be an effective way to land interviews and get hired.

So consider your strategic purpose: What’s your goal in using social media and how will you fulfill it?

If you’re sitting there wondering what on earth you could share on Facebook, Twitter or even your own blog, you’d be surprised. Email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you a list of 50 ideas to get you going.

Comments

  1. Jennifer Williams

    I don’t know how to thank you; my eyes are opened. Your eloquence spoke to me, I am in the process of life change. I have no money but if I did I would make the choice to spend it on your weekend just to listen to you speak. You are inspirational. Thank you again
    Jennifer Williams

  2. Since my business is web based I use Facebook and Twitter to update my followers on recent page updates and to stay in front of them.

    With Twitterfeed and other services that help automate the process it really takes no time at all to leverage these services without spending much more than the time it takes to do the initial set up.

    I definitely use my network of personal Facebook friends to spread the word about my business as well. At first I was a little intimidated by the social network craze, but if you take the time to learn how they work social networking can be a very powerful career tool.

    Thanks for all the great info on Women For Hire. I’ve been reading your articles and advice for years.

  3. I went kicking and screaming into Twitterland two weeks ago. The increase to my blog is incredible, and contacts for freelance work as well. No one wants a resume anymore; they want your social media reputation and track record. Learning by trial, but seems to be working!

  4. Susan Raisch

    I highly encourage women to get more involved in social media — at any age. As a, dare I say, middle aged woman, it has been invaluable to me as I build my business and my expertise in the field of bullying prevention (http://tangledball.blogspot.com). It allows me to connect with so many more people in the field, do research with much more efficiency, be more creative about using my own voice and have much more fun sharing my message. It has made me appreciate the great work that others are doing and gives me inspiration to keep improving. I actually think social media is better utilized as a business tool than a social tool. Of course, you have to get over the terminology. It can be humbling to ask for “fans” or “followers” but, hey, you can never be too rich, too thin or have too many fans. (OK, well maybe too rich or have too many fans.)

  5. Jacqueline Butler

    I’m using blogging,newsletters,live “meet and greet” networking events, printed brochures and social media marketing including Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. My primary platform is Linkedin. Leads generated from networking events, TODL http://www.todl.com, an online ad specifically targeted to the interior design trade ), and The Essential Guide-Santa Fe and Taos (art catalog ad ) are researched in Linkedin followed up by invitations to “join my network” where I participate in group discussions.

    My next step is to send each lead an e-message and phone call in which I invite them( call to action ) to register as affiliated design professional members of ArtGraze where they will receive special “to the trade” pricing and services provided by affiliated artists and galleries.

    The membership affiliation is FREE to designers. They are essentially the potential buyers and to have them listed or featured on our website provides “seen value” to the artists and their representing galleries. Only the artists, limited to 200 in number ) represent paid positions on the website.
    Currently I have only one designer listed although there are others that have registered.

    I need to be more consistent in using Twitter and Facebook. My challenge is to develop a strategy that allows me to allot a specific amount of time to update each adequately without spending too much time on the computer.

    This week I’m interviewing for an intern who is savvy with social media.

  6. Tory, thank you for this wonderful reminder of just how important social media is becoming in today’s business world. It is truly one of the easiest ways to make valuable connections, show you are up to date on the latest technology, get your face known and most of all as you have pointed out, to give of yourself and your knowledge. It can be a challenge trying to understand all the bits and pieces but it can be quite fun too!

    To your Fabulous Success,
    Dawn Z Bournand

  7. Alison

    Great topic and as usual, great points Tory! Social media can suck the life out of you if you let it. I won’t say I have mastered my techniques but I am partnering with a friend who specializes in social media to guide me. She has taught me several techniques but there is still so much to learn. My biggest challenge is staying off facebook and twitter and actually getting work done because I am by nature a very social person. I find that Twitter drives more traffic to my site http://sassymomsinthecity.com, however my costumers are not on Twitter, only Facebook. It can be daunting but I take it as the new marketing challenge! Thanks for your information!

  8. Marilyn

    I’m a regular Coach volunteer at Women for Hire in Washington, D.C. I just requested your strategic plan for social media and I’m looking forward to building a sound plan to grow my business. I realize that I’m not using social media to its fullest capacity.

    Regards,
    Marilyn
    http://www.coachnexphase.com

  9. Nona Mills

    Great topic and as usual, great points Tory! Social media can suck the life out of you if you let it. I won’t say I have mastered my techniques but I am partnering with a friend who specializes in social media to guide me. She has taught me several techniques but there is still so much to learn. My biggest challenge is staying off facebook and twitter and actually getting work done because I am by nature a very social person. I find that Twitter drives more traffic to my site http://sassymomsinthecity.com, however my costumers are not on Twitter, only Facebook. It can be daunting but I take it as the new marketing challenge! Thanks for your information!

  10. Janis Workman

    I highly encourage women to get more involved in social media — at any age. As a, dare I say, middle aged woman, it has been invaluable to me as I build my business and my expertise in the field of bullying prevention (http://tangledball.blogspot.com). It allows me to connect with so many more people in the field, do research with much more efficiency, be more creative about using my own voice and have much more fun sharing my message. It has made me appreciate the great work that others are doing and gives me inspiration to keep improving. I actually think social media is better utilized as a business tool than a social tool. Of course, you have to get over the terminology. It can be humbling to ask for “fans” or “followers” but, hey, you can never be too rich, too thin or have too many fans. (OK, well maybe too rich or have too many fans.)

Submit a Comment

Cancel reply