Social Networking and Your Wireless Business

By Allan Pulga 

To stay competitive, your wireless business needs to be a talking point between all kinds of people. In this era of Facebook, MySpace, and countless other sites, it’s important that you use existing links between users to inform as many potential customers as possible about your latest products, sales and promotional offers. 

Connecting your marketing goals with the vast world of Internet social networking can’t be done overnight. So, where do you begin? 

“Social networking is actually a pretty broad term,” writes Michele Pariza Wacek of Businessknow-how.com. ”It basically means any type of relationship-building amongst a group of people with a common interest (business or personal). 

“However, that term has taken on a whole new dimension online, where social networking sites (MySpace, Linked In, Facebook) are popping up faster than you can say ‘Will you be my friend?’” 

Pariza Wacek explains that because these sites enable people to build relationships over the Internet, they are also novel methods for spreading your marketing messages to the masses. She goes on to note that in general, Web 2.0 techniques (using online media – blogging, podcasts, social networking sites, video, webinars, etc. – to share ideas) are a fabulous marketing strategy because they are either free or very low cost. 

“The downside is it does take time,” she adds. “So if you’re already feeling overwhelmed and frazzled, this could feel like another huge to-do on your list. (But) there is help. Virtual assistants (also known as Vas) can assist you with these social networking tasks. Also, some marketing professionals offer social networking packages to do it all for you, so you don’t have to manage it or even learn much about it.” 

Other Tips for Social Networking Marketing (Michele Pariza Wacek): 

• Think about hiring a student, or assigning a younger employee, who is well familiar with social networking sites and Web 2.0 to do the initial legwork.
• You don’t have to spend hours and hours on these tasks. Pick one thing and spend one or two hours a week on it. Once it’s mastered, add a second task (or get it into a system so you can outsource it and then bring on a second task).
• The more time you (or someone on your team) can devote to social networking, the faster you’ll see results. But you don’t have to spend a lot of time to do it or money to outsource. Do what you can and let the rest go.
• Start with what naturally appeals to you (i.e. blogging, podcasts, or simply creating buzz on forums), or more importantly what will appeal to your target market.
• It takes time to see results. None of these techniques is for immediate results or a quick infusion of cash. These are long-term strategies.

Eventually, you’ll be able to figure out which tricks will work for your wireless business and which won’t. For example, including a flyer in the bag (e.g. of a customer who just bought a new smartphone) about your company website, blog and regular podcasts will inform the customer that you’re putting out material that will help him/her troubleshoot usage difficulties, find out about new accessories related to the smartphone, etc. 

Think about offering discounts online as well. You could post “e-coupons” on friends’ Facebook sites (e.g. “$10 off a new cellphone with this Facebook e-coupon!”), so people can print them off and drive foot traffic to your stores. Next thing you know, you’ve created a viral sensation: People are telling their friends, who are telling their friends, who are telling their friends about the great deals you’re offering. 

Be creative and you may surprised how building online relationships via sales promos, follow-ups or advice can increase sales and put your store’s name on people’s lips.