Put Social Media to Work For You

Remember when social media was only about people and less about business? Remember when it was more fun and less drama? Well.. I know I can say a loud ‘YESSSS’ to both of those. I have become to have a more love/hate relationship with social media, mostly Facebook. However, I am trying to make the best of it and truly use it for what it was intended – relationships, keeping in contact and rekindling old friendships.

It’s all about the relationships

Quite honestly, that is what it was intended to do – to keep you in touch with friends and family, or fellow students and etc. And then in came the businesses and well, then in came the liquid courage – FB drama. IMHO Facebook should be about connecting with people and not providing you the courage to be a jerk or to say things you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. It’s not supposed to be a platform for bullying or endless rants.. and well, I have been known to do the latter – the rants. I personally would say anything I say on FB or any social media to someone’s face and that’s what it should be but dude, people have gotten a little crazy, right??

Again, it was intended to hook people back up with those long lost friends from middle school, high school or even college, and for me, it has. I have to remember that when I get into the hate part of the love/hate social media relationship. What about you?

It’s about business connections

It has been a great platform for me to build upon business connections. Note, that I didn’t say to sell to every person who has come across my social media profile and shove this, that or the other down their throat. It has enabled me to connect with folks I meet in business networking and then get to know more about them and foster those relationships.

It’s become so much more, too, than just building those business relationships but also about connecting other business owners and friends to each other. I have been able to refer friends to business owners or vice versa. I make a point to share whether I have either used their products or services or gotten to know them personally so can vet them that way.

Start to rekindling old or current friendships

When was the last time you heard from Sally or the gal that you went to high school with? I’m not talking about all the people that you never had jack to do with back then, but the ones you actually liked then? Maybe it’s time to reach out and post on their wall, send them a private message, tweet them, comment on their picture or post, send them a snap message or something – but hey, don’t poke them, that is just weird and I don’t get that one. Kind of creepy. LOL

Make social media work for you and/or your business

So, at the end of the day… social media was intended to be.. SOCIAL!  When was the last time you consciously planned to reach out to someone you hadn’t heard from in awhile? We aren’t talking about the auto message about their birthday either?! lol

Designate time now to keep in touch with the people that mean something to you.  I mean they ARE your friend cuz they are on your “friends list” right? So, how much of a friend to you are they? Are they worth the time? If they are, reach out.

Sure we may not be working ON your business or may not even be working at all due to COVID-19, so what better time to keep in touch with those work/business contacts than during this time when you have extra time?

Quarantine check in

Everyone right now is dealing with isolation, quarantine, potentially worry about their health and getting the COVID-19 virus, social distancing, staying safe along with dealing with a whole new normal in our lives. Some folks are now working from home and hadn’t been, spending more time alone or more time with family, some are teaching kids.. so many situations that all of us may not be used to.

So, wouldn’t this be a perfect time to reach out to folks?

Bottom line

Let’s utilize this FREE service of social media, for good, and for doing what it was intended for – keeping in touch with people when we can’t even see our bestie across town! This is a great time to work on your business and for building, creating or foster new or old relationships with your clients, customers and friends.

Let’s make social media work for us.. not against us. If you don’t like something, you don’t have to comment, just scroll on by. Don’t get pulled in by negative Nelly! Share love not hate!

Can I help?

I can’t really help you build those relationships but if you are looking for a business that offers a service you need, please let me know and I’ll see if I know someone who offers it. If you are in need of help with your business, like building your website, optimizing your website so you show up in search engine results where your customers and competitors are searching and get more eyes on your website, please contact me.

~Kristen

Kristen Day

CEO/Founder of A Visual Business

Kristen is a small business owner and thus dedicated to other small business owners by helping them improve their online presence with search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing and pay per click advertising all of which are necessary 'evils' in the digital marketing sphere but enables small business owners the opportunity to compete with larger companies. When not in the digital arena, you can find her riding her Honda VTX1300 or drinking a margarita.