I am not a social media guru. But in working with speakers, entrepreneurs and information marketers I hear that statement a lot. For them, social media is usually not working very well, which ought to tell you something. 

I’m still learning the ins and outs of social media myself, but one of the speakers I work with asked me for some feedback on a recent newsletter/blog post on Jane Atkinson’s blog, The Speaker Launcher. In a nutshell, Jane asks, “Did you with jump on the social bandwagon with a strategy?”

Note she didn’t say, “Don’t jump on the social media bandwagon,” just don’t do it without a strategy. In every kind of marketing, I’ve found that STRATEGY is important from the beginning. What I’ll add to her comment is that once you have a strategy and move forward to use the tools of social media it’s STILL easy to get distracted. Like any other marketing tool or networking event, you have to find people that share your agenda. But here’s the bottom line:

• If you’re big leagues enough to buy Super Bowl commercials, you’d better have a STRATEGY – or that’s a lot of wasted money.
   
• If you’re organized enough have an annual marketing or advertising budget, you’d better have a STRATEGY – or you’re wasting the money you do have.
   
• If you’re energetic enough to get out and work the business networking events, you’d better have a STRATEGY – or some really comfortable shoes.
   
• If you’re smart enough to take advantage of the Internet as a free marketing tool, you’d better have a STRATEGY – or FREE is gonna cause you a lot of frustration.
   
• If you’re forward thinking enough to create a personal brand through social networking, you’d better have a STRATEGY – or you’ll keep getting’ what you always got!

Leave a comment and I’ll share my example of a brief but powerful strategy for LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. My strategy may not work for you, but it will give you an example to work from.

PEACE.
Rick