In this particular conversation, we were talking about working a structured referral strategy. What I mean by structured is that you are actively “working” referral relationships and NOT to makeing them this wonderful surprise! Referrals are a result of your customers and contacts selling for you. Read more…

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What are you doing with all those digital or virtual relationships that you’ve built up over the months or years on social media?  If you’re still asking yourself the question of how social media is going to make you money or help you reach more customers, chances are you’re not doing enough to make that happen.  Not because you don’t want to – but because it takes a little practice to figure out just how social media can work and fit into your marketing plan.

In our tweet chat on the relationship between social media and PR, there was consensus that the two worked together, enhancing the strength of the other; social media with authentic relationships and PR with communicating a message and a story.

Yet we all know that social media creates a value beyond that, but we haven’t quite worked out the leverage formula.  I’m going to start one here.  Please feel free to add on and provide your tips in the comment area.

1. Set marketing goals around your social media tools.  First comes the goal, then comes the tool that helps you achieve it.  Once you’ve gone through that process, you can look at the tool and see in what ways you can leverage that tool to reach your marketing goals.  For example; one of my marketing goals is to be a resource of expertise for my clients.  I primarily use LinkedIn for this objective.  So, I make sure that I have some kind of relationship with my LinkedIn contacts. I want to know who they are, what they look like, what they are good at.  I’d like to have a conversation with them over the phone, etc.  I want to know who they are and how I can refer them.
2. Conduct “referral meetings” online or on the phone.  Social media will increase your sphere of influence – but not if you haven’t taken the extra step of getting to know the people you’re connected to.  The easiest way to do this is daily.  If you reach out to someone you don’t know and want to add them to your LinkedIn or Facebook account, then make sure you schedule a phone or live meeting if you can.
3. Look for opportunities to work together. This is something that’s often overlooked.  It’s one thing to talk about what each of you is looking for, but another to talk about what opportunities you can create together by merging your areas of expertise.

I’ve been putting this process to work over the last few months and it has yielding more opportunities that I can schedule in the short term.

How have YOU leveraged your social media relationships to create new opportunities?

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I’ve had this question in my mind for quite a while; What is the relationship between social media and PR?  I’ve always felt unskilled at PR, yet social media excites me.  And as I looked at which kinds of people were picking up on social media and how firms were using it – I noticed that it seemed to fall into the “PR” category.  But I’m not a PR expert.  So I decided to take my curiosity to Twitter and to a couple PR and media relations professionals Chrissanne Sternal of @SternalMrktg and Scott Bradley.  @ScottBradley is the social media master behind the @TPEntrepreneur (Toilet Paper Entrepreneur) Brand of books, seminars and cult following.

Here is a summary of our discussions:

Q1. What’s the relationship between social media and PR?

SternalMrktg: @DIYMarketers Social Media is a great way to supplement your PR and can do great things to build ur brand #DIYMKT

t_s_f: SM and PR work hand in hand. Use the tool that works best for your firm and clients.

bradfordshimp: Q1 – Social media is a great place to connect with and get to know news people. #diymkt

ScottBradley: The relationships between social media and PR is that one supports the other #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q1: Social media removes the traditional media filter in PR. With SM u can speak directly to ur audience. #DIYMKT

jamesdadd: #DIYMKT Social media creates communities, PR targets communities.

dslatter: Q1 social media adds the opportunity for dialog to a PR camapaign #diymkt

SternalMrktg: @DIYMarketers I believe Social Med is about building relationships, for PR, for Mrktg & w customers #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q1: With Social you can get your message directly thru without the press controlling the message. #DIYMKT

wordpost: SM allows PR to extend the reach of a message and personal relationships in a way that wasn’t possible before #DIYMKT

t_s_f: Both SM and PR are about building and maintaining relationships. They just do it in different ways. Both are very effective. #diymkt

mcolacurcio: Q1: SM allows you 2 communicate directly w/ communities. PR engages the experts to add that third-party voice. #diymkt

Q2. What are your tips for integrating social media and PR?

SternalMrktg: @DIYMarketers Social Media enables virtually everyone to become their own PR person by connecting w media on facebook & twitter #DIYMKT

jamesdadd: #DIYMKT hardest part of PR to an SM community is your messaging mix, too much PR and they will turn off, just enough and they will adopt you

ScottBradley: If you want to integrate social media and PR…figure out your backend marketing funnel FIRST before anything else #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q2: Approach your press releases like u do ur blogs/Web sites. Make sure SEO is a big part of press releases. #DIYMKT

dslatter: Q2 keep ‘media speak’ for PR, just be authentic when using SM #diymkt

SternalMrktg: Q2: Be very mindful of the keywords and anchor tags you use in your social media press releases. #DIYMKT

bradfordshimp: Q2 – Social media helps push PR to new and unique places – as in you don’t know where it will be picked up and by whom. #diymkt

SternalMrktg: Q2: Integrate by connecting with media ppl on Twitter & engage in convo w them so you can build a relationship #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: @bradfordshimp So true, instead of just traditional media picking it up, now bloggers & others can pick up ur story #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q2: Don’t just blatantly pitch media on Twitter, but DO engage w them. Ur chance to pitch will make itself available #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: Leverage web 2.0 technology for traffic to places on the web…not making direct sales (Biggest mistake people make with SM) #DIYMKT

jamesdadd: #DIYMKT You have to get adopted by the community, foster relationships, friends and give something back don’t just push a message

ScottBradley: Once you know where you are pushing traffic…then figure out what you want people to do next….Opt-In to a list/join RSS feed etc. #DIYMKT

dslatter: Q2 use SM to engage people at each major touchpoint between u and your customers/target will enhance PR activities #diymkt

SusieSharp: Be known for being source of useful info… ppl want VALUE from communication, time 2 imp for nonsense tweets #DIYMKT

mcolacurcio: Q2: Have a focused message in both forms of outreach (SM & PR) otherwise you may muddle your identity. #DIYMKT

Q3. What are the biggest social media mistakes that hurt your reputation?

SternalMrktg: Q3: If you use social media the wrong way, it can hurt your reputation. Don’t just use SM to sell to people. #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: The biggest mistake that most people make with social media is trying to “Marry Customers” On the first exposure #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q3: Use traditional rules, too. Make sure ur cognizant of not saying anything that will offend certain publics. #DIYMKT

jamesdadd: @DIYMKT Mistakes, appear as an automated messager, little or no interaction, and not giving back

wordpost: Q3: social media spam is the easiest and fastest way to kill your image.

Q4. How do you bring an offline community online?

dslatter: Q4 show the offline community that SM is relevent- its about content AND conversation #diymkt

bradfordshimp: @DIYMarketers Q4 – You can bring offline communities online, but you need to plan on some real training time. #diymkt

Q5. What’s your favorite tool for managing your communities? Is there one or do you use many?

SternalMrktg: Q4: Make it easy for them to understand. Facebook is a great entry for many since they already use it on personal level. #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers I love tweetdeck, hootsuite, e-mail, facebook, twitter, linked in #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q5: I use so many and I’m always trying new ones. Tweetdeck & Hootsuite r great for managing twitter efforts #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q5: After building a relationship on twitter, I like adding new ppl as LinkedIn connection. Easier 2 keep track of their profile #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: @DIYMarketers I use TweetLater’s tweet alerts. Enter keywords that r relevant to ur biz and get alerts via email daily or hourly #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers I think another one is tweetbeep or tweetlater that you could use for alerts #DIYMKT

Q6. Where can we go to learn about using social media as a PR tool?

SternalMrktg: Q6: I like this blog post by @prsarahevans talking bout PR and social media http://tinyurl.com/6gohcz (expand) (some grt tips) #DIYMKT

dslatter: @DIYMarketers Q6 learn it all right here! #diymkt

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers I recorded an 80min teleseminar about using social media effectively http://www.budurl.com/smtele #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: @dslatter Great point, join many chats on Twitter to see what new trends are happening. #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q6: Also follow @skydiver to get tips on stories media working on via his Help A Reporter Out service (HARO) #DIYMKT

wordpost: Q6: here is a great collection of 23 social media case studies http://bit.ly/RrcEx (expand) #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q6: You never know where a PR opportunity is going to come from. Getting Twtter keyword alerts can help. #DIYMKT

Q7. If you could only do 2 PR tactics what would they be?

SternalMrktg: Q7: #1 I would definitely do a SEO-enhanced press release to drive traffic to your blog/Web site. #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers Facebook group + Youtube Videos #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q7: Tactic #2 PR tactic would b to learn how to pitch ur company in 140 characters for when u CAN pitch on twitter. #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: @DIYMarketers I’ve switched to Hootsuite for scheduling future tweets, a little easier/quicker to set up #DIYMKT

Q8. What should each of us to RIGHT NOW to improve our PR with social media tools?

SternalMrktg: @ScottBradley I also follow my clients keywords to join in the convo and see what people think about their brand #DIYMKT

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers Find a way to build a community of people around specific interests for your NICHE…then build that relationship ASAP #DIYMKT

SternalMrktg: Q8; I aggree w @ScottBradley Build a community, of reporters, bloggers & target customers for ur industry #DIYMKT

dslatter: Q8 use PR to create a reason to have a dialog/interaction with you, forget about selling to them
#diymkt

ScottBradley: @DIYMarketers Feel free to listen to my 80 min teleseminar helping you with SM Marketing http://www.budurl.com/smtele #DIYMKT

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In today’s #DIYMKT Tweet Chat we confronted the issues of connecting with customers.  We all know it’s good to connect with customers, but actually doing it leaves most of us a little confused.  

What does connecting with customers mean?

Laurie Burkons (@burkonsconsult) said “Connections are mutually beneficial. Reaching out is one-sided, although the first step in making connections is reaching out. “ That’s helpful because when we use the word “connect” we’re thinking MORE about a sort of emotional connection, instead of mass mailing or even a newsletter.  We’re using the word “Connection” to allude to building relationships.

Cool Ideas for Connecting with Customers using Twitter

I did a little snooping on the internet and found some ways that both larger and smaller businesses were connecting with customers:

• A bakery in the UK (Albion in Shoreditch (@albionsoven)) actually twitters their followers when fresh bread comes out of the oven!
• Koji (A Korean BBQ) has a truck that roams around LA and promotes its location via Twitter
• @nathanegan: Make it as easy as possible for clients/prospects to follow you (put your handle everywhere) – great business will happen!

Best Tools for Connecting with Customers

• @nathanegan: Human Capital SEO – Empowering workforces with a protocol for social presence, blog out soon, subscribe: http://bit.ly/tYb2
• Use www.whistletree.com and schedule regular webinars and training sessions where you can share best practices.

How to Use Twitter to Connect with Customers

• @nathanegan: Make it as easy as possible for clients/prospects to follow you (put your handle everywhere) – great business will happen!
• Schedule a Tweet Chat.  Pick a hashtag keyword, pick a day and time and have a chat around key issues in your industry.

Why are We Afraid to Connect with Customers?

• @nathanegan: We don’t want hear what they would actually say! Social media levels the playing field of sitting back on your past successes

Here are two questions that we didn’t have time to address on the tweet chat:

• One Way to Connect that I’ve Wanted, But Haven’t Figured Out How
• How do you know you’re connected and not just reaching out?

Tell us what your best tips are for connecting with customers!

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Today marks exactly the 33rd time this month I’ve told someone to get their brand online.  That’s an average of once a day that I have this conversation.  It all starts with how to connect with a targeted audience.  Then it moves on to the inevitable cost of marketing and finally ends with my asking how much time and effort they’ve spent in giving themselves, their name, their company name and brand — online.

Getting online USED to just mean having a web site.  But a web site is not enough.  You need a web site, a blog, a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  And there is so much more.

Check out my latest article on HPs Small Business Marketing Guide Blog for a detailed to-do list on how to give your brand a better presence online and get more, better, profitable customers as a result.

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Download of Tweet Chat : The Living Marketing Plan

Have you adjusted your marketing plan for this economy?

Did you see it coming?

Did you get your budget slashed?  What have you done about it?

Do you have a quick and dirty marketing planning system that you use?

What’s the most creative adjustment that you’ve made to your makreting plan and how did it turn out?

All these topics and more on Monday’s #DIYMKT chat

Join us Mondays 11:30am – 12:30pm EST.

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Have You Seen The Hashtags? (it looks like a number sign or the pound key)

If you’ve been using Twitter lately, you may have noticed tweets with hashtags in them.  They look something like this: #sbbuzz, #DIYMKTG, #brandchat, etc.  Don’t be alarmed, there’s nothing wrong with your computer.  

 The Birth of the Hashtag

 The use of the hashtag on Twitter started on September 18, 2008.  It was created by journalists in St. Louis who were looking for a way to group the tweets about the Vice Presidential debate.  They started using #vpdebate as part of their tweets. 

Since then, the hashtag has grown exponentially in popularity; mostly as a keyword tag so that people who are at a shared event can ultimately group these conversations together.

Tweet Up, Chat, Discuss and Brainstorm — Here’s How

I’ve been invited to lots of local Tweet-Ups.  I’ve been to some, but it’s often tough to fit in a drive across town either in the morning or the evening.  Now, you can get together with a group for a virtual party using th hashtag and your choice of third-party Twitter tools such as TweetChat or TweetGrid.  Here’s how to pull it together.

1. Decide on a hashtag (tag, keyword) #DIYMKT is one I created for our DIYMarketers community.
2. Head over to http://twitter.com/hashtags and follow them. (If you currently don’t have a twitter account, just go to www.twitter.com and click on “join the conversation.”  Create your profile and you’re ready to go.
3. I would also recommend that you create a blog page as a summary of your Tweet Ups and updates for the group.  Here is the example I’m following: http://sbbuzz.biz/ Notice how they’ve done a terrific job in giving you a real flavor for what their group is about and also wonderful instructions as to how to join and participate.
4. The next thing you want to do is head over to www.tweetchat.com where you can create a chat room with your designated hashtag.  They will ask you for your twitter name and password.  It will take you to a page that looks just like your Twitter home page.  It will ask you for the “room to enter”  this is where you put in your hashtag i.e. #DIYMKT.
5. Another option is to use TweetGrid.  TweetGrid allows you to follow multiple hastag’s and accounts all on one screen.  It’s a terrific way to manage and participate in several conversations.
6. Now it’s time to promote.  Nothing big and fancy necessary here – simply invite a few friends, give them the hashtag and tell them to tell their friends and so on.  You may not have a huge audience at first, but give it time.
7. Rinse and repeat.  The power of these tweet chats and virtual parties is in having them regularly, because not everyone can come all the time and your community will grow over time.

Be on the lookout for #DIYMKT chat coming your way next week.  Start a chat of your own and leave the details as a comment on this post.

What other chats are your favorites?  Tell us here.

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If you’ve been building your business by referral, then you’ve probably been wondering how to fit in all these wonderful social media and connection tools into your system.  If you haven’t quite figured it out – don’t fret.  You’re not the only one.  There are probably hundreds of social and networking tools out there and you could spend a lifetime trying to figure them out.  But you don’t have to.  I’ve been playing with them for a while and narrowed it down to the critical few: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  There are my core social medida tools and here’s how I use them to complement my face-to-face referral system.

Use LinkedIn as Your Virtual Resume

If you haven’t already, then please go and create your profile on LinkedIn.  This is your virtual resume and when someone mentions your name in a conversation or e-mail, chances are good that this person will head over and either Google your name or search for you on LinkedIn — it would be good for them to find something.

• Fill out your profile 100% and post a professional looking picture (they have a little guage there that will tell you when you are 100% complete.)  Don’t forget to list the different roles you’ve held – you can post them as positions.  For example, I’ve written a book (Excel for Marketing Managers), so I have “author” as a position, as well as blogger.  So get creative.

• Write and call people with whom you’ve interacted online to bridge the gap between a virtual relationship and a “real” relationship.  A phone call or meeting is still more powerful than an online relationship.  I used to only connect with people I’ve met.  You can see how lomiting that is.  I’ve started calling and running referral meetings with people I only know online.  This brings them out of the virtual world and into reality.

• Let LinkedIn run through your outlook at search out any existing LinkedIn members. You’ll be surprised how many of your friends and collegues are already there.  I recommend you simply send an invite to all of them.  They’re already on there and they’ll be happy to connect with you.  LinkedIn will also ask you if you want to invite others from your book – check those people MANUALLY – otherwise it will spam your whole contact list.  I’ve done that – it’s painful.

• Search for collegues from companies you’ve worked with. Then search for people you went to college with.  This is a creative way to find and reconnect with old friends and connections.

• Join a Group or Create a Group. You can search groups that are in your areas of interest (like Marketing) or create groups for special topics or organizations.  Participate and connect with people you’ll be amazed at the referrals.

• Ask and Answer Questions. LinkedIn has a Q&A feature.  Ask questions, then connect with the people who answer by phone.  Answer questions and connect with the person who asked.  Be sure to share what you do and who your ideal client is — as well as asking them the same.

Have Fun on Facebook

Facebook is a more casual space.  If LinkedIn would be considered a work space, then Facebook would be considered Happy Hour.

• Make sure you have a photo – a more casual one. People want to see you being you.  This doesn’t have to be some fancy photo – in fact lots of people change theirs frequently.
• Get Personal. Facebook is where people want to know a little more about you – people who are connected to you will be able to see what you’re doing and get to know you on a more personal level.  How personal?  if you wouldn’t tell your husband, wife or mother — don’t put it on facebook.  Every now and then hop over to your facebook page and tell people what you’re working on, reading or doing.
• Link your blog posts and other feeds. Facebook has the ability to link your Twitter tweets and blog posts and posts from your favorite blogs on your page – so do that.
• Start a Group.  DIY Marketers has a group on Facebook – it’s more casual and conversational there.  People will join your Facegroup book that won’t join or subscribe online.  So it’s another way to promote and notify people that want to know what you’re up to.
• Have and Event.  Facebook has a cool application that will allow you to register events, promote them and invite people.  Take advantage of that.

Twitter, Tweets and Peeps

You’ve probably heard all you ever want to hear about Twitter.  And you’re still confused about answering the questions “What are you doing?” in 160 characters or less.  This is  a powerful tool for expanding your connections.  If you see a Tweet that leads you to an article on something interesting — then respond and connect with that person.  Get more information and get to know them.

• The Name is the Thing. Make sure you have a good Twitter name.  Use your personal brand name, the name of your blog, or your company.
• Write a keyword friendly bio. People search for people they want to follow.  That means they will use keywords.  So make your bio keyword friendly and searchable.
• Keyword friendly posts/tweets. People will also choose to follow based on what you tweet – so make sure to write tweets with great keywords and headlines.

Cross-Pollinate Face-to-Face with Virtual Networking

The recurring theme here is crossover.  If you are at a networking event and collect cards – search those people out on LinkedIn and Facebook – then invite them to connect.  Now you will always have them in your “rolodex.”

If you’ve met someone online – then make an effort to meet them over the phone or even Skype web cam.  Take a virtual contact and make them real.  This crossover activity will not only exponentially increase your referral connections, but people will become more memorable and stay connected if you invest the time to keep things updated.

Replace Your Business Address with a Virtual One

I’ve used Moo.com to create a new business card that has all my virtual ID’s on them.  I put my mailing address in my e-mail signature and all my digital addresses on my business card.

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“Snap out of it!” This is what Cher says as she slaps Nicholas Cage right after he tells her he loves her in Moonstruck.  It’s one of my favorite lines of all time.  It’s the reality check they both needed.  Without that 1-2 slap, they would have wallowed in self-pity.  But instead, they move on doing what they have to do to find true love.  Ahhh Hollywood Romance!

If you’re a DIY Marketer and you’re still stinging with that “What the F___” feeling of having  your strategy slapped, perhaps it’s time for you to pull out all the stops, get off your ass and give it the old 1-2 punch. For that, I’m recommending Guy Kawasaki’s new book “Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition” and Mike Michalowicz’s new book ” The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur“

How to Put “The Art of Schmoozing” Chapter to Use TODAY

In the book, Guy gives a short and sweet list of what to do – I’m going to expand with a how-to do it.

1. Understand the goal : “Discover what you can do for someone else.”  Start every conversation focused on what the other person needs and why that’s so important to them.  Tailor your offerings in those terms.  Have your first question to them be something like “What are you working on right now?” or “Is there something or someone you’ve been trying to get, but have been unsuccessful?”
2. Get out. You can’t schmooze from an office – meet people.  Harness the 1-2 punch of meeting real-life people and re-connecting with them using LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or vice versa.  If you’ve connected with someone using social media – reach out to them first with an e-mail, then phone.  Respond to questions on LinkedIn, participate in your groups, help when and where you can.
3. Ask good questions then shut up. Ask and answer at least one question a week on LinkedIn.  Stop lurking in all your online groups and start a meaty discussion.  Build a conversation and see where it takes you.  In real-live conversations, ask and listen.  A group I interact with calls iit “Golden Listening”  – listen for the Gold.
4. Unveil Your Passions: Lead with your passion not just your business.  Find a way to combine a hobby with your business.  If you love photography, use your pictures in a creative way in your marketing materials.  HP Creative has wonderful templates you can start on NOW.
5. Read voraciously. You need a broad base of knowledge and the ability to access information.  You’ve already started this one, by picking up these two books.  Now, pick out just one thing (like I did here) and start implementing.
6. Follow-up. Great schmoozers follow-up within 24 hours. Most people don’t follow-up at all.  Get creative with your follow-ups.  Try a handwritten note. Send a song – I created a Valentine’s Day playlist from my iPod for my clients to use with their sweeties. Traveling?  Send post cards.  Make your follow-ups memorable.
7. Make it easy to get in touch. … don’t provide your contact info in gray 6-point type “This is great if you’re schmoozing teenagers, but if you want old rich, famous, and powerful people to call or e-mail, you’d better use a big font so they can read your business card.”  OK – there is not much more I can add to this.  Have more than one kind of business card.  If you work for a company, use your corporate card.  Click over to Moo and let some of your creative side shine through. They now offer full-sized business cards where you can use photos or text to differentiate yourself – all at a low price.
8. Give favors.  We’re right back to being other centered.  You have to give to get.  But giving to give is an amazingly empowering feeling.
9. Ask for return of favors. Don’t be afraid to ask.  I asked Guy Kawasaki for a testimonial.  He said no.  I asked him for a re-tweet, he said no.  I offered to write YET ANOTHER review/application of Reality Check worthy of a retweet – he said ok.  The only thing holding you back is your fear.  You can’t afford that.

Get Down to Business with Your Own 3-Sheet Strategy

I know a lot of you DIY Marketers have already done the tele-seminar that Mike Michalowicz and I did a couple weeks ago.  If you hadn’t, then you’re in luck because you can still download it here.  Just glance over to the right and get your on-demand session now.

The most powerful set of chapters in this book has to do with the powerfully simple, down and dirty 3-Sheet Strategy that Mike outlines.  The 3 Sheets are: The Prosperity Plan (your vision, mission, mantra) the “Tacking Strategy” – Your 90 day goals and actions, and the Daily Metrics, your very own leading indicator of success.

Get started on this TODAY – so that you can re-define and re-set that marketing strategy that isn’t working.  These sheets will get you focused on the current state of affairs and how you’re creatively going to succeed without spending very much money.

I’ve taken the time to pull a worksheet together that will get you through the process.  Mike has his current, real-life worksheets available as examples you can use as templates.

What do Guy Kawasaki and Mike Michalowicz Have That You Don’t?

Mike and Guy DO.  They don’t just talk, they turn their words into actions.  They ACT on ideas quickly.  They look for ways to bring their opportunities to life.  They come up with solutions and not excuses.  They even have a life and a family.  They have fun making money.  Do you?

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My @DIYMarketers Twitter account has been acting up.  And in my troubleshooting journey I discovered something BRILLIANT: A Twitter Policy.

My Twitter account hasn’t been sending me e-mails about the people who are following me.  In the process, I decided to go and search out some new people to follow and see if I get any of them to follow me and get the notification.  In my search for the term “DIY Marketing”  I discover Rob McNeely.  He’s apparently a famous guy that hosts a radio show called “Startup Story.”  SUPER guy to follow and I wasn’t following him.  Shame on me.

When I clicked over to his web site — I found that it went to a landing page called “Twitter Policy and Philosophy.”

When you realize that this guy has something like 30,000 people following him, you can see why he would have a “policy” for people who are on Twitter.  But why wouldn’t you have a process or policy for your social media anyway?

Create Goals and Objectives Before Policies

The wonderful thing you’ll notice about Rob’s Twitter Policy is that he is very clear on what he uses Twitter for and his policy reflects his social media objectives; he uses it to connect and meet new people.

That said, he’s taken the time to figure out how he wants to relate to Twitter as a medium and he goes point by point to explain:  Here are some snippets that will give you a taste.

1. Privacy

I will respect your DMs. Please respect mine.

2. Content and Subject Matter

Your screen time is valuable. I promise to make my tweets as interesting and non-boring as possible. I am a news junkie and read about a dozen websites and blogs from around the world on a daily basis.5. Spam, Self Promotion, and Commercialization3. Responses, Replies, and Pitches

I will do my best to respond to all @ replies and direct messages. However, due to my limited bandwidth, I may not always get to them, and sometimes, a few will slip by and I may not see them. Please do not take it personally if I do not respond.

I openly accept all pitches for Startup Story Radio, but please use the Startup Story Radio Contact Form to send them to me.

4. Following/Unfollowing

I am very Libertarian when it comes to following people. I look at Twitter like a large cocktail party, and the more people at the party the more interesting it is for me.

I am not big on Twitter spam. I will unfollow and or block you if you are DM spamming me or just keep following me to get me to follow you. I am pretty open to following most people. If I don’t follow you, there is a reason.

Why Stop at Twitter, Create a Policy for LinkedIn, Facebook and all your other Social Media Tools!

A common issue among small businesses and marketers is how little time we have for everything.  If you don’t have policies and rules set up around your social media channels, then you will either get sucked in – or your brand image will suffer.

Here’s a quick Social Media Policy How-To:

1. Define why you are using each social media tool and what you want to get out of it.
2. Tell people how you will behave and what to expect from you.  On Twitter, who do you follow, who do you not follow, etc.  The same thing goes for LinkedIn.  Different people use the tools differently – tell people how you will use this tool.
3. What’s your spamming policy and how do you want people to contact you?  Spam is everywhere.  Depending on how you use your social media channel – you’ll want to tell people where you stand.  We are all busy, tell people how you want to be contact, what you respond to and what you don’t.

Thanks Rob!  This is something we all do, but few have put out in public.

So, I’m curious, what’s your Twitter Policy?

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