5 Important Elements of Creating a Social Media Account

You’ve been thinking of signing up for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or any number of other social media sites…but you’re just not sure. How do you find friends and contacts? What does all the jargon mean? Will I understand how to use it once I sign up?

So how do you start…? In the most basic way of course, just sign up for the ones that interest you most or make the most sense for your business. Signing up is free and generally easy to follow but there are some things to consider when doing so. First off, picking a “user name”, If it’s still available it’s always best to use your real name (or some variation of it). You want people to get to know you and be able to find you…right? This is not the place to create a business profile. You are the face of your business and that’s who people want to get to know.

Secondly, your bio, No matter which one you sign up for you, will be asked to tell a little about yourself or your business. Often there is not a strict limit to how much you can say but with groups like Twitter you will be relegated to only 160 words so think carefully about what you want to convey. Be concise and to the point but attempt to be personable and interesting as well. It doesn’t need to be serious like a resume, unless you are signing up for Linkedin which is geared more towards professionals. Write out different bios and get a friend or family member to tell you which one seems most genuine and engaging if you’re not sure.

Third, make sure to fill out your profile as completely as possible. Nothing makes you look more like a newbie than an incomplete profile. If you’re not ready to take the time and fill out the information, put it off until you can. You don’t want people coming to your profile and seeing little or no information. You may only have one chance to get their interest and make a first impression. Also, in case you didn’t know search engines like (Google, MSN, Yahoo, ect…) index social media sites. Social media sites are scanned and indexed by the search engines, just like any other website. Do you really want Google posting an incomplete profile because that’s what people will see when they look for you online. This is another opportunity for you to build your position on the internet, don’t waste it.

Fourth, completing your profile also includes adding a picture. People are there to engage with you and learn what you’re all about, by not including a picture you send a message that you’re not really interested in people getting to know you or that you have something to hide. Many people will not add you as a friend on that principle alone. A current head shot is a must, not one that is 20 years old. I can’t stress this enough. It does matter and it doesn’t have to be a professional one either. I said head shot for a reason. Please don’t use those that don’t really show your face or include several people, your kids, your dog or a logo. Once again people want to get to know you and if your intention for using social media is to help build a list of prospects or brand your business this is a big no-no. People are curious about who they are speaking to and being able to put a face with a name is very important.

Moving on to the Fifth element, let’s talk about finding people to friend. In the beginning it’s best to start with your inner circle, these are the people you currently work with, do business with, went to school with as well as friends or family. This will allow you to get the hang of how the system works before you start inviting people you would like to network with. Once you feel more comfortable with the program you’re using, start looking up industry gurus and people you admire and would like to learn from. Make a list of 25 people you admire and search for them on the site. You’ll be surprised how many of them are on social media sites. From there you can start inviting people in your niche, those you find interesting or think might be a good prospect for you.

If you’re wondering how to find these people the answer is simple – join groups. All social media sites have groups within their sites on hundreds of topics, just type in which type of group you’re searching for and join. Once you’re in these groups you will have access to other members who have something in common with you already or perhaps even a targeted audience.

Now that you’ve covered the basics to getting started, don’t forget to check in and post updates on a regular basis. This too is imperative to the success of your social media plan. Be as helpful as you can. Give more than you get by answering questions, giving advice and sharing interesting links and content. You won’t see success overnight but as time passes you will begin to reap the benefits that only social media can offer.

Remember this is, “social media”. This is a platform that lends itself to developing relationships, creating confidence and getting people to know, like and trust you. This is not a place to bombard people with offers from your new MLM business or nag them into booking a home show for your latest direct sales company. It’s a slow and gradual process, that when done correctly will help you achieve a name for yourself within your niche, help you brand yourself or your products and create contacts and friends who will become your future prospects or customers. Keep in mind; it’s your reputation out there. Make it count.