February 2010 - Issue 68 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Hello ,

So, how is the year going so far?

I had a great response to last month's Special Offer. Several people signed up for the Time Audit and took advantage of the Feedback Session.

Perhaps a new year is just the time to think about what you want to do differently this year and how you could save more time.  If you didn't get a chance last month - take a look at it this month.

In this month's newsletter I thought I'd focus on Social Media. When I originally wrote about this topic I'd probably only just come across Facebook, and Twitter wasn't even on the horizon.

The early adopters were up there with all the cool kids using Social Media but few people had grasped it as a useful tool for business. In fact there are still those who are either on the fence, just don't get it or don't think its a viable business tool.

There are others who love it and probably spend more time communicating in the virtual world than they do in the real world. It's a great tool but use it as that and don't let it become yet another distraction in your day.

As usual, you can get extra news and tips from my blog www.clareevans.co.uk/blog or Follow me on Twitter and keep up-to-date automatically.

Enjoy the rest of this month's newsletter.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and colleagues.

Social Media is a great marketing tool but you do need to be clear about your reasons are for using it. Otherwise it becomes just another source of distraction and a way to while away the hours.

For several years I was (and still am) a member of several networking sites. At one time there appeared to be a new network starting up every week.

Online networking is a great way to make new contacts, promote what you do, learn and share information to a wider audience. I probably got a lot more from networking than I gave, especially in those early days when it was all new.

I quickly found which ones worked. Which were full of marketers and people in 'sales' mode.  I also made some amazing contacts who have proved to be a great source of information and support.

Twitter is a great way to communicate quickly and easily. You're limited to 160 characters in each message which makes you focus on what you're saying to get the message across.

Make sure that you're not spending/wasting all your online time, by following a few basic principles:

* What is your reason for using Social Media? Are you looking for new business, prospects and clients?

* Who are you going to connect with? Are they your target market, which networks are they most likely to be on?

* What's the next step? Once you've connected with someone or they've connected with you, how do you build the relationship?

* Limit the amount of time you spend. It will help you stay focused. It's easy to get distracted.  Set a time limit and stick to it.

* Plan regular time slots to check, post and respond to your online sites.

* Set targets for your time online. Post xx blogs, connect with xx new members, connect with xx people in my network etc.

* Be selective. Which ones work, which ones don't? You may join several networks but not all of them will give you what you want.

* Be active. Keep your profile up to date, connect with other members, enter into discussion, share information.

* Keep business and personal separate. You might use Twitter and Linked In purely for business and Facebook for family and friends.

* Use the privacy settings to protect what information you share with the wider world. You can mix the two but ...

* ... Be aware, if you have an online presence everything you say and do reflects you and your business. Photos and comments can be seen by prospective clients and employers as well as friends. What gets put out into the online world is there forever.

To find out how to achieve results faster and in less time, download the Time Audit, email me info@clareevans.co.uk or give me a call.

Until next month.



... and any other Social Media network you might find me on.