Personal branding, one of the most important strategies for developing an online presence, is not rocket science. It has been mystified and complicated by so many online “gurus” that many newcomers to network marketing avoid it completely, to the advantage of their competitors and the detriment of their own business.
Put simply, personal branding is using various technological and social media (Web 2.0) tools to develop a unique presence online and connect with prospective buyers. You might use video sites like YouTube (you can check out some of my videos here), or viddler to host short videos that present you, your personality, background and product reviews to potential prospects. Or you could use social networking sites like MySpace or facebook to connect with other entrepreneurs and people seeking new options for working from home.
The network marketing industry has had a bad reputation, frequently well-deserved, as being filled with spammers and scammers. If the new generation of online entrepreneurs using the network marketing model wants to break free from preconceived notions and judgments, it’s time to learn to attract rather than to assault prospective buyers.
Like all effective online marketing methods, personal branding takes focused time to learn. But any personal branding strategy that leaves out the social networking site “Twitter” is missing a great opportunity. Twitter is social networking…on steroids!
Twitter allows an internet entrepreneur, even one with limited experience, the opportunity to connect with people one normally might not usually meet on other social networks, many of them brilliant people with incredible passion for what they do. It’s also a very effective tool to reduce the sense of isolation many who work exclusively online can tend to face from time to time.
And Twitter is one of the best ways to attract the people you are looking for and to quickly learn how to interact effectively in a social networking environment.
Contrary to what some teach, Twitter is not just a bulletin board for you to announce every product you sell with every “Tweet,” promote your MLM with each post or what you are up to every single minute of the day. While it’s fun to post what you’re doing or promoting or writing about, and it’s interesting to know what’s happening in other’s lives between marketing events, Twitter is really a place to connect meaningfully with people. It’s a way for “Tweeps” to get a glimpse of the “real world” others are experiencing throughout a day.
But it’s also a place to share ideas, tips and encouragement to others…to give before you receive. Somehow, Twitter has managed to create a community that thrives on contribution and generosity.
But to discover the usefulness of Twitter, you really just have to try it for yourself! Here are a few key things to keep in mind.
Twitter is considered a “micro-blogging” site. In other words, all posts on Twitter require limiting oneself to 140 characters, including the @ symbol used to reply to specific “Tweeps/Twitterers/Twitter Peeps.” (Yes…there’s a lot of funny vocabulary peculiar to Twitter!)
Let’s get started with your first Twitter account.
- Create a free Twitter profile at http://www.Twitter.com , then “follow” me at http://Twitter.com/stevieknight .
- You will need to add at least 40 or 50 people that you “follow” in order to see how the conversations flow and how connections are made. So look through the panel on the right side of my profile and start looking through the profiles of the people I’m following and those who follow me.
“Follow” a bunch of them, but only if their profile and websites they link to resonate with you. Don’t follow “Tweeps” (Twitter people) who use a spammy name or don’t have a profile picture up. Also, look at their most recent posts and see if they are actively in conversation with others (notice the @ sign followed by Twitter usernames in front of the post) or if they only “Tweet” about themselves, their products and their promos. Skip those peeps…they’re not likely to contribute a whole lot to your understanding of the power of Twitter.
- When someone follows you back, “direct message” them to thank them. For example, you might write: “Hey (real name)! Thanks for adding me to your Twitter stream! Cheers! (or whatever sounds natural to you)” People don’t have to “follow” you back, so show gratitude when someone adds you. It’s a good thing! Also, don’t feel rejected if someone doesn’t follow you back.
- After you’ve done that, download Twhirl at http://twhirl.org . It will help tremendously to keep track of what’s going on. Install and start using it, setting notifications to alert audibly with replies and direct messages, if you like.
- OK, now that you’re set up (whew!), start watching the conversations going on and join in when you have a question or something to contribute to the conversation. Keep your posts about your stuff to a lower percentage than what you actually contribute in conversation with others if you don’t want to be labeled a spammer!
- Bonus Tip: Google spiders index Twitter all the time. If you want Google to find your Twitter posts, Tweet at least once a day.
This may seem like a lot of work, but once it’s set up and you start dipping in and out of the Twitter stream throughout a day, you will find it refreshing, enlightening, rewarding and perhaps even, enriching! Happy Tweeting!
Have an opinion, a question or do you have any cool Twitter tips? Leave a comment.
Expect success!
Stevie Knight