Are you currently using social media to promote your products, services, or opportunity?  If so, how is it working for you?  In society today, it seems everyone is using social media in some way shape or form to promote their businesses.  It’d definitely a good idea, if you ask me.  What I think you’ll want to know is that though social media is a good marketing tactic, it should never be the ONLY method that you use to build your business.  Smart business practice is to use multiple marketing tactics in order to get the most traction and best results.

If you’re using social media…Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc…then there are some best practices that you’ll want to adhere to in order to increase your number of leads generated and financial results.  With that being said, here are a few “Best Practices” to help guide you as you use social media to grow your home-based business:

1.  If you’re in a product or service-based home business whereby sales is the primary objective, be sure to post testimonials from those who are already using the products or have benefited from your services you provide and who have experienced positive results.  People don’t necessarily respond to pictures of products or announcements about the services you provide…(though nice to know)…they will generally only respond to results or the promise of results!  Everyone wants to know what’s in it for them if they use your products or hire you to provide services, so your job is to show them the benefits, and how they will solve the problems of your prospects.  That will get you better results for sure.
2. If you’re in an opportunity-based business centered around a product (as all of them must be), then your job is to promote product testimonies (the results your products provide), AND show them the benefits of the lifestyle they will be able to achieve if they partner with you.  When you travel to desirable destinations, post pictures. When you are out socializing, at restaurants, at the baseball game, or a concert, post pictures so that your prospects can learn more able you and can get a sense for the type of lifestyle you live.  This will inspire them and give them incentive to respond to you when they are ready to learn more about what it is you have to offer.
3. Post to social media often!  Once a week just won’t do it!  Generally, 2-3 times per day per social media account is adequate and will allow you to get the type of visibility and exposure you want for yourself and your business.
4. Use a social media scheduler such as HootSuite to schedule your posts so you can create content in bulk and then distribute it to your prospects over the course of the week.  That works well for busy moms who may not have the time to create content during the week, but can make the time on weekends to do this.
5. Do not SPAM people by posting links to their personal pages that include your company website, product, or opportunity.  This tactic rarely works, and only serves to anger people who didn’t ask to learn more about what it is that you do or provide. You may post them on your own personal pages, but even then, you must remember that it’s more about showing them that you’re someone who they may want to do business with.  You must work to earn their trust.  Only then is it ok to reach out to them to learn more about what you do, and if you do reach out to someone, you must do so through private communication.  SPAMMING people is an absolute NO-NO!
6. Be positive 100% of the time when you post to your social media profiles.  No one wants to do business with a negative or cynical individual.  Do not air your dirty laundry on your pages, and stay away from judgmental or condemning commentary regarding the state of affairs in our country.  It only brings out the negative folks who will be more than happy to continue the conversation on your personal profile.  This will kill your efforts and sabotage any results you were hoping for.

Needless to say, there are many more “best practices”, more of which I plan to address in future blog posts, but these should be adequate to get you moving in the right direction.  As always, if you want to reach out for me for any help, or if you have some of your own that you’d like to add, please feel free to do so.  I’d love to hear from you!

Blessings!