Collect. Sort. Share. Social Media 101

Socialmedia 101

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This morning I held a small class for some colleagues to introduce them to Social Media. I discovered that getting started is a daunting task. I tried to boil it down to these three phases. I heard a good analogy comparing social media to a cocktail party. First you get a drink, and get a feel for the room. Next, you try the crab puffs and start to mingle. Finally you engage in a few conversations. Before you know it, you’ve found common interests in a room of strangers.

The three phases look like this:

1. The collection of information.
2. Sorting, or the management of said info.
3. Sharing of knowledge.

I’m not sure I’m using all the best tools or am the most efficient, but so far my method is providing more than enough information for me to read, digest, and publish. I expect to be updating this presentation on a regular basis for some upcoming mastermind meetings. I’d like to have your input and advice for the beginners out there. If there is a website you love or a shortcut you use, please share it with us in the comments below.

Small Town Internet

Today I had a conversation with a doctor about Google, Facebook, and Social Media. I asked if he was considering any of these tools for marketing his practice. His answer to me was, “Who am I marketing to? I know everyone in this town, and everyone in this town knows I’m here.” I asked if new patient flow was an issue for him. He said patient retention is much more important to his practice.

I thought it was a great answer, and it made a lot of sense, but I’m not sure this eliminates the need for him to market his practice. Often, when we talk or read about marketing, we are looking to reach new clients. What about the ones we already have? Shouldn’t we be reaching out to them as well? I think this is where social media separates itself from traditional marketing. In a small community like this, participating in the trust economy and staying connected is so important. It’s not enough to just have your name on the building. Sooner or later, it blends into the scenery until there is a new name on a new building.

This doctor was probably right; he doesn’t have to spend time and money to market and look for new patients, but he does have to find ways to stay connected to the ones he has.

Check out my Facebook page for an article by Sally McKenzie, C.M.C. on Patient Retention Programs.

My Social Network Isn’t Very Social

Here is a look at what is coming to a computer near you. There has been tons of talk and hype about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the countless other social networking sites. Programs like Google Docs, Basecamp, and Microsoft Office Live are betting that online collaboration applications are the future of personal and business computing.

In the past few weeks I’ve been talking to clients about social media, and I’m not seeing the excitement. I’m seeing a reluctance or hesitation to get involved. Here is my take on why: Besides not knowing where to start, there is still the memory of the last big internet idea. During the tech boom, you were told you needed a website, so you went out and got one. You filled it up with all kinds of information, and it probably wasn’t cheap. For some of you, it was worth it, but for most, it probably wasn’t. Websites are great for information, but people don’t buy based on information, so there is still work to do when potential clients actually find you (assuming they can). Social Networking is about the conversation. It’s about connecting via referral, and it’s about emotion. People do buy on referral and emotion. We like doing business with people we know and like. Someone who finds you on Facebook gets a chance to see your culture before they dial your number. Now, if they call, they have a different feeling about your practice.

One problem is the perception that Facebook is still just a teenage phenomenon, that Twitter is only for celebrities, and LinkedIn is only for your resume. Set-Up and maintenance do take a little work, but the stats are staggering. This stuff works, and it’s here to stay.

I’ve incorporated Basecamp, LinkedIn & Facebook into my business so that I can work more efficiently, connect with like-minded people, and offer a different type of service to my customer. These tools are mostly free, very powerful, and fun to use, but they could be so much better if more of our colleagues were online. Spread the word and join the conversation.

Some questions:
How could Social Media help or hurt your business?
How do you get the people you need to collaborate with onboard with new ideas?