Sound Solutions: North Bank Audio Solutions

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Working virtually is great for many of us. Many of us work from home, don’t have to drive to an office and can take off whenever we want.

Here’s the problem: we often forget why we’re doing all of this work.

It’s not just for us - it’s for our clients (or customers, prospects, subscribers…)

So, instead of forcing a new technology or content are excited about, find out what they want and how they want to receive it and go from there.

When it comes to information marketing, here are three ways you can meet your clients where they are:

1. Choose the right subjects. Instead of choosing topics for your blog posts, articles, podcasts, information products and so on that you want to cover, ask them what they want to hear from you or do market research to get this information.
2. Use the right language. Instead of talking about what you can do for them, talk about the results they can get from working with you or buying your products. Use their lingo or industry jargon and use examples they would be familiar with.
3. Use the right medium. Just because you’re excited about your new podcast, doesn’t mean your target market is. Find out how your ideal clients consume information on a day-to-day basis rather than forcing something new on them. Depending on how tech-savvy your clients are, you might have to train them on new technologies before implementing them.

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Social networking is all the buzz nowadays. Many of my clients, friends and colleagues who would have laughed at the idea a year ago have now jumped on the social networking bandwagon. Social networking lingo (apps, tweets etc.) have become commonplace in the coaching and consulting industry and there are even coaches and consultants who specialize in social networking!

I’m going to preface this by saying that social networking, all-in-all, is a great thing and can and does pay off for many people who use it as a viable marketing strategy. I have a client who claims that Facebook is her #2 source of new leads! Great connections have been made on social networking sites and they are a fantastic way to stay in touch with people you meet at events or clients and friends who live in different parts of the country or world.

But - with any new craze, approach social networking with due skepticism. Remember the “Dot Com Boom” of the late 1990’s? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Here are some social tips to ensure that you don’t become a “social networking sucker.”

1. If you’re treating it as a part of your online marketing strategy, treat it just like you would any other tactic. Make sure that you’re planning your social networking campaigns and then testing and tracking the results. Focus on what achieves results, not what some faux guru says you should do.
2. Consider the return on investment with each “social networking venture.” Even though social networking is free in terms of dollars, it’s not in terms of your time. Is there another way you could be marketing your business that could be delegated or automated more easily? Is there another strategy that could be completed in less time? Is there something else that your business depends on that you’re putting off because it’s not as fun as playing with your Facebook profile or posting on Twitter?
3. Set aside time for social networking and don’t play with while you’re doing other things. This is something that I have a particularly hard time with myself. It’s important to make an effort not to multi task or piddle away too much valuable time with social networking.
4. Keep in mind that social networking sites are there for a reason - to make money (not for you, for them.) They are designed to be fun and addictive, not necessarily with your business’s best interests in mind.
5. Don’t get caught up in the flavor of the week. There are new social networking sites popping up all the time. Before setting up an account and investing your valuable time with one, see who’s using it and what kind of results they’re getting. You’re better off sticking with a few sites than having to manage dozens of different memberships.
6. Automate and delegate as much as possible. Have an assistant go through and complete tasks you find yourself doing all the time (approving comments, posting blog posts, accepting friend requests, conducting research etc.) If you are using multiple social networking tools at once, use a service like http://www.hellotxt.com to update your status in all of them in one swoop rather than doing each one manually.
7. Always be asking yourself these questions:
   • Am I doing this because it’s working or because it’s fun?
   • Is this the best use of my time right now?
   • Do your ideal clients or business partners actually “hang out” on social networking sites?
   • If so, are you following the proper etiquette when contacting them?

Make sure to follow these tips when you’re using social networking sites and you’ll be sure reap all the benefits of this new technology without falling victim to “social networking suckerdom.”

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Hi Folks,

This is a new business blog for North Bank Audio Solutions. Here we will post marketing tips, client success stories, reviews, suggestions, questions etc. The focus of the blog is marketing, new media, and what it means for your business. Check back soon and often. Why not click on the RSS link above to subscribe with your favorite feedcatcher? That way, you’ll know when we post something new.

For more audio tips in a delicious, easy to consume audio format, check out the North Bank Audio Solutions Podcast.

Best,

Caleb Scoville
North Bank Audio Solutions

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