Bringing Social Networking Home...  (part 1)

This is an exciting time for you. It's what I call a time of transition. Those that embrace this shift in how things work on the Internet and really move forward with it will by far exceed their expectations in exposure and new business.

So here it is, Round up all of those professionals that you consider an affiliate you work with or someone you refer to clients looking for specific services you do not provide.

The goal here in working with this list is to find affiliates who will:

  1. Contribute to the content/information on your site, via radio, video shows or articles
  2. Allow you to include content from your site to theirs
  3. Additionally provide the opportunity to contributors to each others Blog, Newsletter...

When site visitors or clients are looking for a service or product on the Internet, they deal with people/companies they trust or have a high level of comfort with.

So why not help your clients and site visitors learn more about other services or products outside those you offer, through providing articles, radio or video shows.

Lets say your in the Real Estate industry, this could be a partial list:

1.       Anderson Plumbing

2.       Johnson Appraisal

3.       Seaford Escrow Services

4.       Counter Source Industry, Custom Countertops - Ocean View, DE www.CSInd.com

5.       Cleaning Management Services, Inc - Ocean City, MD www.OCCarpets.com

6.       Beach House Resources, Bethany Beach, DE - www.BeachHouseResources.com

7.       Plumbing Professionals

 

Lets say you have two Plumbers. They both have valuable experiences to draw upon, benefiting your clients  and visitors. You can give both plumbers the opportunity to present themselves and their services through separate radio shows, videos or/and articles.

Because you give them both the opportunity their style of writing or comments will reveal their personalities, experiences and strengths. Which is what your visitors are looking for! So why not provide a way for your affiliates to be introduced to potential new clients through your web site. Just like you can be introduced through theirs.

The best example of this that I can think of is a satellite radio show about cars, two guys go at it for a half hour discussing everyone's car problems. Each of the two guys has their strong points/strengths and certainly as you listen, each their own personalities. More than likely you would deal with one or the other. Or at the very least you would have your preference of who you would deal with given the opportunity to choose.

First principals of advertising, go where the target market is looking, as often and as inexpensively as possible.

 

Some people might be a little leery, thinking that they will not look as good as someone else will in the same profession. The point here again is the very fact that your affiliates are being exposed to many new visitors through your web site. Such visitors they never had the opportunity to be introduced to before, where they can now provide a planned first impression.

In today's Internet world you need to be seen as often and in as many locations as possible. So since you work with these people to what ever extent, work up a list of those you want to work with on this project. Once you have your list, figure out where you want your online relationship to start and what you want your online relationship to grow into.

What I mean by where you want your online relationship to start, is; do you want this affiliate to provide Radio show content, article(s), weekly mortgage rates, monthly market updates on property values, seasonal information on home upkeep, maintenance, protection...

Having a list of where you want things to start gives you something to shoot for. My experience has always been to start slowly so no one gets overwhelmed, with plenty of potential to grow. The problem with larger expectations is, people find they can't work something or everything into their schedule and then they get behind, and then it's one thing after another taking their attention and focus because they can at least accomplish it.

So in the beginning, keep everything simple...  PERIOD!   You want them to start having success with this. Seeing themselves on your website and you on theirs. It will bring a great feeling of accomplishment. When this happen, make sure you take notice of it.

Each affiliate needs to agree to what ever is planned because time will be involved to create the content and websites are depending on this new and fresh content. If your affiliates do not have a website, you will obviously want them to get a professional looking one. Its important they are help you as much as you are helping them through your website presence.

Lets just cover something about people who look for a Realtor on the Internet, they are also looking for an Appraiser, Title Attorney, Lender, a place to upgrade their countertops or watch their property while they are away for the winter. Your affiliates may think, others in their field or profession do not have their own web sites, so why do I? In reality, no matter how long they want to deny it, EVERY Affiliate will have their own web presence. So if they don't have one now, it is a pivotal point for them. For two important reasons, 1) The Internet is going through it's own Land Grab period right now. Which is why "Content is King", 2) You can't Pre-Sell prospects  on their services through your site if they aren't participating. Sure you can tell people about them, but what about the part where your affiliate shares their experience and knowledge.

The point here is the very fact that your affiliates are being exposed to many new visitors through your website, visitors they never had the opportunity to be introduced to before, where they can now provide a planned first impression.

 

Remember the goal here is

NEW CONTENT.

           REGULARLY....

If an affiliates does not want to participate then you need to find the ones that do. If you have talked to the two or three affiliates for a specific field and they all are at a point where they can not participate then I suggest you need to look outside your group and find one or two that will and your current affiliates who are not going to participate need to know this.

I know your thinking this is some kind of threat, and although it is coming off that way, it is about your Internet Survival and theirs.  The facts are, 1) The Internet Land Grab is taking place now. If you are not adding new and fresh content to your site, your competition will be and their content will be seen, not yours. 2) Social Networking is already taking place on large scales. How long do you think it will take until your competitors get this same idea of Social Networking but locally? If they are watching the Internet trends they may already be thinking about it.

The threat is real, if you do not start moving, you will get run over. This is the case also for your affiliates. They need to get in the game while they still can and while they don't have to play catchup.

It is also becoming more and more clear from the people I work with that YellowPage/YellowBook advertising is not what it used to be. Some of my clients have stopped their advertising all together. And from what I have been hearing lately newspaper advertising has not been working...

Put your list together now. Part 2 of "Social Networking - Bringing it Home" will be covering the idea generation of the content for your radio and video shows and articles.

This ends part one of "Social Networking - Bringing it Home."

Give us your feedback and what you have found that works.

 

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Social Networking - Part 2

How do you find the content or know what to write about.

For me I get my ideas from these 9 resources:


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These ten steps are the ones we work through when putting up new websites. Most of the items that are provided through out this e-Book are free or very inexpensive. In some cases we will provide more advanced tools. If you decide that you need the advanced tools you might find hiring someone to do the work for you less expensive and more productive.


Social Networking - Localizing Part 3

If you are just tuning in, Part 1 - Bringing Social Networking Home...

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I had this great email from a client asking why I thought networking with certain local organizations was going to be good for his website's rankings and visitorship... He had a great point, and his question really should be the focus as you evaluate each opportunity.