Helping businesses establish a practical Social Media Marketing strategy to generate awareness and reach for their business is what Splash Networking is all about.  And since most of our clients weren’t born with a blackberry in their hands, there are a few key points that we would like to resolve about Social Media Networking right from the start.

Let’s first take a look at what we consider “Traditional Media.” We have to ask ourselves, “How does the information travel with traditional media as opposed to social media?” Back in the day people were obtaining information from newspapers and magazines. The direction of the information is straight from a writer or publisher and is so common to us that we might not even notice anymore. It pretty much is one single person communicating to possibly thousands of people, but with little interaction between the narrator and the listeners.

As we start understanding Social Media, the direction and flow of information is between the readers and the writers. Because of the internet, the interaction becomes instant and the domino effect of sharing information can spread extremely far and wide. Now, with users of social media sites contributing the latest news and information to anyone willing to listen, they begin to have a conversation. Very similar to the conversations we have at a local super market or at your job.

Business owners may feel forced into using social media or internet-based communication tools because of the constant buzz in the media about twitter and facebook. They also might feel that they are losing sales opportunities to their competitors because they are not familiar with social media, and create the ultimate error of confusing social media with traditional advertising. Remember that traditional advertising is the few that push out information to the many. No matter how you try to disguise it, advertising never was and never will be the same as having an actual conversation. Advertising may flow up and down, but conversations flow back and forth. If you are bombarding everyone you know on social media with your marketing and media or business messages continuously, you have to ask yourself “who am I talking to?” If the answer to this is everyone at once, then you might already be advertising and not even realize.

So it brings me to my point, what is the secret to this social media thing? Social Media is faster than mailing a letter or a postcard and more interactive then watching your television. Social Media is cheap and seems like the perfect advertising tool, but to use it as just an advertising tool misses the true power of social media. We like to call this power the ‘common ground.’ It is where you and I can share our common interests. Whether you like to talk about your kids or growing up in the same neighborhood, or visiting a favorite restaurant, it all boils down to having something in common, and no matter what it is, you understand each other better to that degree. When you start having a conversation with someone about something you are both passionate about, we are enabled to create a personal, lasting, and genuine friendship. Social Networks aid this instant understanding because you can share so many aspects of yourself in a quick glance.

Social Media should be something that expresses who you are. You have to try to make it personal, but not too personal. The more information you put in your profile, the more aspects there are to resonate with for someone who doesn’t yet know you. People have a much easier time doing business with someone who they like and trust, rather than someone they have never met before.

I hope that I haven’t sounded too complicated because in reality, it isn’t. Social media is that 2 minute conversation you had with someone at the bank and realized that he needed someone like you for their new business venture. Now it’s just a matter of moving that same conversation to an online platform like Facebook or MySpace. It’s the individual and friendly conversations that will forward your business message, because people will like you, and even more importantly, understand you on a level they aren’t even aware of themselves. Social Media Networks are a fun and useful way to share your message with the world. All you need to do is join the network, read the conversations that are already happening, engage where you are interested in or useful to others, give where you can, and be prepared to receive what others might give you in return. You can build a genuine community of new friends, and customers that will last a life time, no matter where you find yourself.