In this article I talk about the ups and downs of Social Media; Leveraging your social media using Hoot suite and no cost and low-cost Promotions.
Social Media is an awesome tool to help leverage you and your business. However, there is also a dark side.
In my experience, you need to choose what you’re intention is right from the beginning and NEVER mix them.
By this I mean it’s either business or pleasure. Because you are operating locally I would suggest sticking to business.
This mean’s be very careful who you add, how you comment, how you post, the images you post and share etc.
Keep it professional at all times and constantly supervise your content.
One exception to this rule is helping your local community get to know YOU. This creates a personable approach which certainly helps people want to see you professionally. This is easy. Maybe 2x a month post you and your wife having a coffee with someone important, or attending a professional seminar…the key is to try and connect a personal post with your professional image. Every post is an opportunity to educate, inform and connect with your community.
WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA FORUMS SHOULD I SUBSCRIBE TO?
It is recommended you focus on the following:
- YOUTUBE CHANNEL
- GOOGLE +
- FACEBOOK PAGES, AND GROUPS
TIPS:
- We use HOOTSUITE to disseminate posts to all our S.M. platforms, pre-scheduled and for a small sum per month.
- Use stock images.
- Make sure there is consistency of imagery across all platforms.
- Create a FB Fan Page and closed Group.
- Use your posts to link back to your website, e.g. special offers. Newsletters, Blogs, Vlogs, etc.
- Create additional posts from time to time.
- Comment and share lots.
- Actively follow people on Google + and Twitter who fit your demographic.
- Use FB ads to boost visitors to your www.
- Align with a 12month marketing plan.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY EXAMPLE:
This is our Social Media Policy prepared by Employ sure, our H.R. V.A. company.
Any work related issue or material that could identify an individual who is a customer/client or work colleague, which could adversely affect the Employer, a customer/client or the Employer’s relationship with any customer/client must not be placed on any social networking site.
This means that, unless otherwise authorized, work related matters must not be placed on any such site at any time either during or outside of working hours and this includes access via any mobile computer equipment, including mobile phone or PDA.
All employees are prohibited from using social media (whether on Employer devices or their own personal devices) during work time. If an employee is found to have been accessing social media during work time, this may be considered misconduct and subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
If you become aware of information relating to the Employer posted on the internet, you should bring this to the attention of your manager.
CASE STUDY:
A practitioner decides he is being bullied in the practice by the owner. In his anger he starts a conversation on his FB thread. This sparks a barrage of comments from his loyal legion of followers supporting his anger of the practice owner. The owner sees the threads as he ‘was’ a friend on FB. This directly contravenes his contractual agreement with the owner as it is slander and libel. The practitioner is ultimately dismissed.
Unfortunately the damage however, was already done but not unrecoverable.
You can see how it could become disastrous.
Social Media is here to stay. It is a powerful way to promote you and your business in a cost effective way. It does however, need careful scrutiny. I recommend doing your research.
About the Author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold (Chiropractor) is the ‘Practice Leverage Expert’; Principal Chiropractor and owner, Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre; Accredited Business Coach; Founder, Million Dollar Wellness Practice. Andrew is married to Dr. Linda Wilson, the Stress Specialist and has two children, Isaac and Bella. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.