The Editor’s Desk – From Beneath the Clutter

Feeling a little blue this week. My grandpa died over the weekend. He was 90 and we knew it was coming soon.

Other than that, I’ve been keeping busy around here, like always. As any of you who combine kids and business know, it’s quite a balance to keep. I just count on the exhaustion being worth it.

How to Get Found in Social Media

So, you’ve selected which social network sites to build on, you’ve laid out your goals and time-lines for social media marketing, you’ve identified your audience, your message and your approach to relate to them, and you have your profile pages set up. The next step is to get found. If you build it, no, they will not just come, unless you’re a superstar or a big brand name…but if you invite them to come, they’ll show up… and if you prove to be useful and helpful, they’ll keep turning up and keep coming back.

Letting people know is the first step to getting found in the vast social media landscape and you can make it easy for them to find you in two ways:

1). Social interaction – Get noticed by getting out there, socializing and staying visible.

• Announce your presence:  Put out a bold and irresistible press release through:
• A Tweet
  A Facebook status wall update
  A LinkedIn update
• A video in YouTube
• Circulate your URL’s/links everywhere, every chance you get online or offline, affix them in your business cards, your marketing materials, your email signature, your profile badges
• Give out and pass around content that’s valuable. Keep in mind content is what people dig up all the time. If it is of use to them they will distribute it.
• Participate – involve yourself in the social media way of life, share, comment, vote, link, reply, tweet, retweet, and bookmark
• Be sincere – never suck up. People do eventually recognize flattery.
• Associate with influencers – Gain their vote of confidence and they will give active help and encouragement

2). Through search – Add SEO to your social networking initiatives and you’ll get the visibility in search results.

• Content optimization – select right keywords, proper keyword placement, and sufficient keyword quantity
• Site/Page structure optimization  - add your links in every visible , clickable area in your profile page and content that’s within acceptable limits

Social media marketing is an investment in time, money and effort. To get noticed is only the first step; there are still the areas of content creation, engagement, measuring, fine-tuning, and expanding to deal with.  You will really need to direct your attention, time and resources to this particular activity over a period of time.

But ask anyone who is a dominant force in their own social setting, you’ll likely get the same advice: social media is a tool in online marketing you cannot do without now, and the paybacks to this initiative are well worth it.

There is much to learn about me and my website. When I’m not enjoying my life as a father, husband or son, I am a member of the fraternity known as “Major League Baseball” (MLB). Over the years I’ve been viewed around the circuit as an intelligent and committed businessman. So I often pride myself for being the multi-dimensional athlete that I am. Extremely grateful for the gift that God has given me, yet being keenly aware that I will not pitch forever. I choose to use my platform as a professional athlete to foster my growth, as well as the growth of others in the world of business. Jasongrilli.com serves as the connection of my business to yours.

Jason Grilli
Perfect Pitch Marketing Group
http://JasonGrilli.com
http://wildpitchmarketing.com