Selling with Social Media: The Old Fashioned Way in a New Media Day

“Knock, Knock” is the sounds that use to symbolize a salesman’s presence, with a great haircut, suit to match and briefcase in hand.

Although presentation was of importance, it wasn’t exactly what got him in the door; and even though what he was selling may have been what the client was looking for, it would be his persona that would get his pitch heard.

Reviving Old Habits in New Media

Yes, that sounds like a scene from the 1950’s and although years and technology have taken on a predominate role in the way we sell to others, doesn’t mean that the old way of doing so doesn’t still play an important role in how we sell today.

In today’s world, a new media has been born, and although Social Media is the prime way to be seen, old habits die hard. Here are tips on how to apply old ways of selling to a new medium. Like previously stated, presence is a key role in what will appeal to your client, even though it is now online, doesn’t mean that it necessarily goes away.

Presence is everything, whether it is on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. No matter what Social Network you use to promote your business, you need to look stylish, clean cut and always up-to-date. Take a Facebook page for example. No matter what it is you’re trying to sell, that page needs to be maintained, much like a car.

It needs to be appealing, easy to handle and like an oil change, constantly needs to, well, be changed. You need to look active, it can’t just sit in the driveway and expect to run when you see fit in driving it. It needs to be added to everyday, and instead of trying to push a sell, utilize your customer service skills instead. This applies to a blog, a website or any other type of online presence you are trying to accommodate for your potential customer.

People Like To Interact With People

With the new media explosion, this is your time to capitalize on gaining new clients and retaining old ones. Chances are they are looking for you online and you may be unaware of it. What you need to do is make your presence known. Search out every Social Networking site possible and sign-up, use your real name and incorporate your company within, instead of the other way around. Since you should already have a website, you don’t need to name your Social Networks as a business; instead you need to introduce yourself, since people much prefer interacting with people, instead of businesses.

Realize that the people you are interacting with are smart enough to search your page. On the page is where you will list where else they can find you, hence your occupation, business and what your hobbies are. Be sure to include in your hobbies what it is you’re trying to sell, for example, if you sell cars, cars would most likely be a hobby of yours.

Make your page friendly, by chatting with others about various things, this is important, do not just talk about what you’re trying to sell and be sure to not constantly sound like a sales rep. This will be a sure way of finding yourself on the “unfriend” list.

What you want is to have presence that is of a friendly nature, leave it up to those you friend to figure the rest out and they will.

Don’t Mask Yourself

After you have established yourself on all Social Networking sites, it is now time to find people to interact with. Use Twellow (A Yellow Pages for Twitter) and sign yourself up. This way, people will have an easier way of finding you, someone they may share common interests in or perhaps is in need of what your business sells. Here you can also search and friend those that share the same interests as you or your business. This is an easy way to create relationships that have a substance even prior to your first conversation.

Remember, that when you make contact do not sound like your trying to make a pitch and even after creating a relationship, be sure to not bombard him or her with what it is you sell, unless they ask. There is nothing like connecting with someone under a false pretense, many sales people do this and it is what causes them to fail.

Be genuine, and you will see, that overtime people will find interest in you as the person in front of the business instead of behind. Masking will be seen and will cause you and your credibility to be jeopardized.

Your Pages Equal Your New Business Card

Now that you’re Social Networks are up and running, it is important to maintain them. Do not just create and abandon. You need to stay on top of all of them, everyday or every few days at the very least. Your pages have now become your new type of business card. Have everyone that sells from you, online or in real life, know where to find you. Have them be aware that you are online and friend as many as you can.

Facebook is a great place to start, since the demographic is of an older age and a place where you can create a profile for yourself and a page for your business. This is the way to build a community, and to socialize on both. We have been taught that socializing while working; do not go hand in hand, Social Media has proven this otherwise. Chat with people, leave comments, click the like button and show that you are in fact active.

Have Your New Social Media Buddies Feel Special

When you have built up friends, create a page and invite them, create a grand opening sale for example and give an exclusive to your new Social Media buddies. This will entice them to not only fan your page, but to share it as well. You can also now share it on your other Social Networks, Tweet it out, that if they fan your business page on Facebook that they will receive a discount, or whatever it is you are able to give that is extra to only those who take the time to fan or friend you.

Make a short three minute video of this and post it to YouTube, stumble it on StumbleUpon and get the word to spread. You can even create events on Facebook and ask for people to attend, incorporate the launch in real life at your business too. Have your online presence blend into your real life presence and watch them become one in the same. Just remember, you must continue to socialize afterwards.

Be Professional, Fun, and Sociable.

With New Media, you don’t always have to play the sales rep role, just be yourself and create relationships with others. If you remember to share details on your various pages that will let others know what you do, people will remember that as long as you stay active. Have fun while remaining professional and people will flock to you, people like those who can show their fun side and will want to interact.

Asking random questions will get you responses, share tips on what you know or even on the type of things you sell. This way it shows your intelligence on the subject, without it being so in your face. People will appreciate your knowledge and the fact that you were willing to share.

Share Your Business and Socialize At the Same Time

Create lists, for example, if you sell cars; create “top 5 cars of the year” or Affordable Cars lists, create lists that intertwine what it is in fact you do sell. Share something that is not only useful and helpful but always remember to be truthful. Just like offline, people can smell a liar. Throw out a poll every so often like “what do you think is the most popular color on a car”? And list the various colors, one being the actual color and then share which one it is at the end of the day.

Without even realizing it, you are sharing your company and socializing at the same time. Give special offers when you can and entice people to fan or friend you on other sites when possible. Also, when you do get customers or people who inquire, take note of them and give special treatment, this will build a good report with them and that will in turn have them share you with their friends. Mixing business with pleasure will be the sure fire way of getting noticed.

The Old Fashioned Way is Still of Importance Today

Ping, Ping is the new sound that symbolizes a sales person, with a great look, logo and Social Networks in hand. Your presence being presentable will get you seen, although very important, it may not necessarily get you in the door, even if what you are selling is exactly what the client is looking for. Although it is far from being the 1950’s, it will still be your persona, by being active and most importantly, social, that will get your pitch heard even today.

Erin Ryan is a Social Media Devotee, who is very active on various Social Networking sites. By day, Erin is a freelance image designer for various online stores and is currently a Social Media intern. You can contact her via Twitter http://twitter.com/4u2wear2

* * *

Read more about sharing on Social Media Blogs.

Tagged as: social media selling