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How to Make Social Media Work for You

There’s no doubt to the popularity of Social Media, and most likely, you know at least someone who uses it on a regular basis.  Yet, what does it mean to be involved and how can you become more successful with using Social Media?

Regardless of whether you have a Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube account, there are some important things you should include in your profile, such as your photo and some basic, public type information about yourself.

Twitter

If you use Twitter, you definitely want to make sure you use your photo and have a short bio, and as you brand yourself on this service, you probably don’t want to change things around too often, especially your photo, as this helps other users to identify with you. Retweets (RT) are great, just be sure that you are also contributing valuable information (from yourself) to your followers. And, if you have your own business, it is okay from time to time to tweet about your opportunity or products, just don’t make a constant habit about doing this as you can become branded as a spammer!  Don’t be afraid to occasionally ask your followers questions, or even respond to a question someone you follow has asked.  Also, Twitter is one of the mediums where I have found that content is more important than popularity – how can you really be social if you are following thousands?  One thing you might discover is that, by being actively and frequently involved in the conversations, and contributing valuable information to your followers, you soon may have more followers than those that you follow. Think about how great will that be!

Facebook

Facebook is an awesome tool to keep up on what your family and friends are up to.  One of the cool things about this tool is the News Feed, where the most recent postings from your friends are listed, and where you can join in on their conversations by “liking” their post and/or commenting.  I have gotten to know some really wonderful people just  from joining in on some of these postings/conversations.  And, as you send requests to add friends, be sure to include a short note on your request so that the person can relate to you (do you belong to the same group/organization or do you have mutual friends). Facebook also has the advantage of being able to establish a Page or Group if you have a business or organization you want to share details of with others, and may be a good option if you’re concerned with privacy issues, and want to restrict who you “friend” with on your personal profile, yet still want to stay connected with general public in order to share your business information.

LinkedIn

I’ve heard LinkedIn referred to as “Facebook for professionals”, and I believe this is true to an extent.  There is a lot of really valuable information you can find, and share, on LinkedIn, especially by joining in on groups.  As there are many different groups, join several that relate to the industry you are in.  These groups share useful information, perhaps even something that you may be seeking an answer to, and likewise, if you have information to share, post it within the group.  It really is all about helping one other succeed. And, if you have a blog, did you know you can feed your blog posts to your LinkedIn profile page?  What a great way for others to get to know you better.

Bottom Line: Doesn’t it make sense that Social Media means to be social – to interact with others?  I believe this is vital in how to become successful using this powerful communication tool, and as you become more involved in the conversations, on whatever social media platform you’re using, you’ll also discover new friends and have fun!

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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 9:09 pm and is filed under Social Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

57 Responses to “How to Make Social Media Work for You”

  1. rebeccahappy
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 7:49 am

    I love social media. It has opened up an entire world of opportunities for me and connected me with wonderful people doing remarkable things around the globe. You have done a great job in this simple overview of getting started and setting and effectively communicating on these different platforms.
    rebeccahappy´s last blog ..Piggy Backing With iPads My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 14th, 2010 at 8:31 am

    Thank you Rebecca! I greatly appreciate your comments ;-)

  2. Julie Elliott Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 9:44 am

    Great Blog post Christine. Being new to blogging and sharing my passions, dreams and thoughts have been a real eye opener. I used to think people will not understand what I am talking about. I soon found out there is hundreds if not thousands that share in the same things. It truly wonderful to have such great tools to share and learn from so many great people. Thank you for the great post, I look forward to learning more from you. Have a great Monday.
    Julie Elliott´s last blog ..Weight Loss Journey week 2 My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 14th, 2010 at 9:55 am

    Thank you Julie! ;-)

  3. Nelson
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Christine, you are one point. Social Media is where it is at. Thanks for an informative post that will only inspire others.
    Nelson´s last blog ..“The Prisoner Exchange” My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 14th, 2010 at 11:34 am

    Thanks Nelson! I appreciate you stopping by ;-)

  4. Clint White
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    What a great post Christine, Your article is as entertaining as it is informative. Social media has opened so many doors of opportunity for me. I appreciate what you mean to our industry.
    Clint White´s last blog ..Article Marketing Tips My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Thank you so much Clint ~ and am glad to know that social media has been of great benefit for you ;-) Christine

  5. Val Wilcox Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Christine,
    Great overview of some of the different social media venues out there. These powerhouses can build followers as long as you use them correctly. Thanks for sharing your tips and ideas,
    Val ;)
    Val Wilcox´s last blog ..It’s All About The Story My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Yes they can! Thank you Val ;-) Christine

  6. Michael Berry Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    Thanks Christine your post pointed out to me that I have not been socializing enough with other groups. Thanks for reminding me of this.

    Michael
    Michael Berry´s last blog ..It Will all Work Out My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:42 am

    I appreciate your thoughts Michael :-) Christine

  7. Nicole Rushin Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    These are definitely relationship building platforms and not spamming platforms. Really good for our industry. It plays right into our hands. Thanks for sharing.

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:43 am

    You’re so welcome Nicole & am glad you enjoyed it :-) Christine

  8. Mary Lou Kayser Says:
    June 15th, 2010 at 11:15 am

    I am helping a woman get her blog set up, along with all of the key social media sites you listed here. It is fun to see the process of getting involved with social media through a “newbie’s” eyes, and this post is valuable for people like her who have basic questions about the value of each site. I will be bringing her into the syndication fold once her blog is up, and this post will be one of the first I send her to! Thanks, Christine! :)
    Mary Lou
    Mary Lou Kayser´s last blog ..The Sweetest Words an Entrepreneur Could Ever Hear My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Wow! I don’t know what else to say except a huge “THANK YOU” to you Mary Lou!!!! :-) Christine

  9. Debbie Stevens Says:
    June 15th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    Hi Christine,

    Social media has definitely opened up a whole new world to me. I appreciate the tips that you have shared here. My favorite tip is that we can feed our blog posts to linked in. I didn’t know that!

    Thanks for being such a valuable resource to those who are blazing trails in social media. Have a great week!
    Debbie Stevens´s last blog ..Getting the Connection My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:46 am

    Hi Debbie ~ I’m so glad to know that my post has been of value to you ~ and you’re very welcome! ;-) Christine

  10. Janette Stoll
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 15th, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Good stuff, Christine! Social media is definitely here to stay but unfortunately people misuse it and hence they feel it’s not working for them. Great tips!

    Janette
    Janette Stoll´s last blog ..Another product launch? How to use it in marketing your network marketing business My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:47 am

    Thanks Janette! Means a lot my friend ;-) Christine

  11. Debbie Lattuga
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 15th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    I think lots of people have forgotten that social media is supposed to be social. Thanks for simplifying the arena. I recorded this for you, Listen!
    Debbie Lattuga´s last blog ..Do You Focus on the Problem or the Solution? My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Hi Debbie! Okay…you have to share with me how you do the recording…that is TOO COOL!!! Thank you so much for your thoughts about my post this week :-) Christine

  12. Lesly Says:
    June 16th, 2010 at 6:50 am

    Christine,
    I know a few people (like my husband) who refuse to tap into the resources social media can provide for business growth. I love it, I have a lot of fun with it. I am just amazed that you can communicate with someone in Germany, or just about any other country… technology amazes me. You put forth a good discussion of social media… and I would not have met you if it were not for social media! :-)
    Lesly´s last blog ..What Numbness Does My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Hi Leslie & you are so right, I feel the same way, that social media is world wide & I am making such wonderful connections that I never before thought possible via social media! I truly appreciate you and the information you share with me :-) Christine

  13. Joanna Sayers
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 17th, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Hi Christine,
    I love your articles! A great reminder for me to get my linkedin profile up to date..thank you!

    Joanna :)
    Joanna Sayers´s last blog ..Pace Your Race My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 17th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Thank you Joanna! ;-)

  14. Spencer
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 17th, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Christine,

    Great post on social media. I think a lot of people get caught up in the numbers game (especially on Twitter and LinkedIn). I have been frustrated by the amount of personal messages I send out on LinkedIn only to be left with an “Accepted Invitation”, but no message back. I found your blog because you re-tweeted my post this morning from @TMRDirect about checking email or Facebook first. Glad to have found you.

    Spencer

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 17th, 2010 at 10:40 am

    Hi Spencer, I appreciate you replying back to my RT of your tweet…for me, it can be frustrating when I do genuinely attempt to interact with people I follow on Twitter & never get any sort of reply/interaction back. Unfortunately, I think too many of us are caught up in getting info out there that not enough time is taken to stop, and really think about (and respond) to what someone has stated. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by & share your thoughts. ;-) Christine

  15. Edward
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 18th, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Hey Christine,

    Great post. I love coming back to your blog every week and checking out what you have to say. You are so right on about the different aspects of the social networks. I have heard it this way before. Twitter is the cocktail party, Facebook in your at home party, and LinkedIn is the business meeting.

    Thanks again for sharing this with us all.

    Make it a great day!
    God Bless,
    -ed
    Edward´s last blog ..The DREAM Project Update – Week 2My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 18th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    LOL! I haven’t heard that saying before, and I LIKE IT!!! I appreciate you Ed & am glad you enjoyed the post this week :-)

  16. Beverly Monical Says:
    June 18th, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    Great post Christine.Social Media is so much fun.Spammers get old but if you develop relationships its amazing. It is a big party.
    Beverly
    Beverly Monical´s last blog ..Regret Is A Heavy Burden To BearMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 18th, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    So true Beverly!! ;-)

  17. William Tower
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 18th, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    Great information Christine! LinkedIn is, by far, my favorite networking sites and it reallt is all about the groups.

    The groups on LinkedIn are like micro communities cased within a massive community of like minded individuals.

    It’s also a good place to share your blog posts to relevant groups and drive traffic to your site via the link sharing feature!

    Cheers Christine!

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 18th, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    I appreciate you stopping by William ~ Until recently, I did not really understand how great LinkedIn can be & am so glad I rediscovered it ;-)

  18. karin Says:
    June 18th, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    Hi Christine, great overview of the big social media sites. LinkedIn is extremely effective for B2B purposes. People are every responsive. I have had very good experiences also. Great comments on Facebook and Twitter also. I so agree that you don’t need a lot of followers. But I have never made that a secret, so you may have heard me say this already.
    Thanks for sharing. I love your blog layout by the way. Very impressive design.
    karin´s last blog ..You don’t need followers to make money with TwitterMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 20th, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    Thank you so much Karin, and you’re so right about LinkedIn being extremely effective for B2B purposes! (Only wish I would have figured this fact out a few months earlier…lol!)

  19. Curt Bizelli
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 19th, 2010 at 6:28 am

    Hey Casey, I love your blog. Simple, to the point with great valuable information. I also noticed you have quite a bit of TSA Counters this week. I want to congratulate you on that achievement. Feel free to connect with me on skype at my ID: the1cbiz
    Curt Bizelli´s last blog ..“You don’t just go out and water an empty field. You plant seeds first.” – The Wisdom of God …My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 20th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Thank you Curt & will do! ;-)

  20. Pat and Lorna Shanks Says:
    June 19th, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Christine,

    Hey, thanks for sharing your cool tips on some of the social media sites. You’ve picked the “big ones” and that will definitely help people in becoming more prominent online and boosting the number of connections and relationships they build.

    Thanks,
    ~ Pat and Lorna
    http://TheCoolestCouple.com
    Pat and Lorna Shanks´s last blog ..We Learned Something from Jimmy Kimmel?My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 20th, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    Lorna & Pat, I really appreciate you guys stopping by and commenting on my post this week!

  21. Linda G. Cox
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 19th, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    I’m right there with you Christine!
    I’m having the time of my life with all of you online! Thank you for putting all this information in one place!!
    ~Linda
    Linda G. Cox´s last blog ..Genealogy: family history researchMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 20th, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    You’re quite welcome, I’m so glad to hear that social media is working for you as well Linda!

  22. Chris Hilaire
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 20th, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    Hi Christine,
    thank you for reminding how I really need to get to grips with Twitter and Facebook. I have both of them but really don’t use them to their full potential.
    Great post!

    Keep smiling

    Chris :)
    Chris Hilaire´s last blog ..A Great Traffic Generation Report!My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 20th, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your thoughts ~ A lot of the connections I have made have been thru Twitter & Facebook & I believe if you learn to use them as true SOCIAL media, you’ll find so much success!

  23. Dave and Dawn Cook Says:
    June 21st, 2010 at 9:32 am

    Christine,
    You did a great job in this post in emphasizing the key to social media – being social and striving to help others as much as you can.
    It is so important to use social media to create worthwhile interactions with people. The longer you can keep a conversation/interaction going, the more you can make a real true friend.
    That should be our main goal; to make as many new and real friendships and then all the rest will come. The best things friends do for each other is to help out and social media makes it so easy to do so.
    Thanks for sharing your excellent perspective on social media!
    Dawn and Dave
    Dave and Dawn Cook´s last blog ..TSA Launches A FREE Social Media WebinarMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 21st, 2010 at 10:11 am

    Dawn & Dave, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on my post. You’re so right, that its all about making connections & developing sincere friendships & from there something may develop from a business standpoint, yet that should never be the sole purpose. If I meet someone that I connect with really well, and a business opportunity does not work out with them, that is okay by me. Personally, I truly value the relationships I make & have regardless of business :-)

  24. Twitted by daveanddawncook Says:
    June 21st, 2010 at 10:08 am

    [...] This post was Twitted by daveanddawncook [...]

  25. Deborah A. Ten Brink Says:
    June 21st, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Christine, what a great post! I fought social media for years. I guess I just didn’t understand how it could help me and my business. Now that I’ve signed up for several social media communities and accounts, have researched, and have been trained by some of the best in the industry… voila! I get it! I was missing so much!

    When you put out good information like this, it helps us all. Now, more new people coming online will learn from you! Thank you!

    Deborah
    Deborah A. Ten Brink´s last blog ..Valuable Content is The #1 Key to Online Success: Part 2My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 21st, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing Deborah & glad to hear that you, like me, have realized how valuable Social Media really is ;-)

  26. Wendy Hewlett Says:
    June 25th, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Informative post Christine. Social media can help your business grow exponentially. I haven’t joined LinkedIn yet, but I will be today after readying your post.

    Thanks,
    Wendy Hewlett
    Wendy Hewlett´s last blog ..Copy Writing 101 – Part 2My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 25th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    Hi Wendy ~ welcome to TSA! I look forward to getting to know you through your posts ;-) Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to comment, and I’m glad that my post was helpful to you. :-)

  27. Kevin M.
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 25th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Great tips Christine! It is definitely important to keep the social in social media.
    Kevin M.´s last blog ..Favourite Links Friday 6/25/10My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    June 25th, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    I totally agree! Thanks for stopping by Kevin :-)

  28. Rex Wilson Says:
    June 26th, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Thanks, Christine for your useful information, which Alicia and I have already put to use!

    We will share your Blog with our business partners so they can also begin developing their Online Social Media Campaigns!

  29. Kimberly Castleberry
    Twitter:
    Says:
    June 26th, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    What a solid collection of concepts for someone just getting started with social media. It’s important to focus on the social and less on the marketing least we violate the meme’s and cultures of these environments. The recommendation age has trumped the information age by leaps and bounds! Good stuff
    Kimberly

    PS: It doesn’t appear your blog comments have threading enabled so your replies do not tuck under the commenter they belong to. This post will help you get that working: http://just-ask-kim.com/how-to-enable-threaded-thread-comments-in-wordpress/
    Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..WordPress Plugin Review- Homepage ExcerptsMy ComLuv Profile

  30. Yorinda Says:
    July 18th, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Hi Christine,

    thank you for your easy to understand explanation on twitter, facebook and Linkedin.

    I now understand more what linkedin is, haven’t really used it yet.

    Love and Light
    from
    Yorinda

  31. Allegra Sinclair
    Twitter:
    Says:
    September 30th, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Hi Christine,
    Great reminder to just keep things simple. What a concept–keep the social in social media? It is easy to get caught up in the science and technology of these sites and lose sight of the simple truth that they are tools, not an end in and of themselves. I think we will behave different online when we remember that the purpose is connecting with others on a sincere and genuine level. If you are not having fun on your social media sites, people probably won’t want to connect with you. Thanks for the post, Allegra!
    Allegra Sinclair´s last blog ..Social Media is the Star of a New Disney CampaignMy ComLuv Profile