Is your image on the Social Networks clean and polished?

Anyone who is on SMO (Social Media Online), knows the importance of image. It can either make you or break you. You need to think twice, or thrice, or more before you post something. 

A recent example of a post gone wrong is the one by Gianni Morandi, an Italian singer of the sixties (but still active on TV and VERY active on the social media.) A few years ago, on a Sunday, he posted a picture of himself with shopping bags in front of a supermarket. He published the picture with the caption, ‘‘Taking the wife shopping on Sunday’’.  Apriti Sesamo as the Italians say! (Open Sesame) All hell broke loose. The poor guy was attacked right and left! His fans (with fans like that, who needs enemies)  lashed out at him for shopping on Sunday. You shouldn’t shop on Sunday; the poor workers have families but they’re forced to work; because Sunday now is like any day, we must stop this practice of shops being open on Sunday. It’s illegal! It’s immoral! It’s uncivilized! And so on and so forth.

This scandalous post made the headlines of Italian newspapers; it was on national, Italian TV, it was all over the web. Gianni, totally embarrassed, published another post in which he apologized for shopping on Sunday and ended it saying ‘‘No more shopping on Sunday.’’ As you can imagine, this time he got attacked by the ‘‘pro-shopping on Sunday’’ people. This is to show you that you can’t please everybody.

If shopping on Sunday caused such a mayhem online, imagine if you post something that’s really controversial. Many people have had to close their accounts due to the vicious comments they received, after posting  what’s on their mind.

What are the rest of us to do? Gianni is a public figure so in a sense he is most likely to be closely scrutinized and attacked. Common folks like us, who are less known, can perhaps get away with posting just about anything. But remember that even though your posts are seen only by your ‘‘friends,’’ they will be online forever and these so called friends might spread the word.  “Hey, you know so and so said such and such a thing?” If it’s just a harmless picture or post it might not cause any serious damage but if you take sides or if you review something unpopular, you might regret it. Recently, a McDonald’s opened in our small town. The first one ever! Immediately  someone created a Facebook page, criticizing McDonald’s and warning people about its dangerous food. I am not a fanatic about McDonald’s but it reminds me of my childhood in New York so I was quite excited about the opening. I went there on inauguration day, took pictures and published a blog post on the event. I then shared it on my social networks as is my usual practice. Well, wouldn’t you know it? On Facebook, a friend (a person I know in real life), commented under my post ‘‘How dare you eat there and publicize it?! They’re damaging local businesses. Their food is unhealthy’’ and so on. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it so I wrote back, ‘‘If you don’t like it, don’t go there. No one is twisting your arm; but don’t tell me what to do.’’

In conclusion, be careful about what you post and where you post it.  Your online image depends on it.

Get down to business

Are you finding it tough to run your business? Well, remember the expression “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Don’t just sit there moaning and complaining and hoping that things will get better, just like that, at the click of a finger. No magic wand or abracadabra will get your business going unless you yourself roll up your sleeves and get down to business.

My experience in business coaching has taught me that it’s during tough times that you have to work harder. Think. Concentrate. What are you doing – or not doing – that is causing a slump in your work? Are you putting enough effort in your business, or are you just going along with the flow? Are you stuck in the Middle Ages, afraid to try anything new, afraid to get out of your comfort zone, afraid to let the world know you’re there? Yes, you get the picture now? Do you see where I’m heading? If you don’t , then you simply are not up with the times. I am hinting that if you are looking for business growth, then you have to get out there. Where? On the social networks! That’s where it’s at.

A strong presence on the social networks is indispensable for any business to survive or grow in today’s world. How are people to know  you, how are customers going to interact with you, how will other non-competitive businesses learn about you, unless you show your face on the social networks? I don’t mean just opening an account on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Blogspot  or whatever and then tweedle your thumbs and wait for likes and comments to start pouring in.

 It won’t happen. If you want people to come to you, you need to go to them. It’s like you’re at a party. You don’t know anyone so you start going around introducing yourself, distributing your calling card, asking other people their names, their interests and just making small talk. This is the way to meet peope and build relationships. The same applies to social networking on the web.  Except that you’re doing it in writing or through pictures. Posting pictures, by the way, especially with a link, is the best way to drive traffic to your site. The most interesting pictures are the bright and colorful  ones and believe me they attract views, likes and comments. If they’re funny or thought-provoking they might even get shared.  Or go VIRAL!  Well,  don’t push your luck. Be grateful with whatever little you get. It’s better than getting criticism or nasty comments. Remember that when you put your face out there (on the web), you will get all kinds of reactions: positive, cool, no reaction at all or worse… negative. There are lots of haters out there so beware. My advice is to ignore them.

Going back to introducing yourself and socializing, make sure you GIVE BACK. I will never tire of saying this. Don’t just take. If someone gives you a like, go and like back; if someone makes a nice comment under your post, go and write a nice comment back. Don’t forget, it’s by giving that you receive. People will notice your courtesy and they’ll keep coming back. If you make a nice impression, your company, or brand will benefit and grow.

Social Media Managers Don't Come Cheap

If you have a business you will probably have noticed that most businesses today have gone online. They have a website, they are active on Facebook and other social media networks but … and I emphasize BUT… their business has not grown and neither has their number of customers. Why is that?

As any Social Media Manager will tell you, it’s because these businesses have not hired a Social Media Manager. Most likely you don’t even know what a SMM is or does. Let me tell you.

A SMM is a professional networker. He has (maybe) completed a SMM course, for which he paid a lot of money, and is now an expert in Social Media management. He will tell you how to run your business online, or, rather, how he will run your business online.

First you need a website, then you need to join as many social networks as you can manage. No. Wait a minute. You cannot manage them. The Social Media Manager is the expert so he will run them for you, that’s why  you need to hire him.

He will start by giving you a Report (an analysis of where your business stands online). The Report is free but his services aren’t.

For $500 to $1000 a month (yes, that’s correct, per month) he will “manage” your social networks, that is, he will publish valuable content on your networks thus bringing in new clients to your business. Hopefully. If that doesn’t work, he will ask you more money so that he can run PAID ads on FB or wherever you want. Obviously you need to dish out more money. In other words, you pay the Social Media Manager for running your social networks, but he doesn’t bring in more customers so you have to give him more money for the ads. At this point you must be wondering if it wouldn’t be cheaper if you enrolled in a Social Media Manager course and run your social networks yourself.