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4 Steps to Streamlining Your Communication

By: Mike Greco

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A business owner who is trying to build a social media presence may eagerly set up a dozen or so social media profiles, build a blog, manage a website, and then try to stay on top of it all. Not to mention, they have a business to run. Ultimately, they're over-extended. People may be trying to communicate with them via Twitter, or Facebook, or email, and the business owner is falling too far behind in replying or commenting. Not because they are lazy, but over-burdened.
It's important to use social media as a tool to help your business, not harm it. Social media can increase the ease and reach with which you can communicate with current and potential customers/clients. But it can also be a dominating never-ending glob of tweets, comments, and friend requests. If business owners aren't careful, they can flush their social media image down the toilet, fast. And it's hard to build trust and do business when you smell like that!
Streamline Your Communication
Step 1: Prioritize!
With over a hundred-channels to choose from, I suggest selecting only about 5-8 communication channels on top of your typical phone/fax lines. I'm a fan of Facebook & Twitter, especially for retail establishments and restaurants. They work seamlessly with each other, and provide an instant buzz, which works great for timed promotions.
Have a specific email address or web contact form that enables people to ask questions of all types. Be committed to spending 15-30 minutes each day responding to each and every question. If email isn't a possible platform for you to be able to do this in, then find one. It's important that people can trust that they can get a response from you.
Step 2: Determine the purpose.
Ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish with each channel of communication? Each channel should have a deliberate and clear objective. As an example:
* Use your phone for all business transactions. It's going to take more than just a button to get the deal done.
* Your Facebook Fan Page can be used for relationship building and some prospecting.
* LinkedIn can be a place to network with other businesses and professionals to gain some referrals and credibility.
* Blog comments help you interact and be seen as an expert in your industry. Plus, it can drive some traffic to your site or blog.
* Twitter can be used for just promotions, or maybe you just send semi-personal tweets to your community.
Step 3: Communicate how you will communicate.
Let the people know which channel is ON and which is OFF. If you're bad on replying to company emails, direct them to becoming a fan on Facebook, where you are connecting more frequently. Have this information available on each communication platform. Inform then in an email signature that they can get promotions via twitter. Send a tweet that they can always call you when they're ready to move forward.
Step 4: Consider deleting accounts you don't use.
If a profile has out-dated information, old pictures, and/or past-promotions it's time to re-think things. Is this profile generating income, traffic, interest in any part of your business? If it is, then go back to Step 1 and be sure to include this channel in your priorities. If it isn't, ask yourself, why do you even have a profile on the site? What function does it serve?
Remember, a dead, out-dated, unresponsive profile is the curse of social media. It'll work against you. Better to be a non-presence than to be a once-was-here.
Here's my point:
Social Media is the new standard for communication. It will only increase, never decrease in it's efficiency and public acceptance. However, that doesn't mean that each business needs to use every social media channel out there. Be being a little strategic about the matter, business owners can gain a great advantage in their communication efforts.
Use the tool of social media. Never let those tools use you. If something isn't working for you (even if it's Facebook), go ahead and drop it. But call me first before you do...I want to help.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Mike Greco runs BigSquidMedia, a local social marketing company that teaches small business owners how to develop and sustain a creative and effective social media presence relationships. You can connect with Mike personally at his blog BigSquidMedia.com, on Twitter @MPGreco, or on Google Buzz.

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