Promote U Guru Blog

PART TWO: Your A-Z Guide of Social Media and Business Communication

Hi All!

Susan Young, President of Get in Front Communications, Inc.

The following post is a Part Two of a Guest Article courtesy of the wonderful Susan Young! Here’s a reminder about “who” she is: Susan works with professionals who want to supercharge their communication skills, self-confidence and success. She’s the President of Get in Front Communications, Inc., a public relations and communications training company. Susan provides presentations and coaching on sales, Reading Body Language, Emotional Intelligence, public speaking, Social media and news. Visit www.getinfrontblogging.com andwww.getinfrontcommunications.com. Follow Susan on Twitter @sueyoungmedia.

Here is PART TWO of her Guest Post which explains her tips N-Z…

The way you communicate in your business relationships is directly tied to your revenues, reputation and success. Of course Social Media and technology are forcing us to set new rules, boundaries and etiquette.

Here are the ABC’s of Outstanding Social Media and Business Communication:

N is for notice the little things. Someone may Tweet or post a message about their birthday, the flu or their upcoming presentation. A few quick words wishing them good luck, or asking about the topic of their workshop helps build relationships. People appreciate being recognized.

O is for own it. Be passionate about what you do. Your enthusiasm will leak into all of your spoken and written words.  Friends, Followers and Connections will pick up on this immediately. If you don’t own it and love it, it’s time to re-asssess what you’re doing, and why.

P is for professional. Use your profiles, posts and messages in professional ways. Present yourself online to prospects, clients and the world as a top-notch pro who walks the walk and talks the talk. This should be evident in all of your Social Media communication. It must be congruent with your traditional marketing materials, website, articles, and press releases.

Q is for quit trying to sell. If you post a link that offers tips, make sure it leads to a page with the information you promised, not a sales pitch to buy your book or register for a webinar to get the tips.

R is for rapport. Connect with people through your blog, posts, links, articles, e-zines and videos. Give them an opportunity to get acquainted with you. Developing friendships online is similar to real-life friendships. You connect with some people immediately and others take more time. There are a few you will never click with. That’s ok. Go for quality not quantity.

S is for sharing. Share your expertise, insights, wisdom and assistance. That’s what the community of Social Media is all about. Be willing to donate the seeds of your intellectual capital, knowing  you are building a brand and reputation that will eventually take root. In other words, share your smarts but don’t expect an instant Return-On-Investment.

T is for thank you. Express your gratitude and thanks to others who provide helpful information, share your messages, posts and Tweets with their circles, and comment on your blog or Linked In questions.

U is for use everything that’s available. Don’t get nervous. You don’t have to use all of the applications, gadgets, downloads and software at the same time and right now. Commit to learning a new technology or program and build from that. Use these tools to your advantage as you grow your business and online presence.

V is for visuals. Social Media is interactive. There are different ways that people learn and communicate. Use a broad approach to include various styles and age groups. You can post an E-brochure on your site which allows people to see and hear your style and approach.  You can record a video blog or podcast. Get creative!

W is for write with clarity. Whether you are writing a white paper, a short blog post or a question on Linked In, use language that is clear, concise and compelling.

X is for the “X-Ray Approach.”  In order to effectively communicate and relate to people, you’ll need to get inside their heads and emotions. Read their materials, listen to their seminars and ask good questions. You’ll soon be able to diagnose their pain (challenge) and determine if your products and services will be the cure.

Y is for yell if you need any help. People love to help. Periodically toss out your questions or challenges to the crowd and allow them to connect with you. Tap into their experiences, ideas and resources to help with your learning curve.

Z is for zany. Sure I talk about being professional and sharing your personality, but you can let your hair down in a zany and fun way. For example, on Christmas, my blog post was titled “Santa’s Communication Pitfalls.” On Halloween, I blogged about “Scary Customer Service.”  Maybe it’s not totally zany, put you get the picture. It’s ok to have fun!

Communicating online requires us to write the line, walk the line, read between the lines and often tow the line. Are you up for it? It can be as easy as A-B-C.

Thank you, Susan! Loved your Two Part

article and I appreciate your support!

Lisa