Using Social Media Tools Is A Win Win Baby!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 08:30PM By ShellyB, The Rat Race Rebel
The beauty of using social media tools for attraction marketing is everyone wins. The content creator wins because you have given her content a vote of confidence by leaving a comment. You win because you get exposed to all the other visitors to the site. The site visitors win because they get exposed to many different views on the subject they came there to learn about.
Using these social media tools is a “win win win” situation.
Sites like Squidoo, Better Networker and Hubpages, are some of the best and easiest social sites to use because they not only give you the opportunity to leave a comment you can vote for the content as well. Voting is a HUGE benefit. When your content is voted on it’s yet another sign to the SEO powers that be that this is valuable content and it helps the host site know what content to feature.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the built in social media tools to help you brand yourself at one of our sites… Squidoo.
First off there is the "Favorite It" button.
You'll find this button in the right hand column of each "Lens" (page). In the "Bookmark & Share" section you'll see a link called "Favorite It". All you have to do is click on that link while logged into your Squidoo account and Squidoo will take care of the rest. It places your bio picture along with a link to a list of YOUR lenses right there on the page you are reading.
Your vote of confidence adds value to the person presenting the content you are favoriting and you get a link to YOUR content placed in front of all the folks who visit that page.
The universial social media tool... Comments anyone?
The second easy way Squidoo makes scattering your links around easy is with the guest book/comments sections. When you leave a comment Squidoo automatically adds a link to a list of YOUR lenses attached to the comment you've made. Remember, to use favorite it or to leave comments you'll need a Squidoo account and be logged into it.
No matter what social media tool you are using, remember adding VALUE is the key. Whether it's Squidoo, Facebook, Better Networker or a Blog be sure you ADD VALUE when you leave a comment. These web 2.0 tools are powerful but only if you use them properly. No one will pay any attention to worthless drivel or spam.
So get out there and learn to make use of these social media tools. Done properly, you will surf along the internet leaving a trail of content and back links behind you. This builds your brand by bringing you to the attention of others interested in the same topics you are. By definition, if people are reading and commenting on the same articles you are, this is a crowd of people interested in what you are doing. In the process you add value to the sites you visit by leaving a thoughtful comment.
Shelly Begarowicz is The Rat Race Rebel and creator of Network-Marketing-News. She shows "Every-Day-Folks" how to get off "The Hamster Wheel" and Join The Party.
You CAN build an Internet Empire of your very own on the shortest of shoestring budgets and Shelly can help. Social Media, Web 2.0 Tools and Attraction Marketing is the name of the game. Are You Ready To Play?
Return from Social Media Tools to Social Media home.
Reader Comments (8)
Let's Party
Hi Shelly,
Just like going to a party, social media is not a place to throw out what you have before you even ask them about themselves. When you are invited to a party, you walk around and meet people. You chat, get to know them a little bit. Ask about their family, recreations and such. You won't even mention your business. The idea is to mingle.
So it is with social media. Social being the main word. Meet people, get to know them, what they do and so on. This is about them.
When you are commenting on peoples stuff, like Shelly said, make it relevant. Really say something that indicates that you really did read their article. Just putting, "great article" means nothing and is usually an indicator that you didn't really read it. Many people think that people that do this are just doing so for the back link and the exposure. Problem with that is we can see through that sort of activity and we will usually ignore them.
Thanks for the article, Shelly. Important one!!
Michelle
Everybody wins. What a great way to get attention and value for yourself while at the same time giving value to others. Working together makes a difference.
Thanks for the tips.
Commenting and Participating
Shelly,
I just love how you wrote this. Reading and commenting and participating in others work is fun because it is a win, win, for all. What could be better. Helping yourself and helping others just brings the cream to the top.
Learning how to do this properly is key and like you said, "surf along the internet leaving a trail of content and back links behind you."
Brand Yourself
Not only is using social media tools a win, win for everybody but it's also a great way to brand yourself though out the internet. The more people see your name and your smiling face the more curious they become about what you're doing.
I had no idea what I was I was doing over a year ago when I started commenting on other people's work. I thought it was something that was just cool to do, little did I know what an important part of social media marketing commenting,voting,digging,favoriting etc. would grow to be.
Nice work Shelly, it's a win, win baby I like that.
Shelly,
I think you'll be hearing about "win-win baby" for a long time. As catchy as it is, it is true about the outcome of participating in social media. It's educational, helpful and rewarding for all involved.
An added bonus is the way certain sites like Squidoo are set up to foster the win-win environment with the aspects you described.
Thanks Shelly!
I really like things that are fun and easy as the same time. Like Share This found on Blogs. Commenting areas are not only great places to carry on conversations but they are great to really find out what your readers are wanting. Many new posts have been born form commenting.
The act of commenting is a powerful move we often forget to do. Sometimes, it's just pure laziness but there are times when we may feel that what we have to say may not be what people want to hear, so we don't comment.
I say, get over it! Talk your piece. If people disagree then it will create a conversation and feedback. Many of the best marketers do just that to get people's response.
As Shelly says, commenting will help to brand you. It's up to you to make sure what you say is value driven and not value drivel.
Great illustration and reminder of the importance of social media in internet marketing.
Much better than the old ways that are used offline :)