APE May 2021 | Page 42

MONICA PITTS
MARKETING MATTERS

Connecting

Outside the Show Using SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS

MONICA PITTS

T his article is not one of those “ what you should be posting about on social media ” bits . When you ’ re posting things on your social media page that ’ s like putting up a trade show booth . And we both know just putting up a booth doesn ’ t make the sale . It ’ s the conversations you have at the booth or at the booth ’ s of others that build relationships and eventually close business .

When you network in person you have a conversation one-onone . And that ’ s what we ’ re missing right now . So I am going to explain how I use social media as a business owner , a salesperson , and as a representative of my company to connect with people in a similar way to how I would be connecting with people at a trade show .
Facebook and Linkedin are the best networks for this specific strategy .
The networks I find easiest to connect one-on-one are Facebook and LinkedIn . I ’ m not saying you can ’ t do it on other networks , I ’ m not suggesting other networks are bad . I ’ m just saying for this specific strategy I find Facebook and LinkedIn work best .
Social media haters - stick with me .
My husband , Mike , always says how much he hates social media . He says people aren ’ t real and they ’ re always just griping or posting randomness . I tell him he ’ s just using social media the wrong way . See , I hardly ever hangout in my own news feed filled with posts from ex-colleagues , high school friends and business acquaintances . That place holds no magic for me .
Get out of your newsfeed and move into groups . I use social media to observe prospects from afar and connect with them using groups . People in social media groups all have a collective interest , and often have a common problem they ’ re trying to solve . I can see the challenges they face as a business and
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