If you have ever seen an old Tarzan movie, three stooges movie, or any of a number of adventure movies then you know about quicksand.
It is nature’s unexpected trap that many inexperienced travelers fall into.
In the new world of Social Media marketing many people and I mean… many people… fall into the Social Media Quicksand trap.
People spend way too much of their time pitching their products and services and they wonder why they have little to nothing to show for all their time and money invested in Social Media.
Here’s the truth…
Social media is not the place to pitch your stuff. Yes, I know a lot of people do this but, that doesn’t make it right.
I see it on twitter every day. Someone becomes your new friend and in the same breath (140character message) they are pitching you. This is a TURN OFF!
If this is you, I have two words . . . STOP IT!
Many people will spend hours in groups attempting to make new friends, only to pitch them before they have earned the right to share any marketing information.
So what do they do?
They go to another group and spend more time and sink deeper and deeper into the quicksand.
How about you…do you know anyone like that?
Do you find yourself spending lots of time with social media with nothing to show for it?
Here’s a secret.
Social media is about four things:
- Community
- Connection
- Content
- Conversation
Before you can share any marketing information, you have to earn the right to do so. Social media is all about relationships!
When a prospect is ready, you must have a systematic approach that is professional and attractive and works within the world of social media.
Many people are all about themselves–you know who I am talking about. They do not attempt or they make a weak attempt to be part of a community by helping and serving others.
You must give and serve others first then you will become attractive. As people begin to get to know you, like you and trust you, you develop what is called ‘Social Equity”.
You become a leader.
Seth Godin describes this as building a ‘tribe’.
Remember, social media is not a push marketing tactic. It is a pull or attraction marketing approach.
Once you establish a strong brand (a name for yourself) people will want to take your advice and they will want to part of what you are part of.
If you are looking for a good rope to pull yourself out of the quicksand then study the diagram below.
This ‘Process’ is the rope that can pull you out of the social media quicksand. Without it you will die in the world of social media marketing.
Done correctly, social media will feed your sales funnel and you will reap the rewards.
Social media marketing does not happen over night. It happens when you give, serve and support your communities.
To learn the secrets for social media marketing be sure to opt-in on this page to get your free 8-day video Social Media Secrets bootcamp. You will get over 4 hours of training as I describe this whole process.
If I can serve you in any other way or you have questions let me know.
PLEASE comment below and let me know what you think of this…thank you for your comments!
August 10th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Hi Terry, this is very well written and to the point…I am rather new (a few months) to this hole thing of social media and have learned a lot from folks just like you…. who say like it is…I know for my self I hate spam…and see social media just like any other part of life… when you start giving, it soon starts coming back…. good content is key.
Keep it coming..
August 10th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Thanks Paul. I know our whole community appreciates you.
August 10th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Great article Terry, maybe if we can get enough of these out, we can minimize all the spamming on all the SM sites !!
August 10th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Toche` Terry!
I’ve been on a crusade to try and eliminate the spam as well. An observation I’ve noticed is that the 95% figure you see as the failure rate of online marketers is directly proportional to the amount of spam tweets propagated each day. Now if we have a contest to try and name the acronym SPAM my first entry is this. (Stupid People Attaining Mediocrity) and maybe that’s too nice.
.-= Chris Kilber´s last blog ..Helping Small Business To Make Your Business Big =-.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
I agree Chris we need to be the example and raise the bar.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Terry
This article is superb. Those that understand the power of a tribe and positioning themselves as leaders will succeed with their online businesses. This industry is all about giving and paying it forward. Thanks again for your leadership.
Melissa
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Setting up a new ONLINE MARKETING business? Are you feeling OVERWHELMED or in INFORMATION OVERLOAD? =-.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Excellent post Terry! So True….social media must begin with and remain about being genuine & authentically social and with building relationships first. Starting these conversations with a pitch is a recipe for disaster, or at the least a waste of everybody’s time.
What i find interesting is that spam and unabashed pitching continues to play such a large part of today’s social media conversations and the whole landscape. Is it simply that people don’t get it (hopefully not…..Some People are Morons?), or is the need to see results clouding considerations of needing to build a long term and strong brand and to provide value (Show me the money now..).
Thanks for outlining so well the correct way to go about Social media, that will inevitably lead to business growth and to discovering trusted business partner relationships on the backend.
.-= Johneal Rouse´s last blog ..Become more effective with your Network Marketing and manage your Time better – Free Hypnosis Session =-.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Hello Terry! There is nothing more insulting than reaching out for networking and friendship and getting an outstretched hand asking for money in the form of SPAM. For those people who have a problem reading and retaining the valuable information on your blog I found the diagram to be an easy to understand eye-catcher. You definately “GOT IT”!!
August 10th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Nice work Terry! It’s like many other things in life…building relationships is always the key. The majority of people out there are always looking for a short cut in life…and though very few may actually have some short term success…seldom if ever do people see long term results with short cuts…especially when those short cuts annoy people so much. Anyhow, great article and I will be happy to share it with others!
August 10th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Terry,
THANK YOU for saying this! I have been thinking this and feeling this ever since I have been involved (although only a short time). It is true though and anyone and everyone who is choosing to join our community should REALLY learn this point first before moving forward. SPAM is the worst and I just wish people would get it..it’s essentially bad networking marketing using the internet as your medium.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Should be a fairly obvious thing, but I guess not.
Quinton’s last blog post..You’ve got a site, now what?
.-= quinton Des Fountain´s last blog ..You’ve Got A Site — Now What? =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Good post, Terry. I’ve always viewed social media as a long-term asset, built more like an annuity, where the return is consistent — based upon what you put in each day/doug
.-= Douglas Burson´s last blog ..Great Post By My Friend Vicki Berry =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Fantastic post, Terry!
Admittedly, I used to be *that person* because it was recommended to me to do so. Fortunately I *saw the light* and changed my Twitter response ASAP.
If people want to join your business, it is because they have gotten the opportunity to KNOW you and want to work WITH you.
I look forward to reading more from you Terry!
.-= Heather Taskovics´s last blog ..The Best Way to Relax: Play With Crayons! =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I like this: “Many people will spend hours in groups attempting to make new friends, only to pitch them before they have earned the right to share any marketing information.”
… I see this as an expression of whay you, youself, do not like, right?
.-= Søren Egstrup´s last blog ..The Fun Quiz =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Voila Terry!! You hit the nail on the head with this one. I was doing that very thing early on and something inside made me feel like people were saying “YOU IDIOT-GO AWAY”
Think about the last social gathering you went to, Did you immediately walk up to total strangers and start telling them all about your business?
Let’s Spread this valuable wisdom.
.-= Kevin D. Robinson´s last blog ..The Nine Great Lies of Sales & Marketing – Part 3 ~~~ =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Great Blog Post Terry!!!!
“You must give and serve others first then you will become attractive.”
That is it, that sentence sums up social networking. You reap what you soe. If you give and serve others it will come back to you ten fold.
Thank You for this post hopefully this will help many others.
You Rock Terry!!!
Kelly Brown
.-= Kelly Brown´s last blog ..Epiphanies =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hi Terry
I think we all need to have a little more integrity about WHY we are doing what we are doing. Maybe some soul searching because if you are helping another with the expectation of a return, then you’re TRADING, not giving.
Most importantly, the energy or vibration that comes from an interaction where hidden agendas are the driving force, has an impact on the outcome.
My suggestion … be genuine in your concern for others if that’s what you really want to do. And if you don’t, then DON’T. But bottom line: DON’T FAKE IT! instead MAKE IT REAL!!!
Make it a great day
deb
.-= Deborah Richards´s last blog ..How The Laws of Attraction Fit the BE DO HAVE Philosophy =-.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Hello Terry,
You hit it spot on! Yoy highlight exactly what social media is all about. Unfortunately, the very majority of internet marketers do not poccess this information.
Have an awesome Tuesday!
Regards,
Hakon.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I like your insight. We need to keep spreading the news about how to promote yourself using social media. I think many people simply have not learned the do’s and dont’s. Leave it to JB’s group to lead the way!
I like the previous comment about being genuine. I think we all know we are supposed to build relationships before pitchting our business opportunity, but please be real and honest. There are some great people out there with a lot to give. Take the time to get to know them.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hi Terry, Great post! Follow me on twitter. My id is mcinpat.
By the way I have a great opportunity for you on a ground-floor entry of a great business that pays a lot of money! You will achieve financial freedom! ;0)
Brother, You hit the nail on the head with what you say about “friends” that want to add you and in the same message have a pitch for you. Your post reminds me of some advice that I got about not adding just anybody to your friends in F-book cause they can drag your whole community down.
I recently un-friended a couple of dudes who were doing just that.
I also would like to add that it is possible to be in quicksand even if you aren’t a spammer. There are so many tangents that an undisciplined person could go off on that before you know it, 2 hours went by and you have a “time-leak.” It is best to budget your time on f-book, for sure.
good stuff!
.-= Patrick McIntosh´s last blog ..Leadership Begins with Leading Your SELF =-.
August 14th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Terry, Great article! Nothing turn me off more than when I see the post for getting more followers on Twitter. You know the one, click here to get 200 followers a day.
It amazes me how many of those posts there are and I always wonder if anyone gets any clicks on them.
Thanks for the great information. Looking forward to more good content!
.-= Debbie Wood´s last blog ..Business v. Hobby – Where does your Home-Based Business Stand? =-.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Hi Terry, thanks for this great post about Social Media Quicksand.
You are absolutely right, and for me it does not matter if it is the onine or offline world. It is about treating people with respect.
I appreciate you very much …
Adriane
August 19th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Thank you Adriane for your kind words.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:35 am
Great post. It is so easy to miss the whole point of social networking.