Social Networking Tips

Keywords - Less is MORE!

Keywords is something a lot of business professionals overlook when they begin their Social Networking efforts.  When you start to use the same phrases (or keywords) over and over again, the search engines start to pay attention.  It also helps with all your marketing.  You begin to be recognized as an expert in these keywords.   Another way to think of keywords would be to think about 3 problems you solve for your target market.  The more focused and narrow your target market is, the easier it is going to be to generate referrals and be recognized as an expert.  Many business professioanls are afraid of going to narrow as they might miss out on business.  The opposite is actually true.  People are wanting to refer you business….they just aren’t clear about who to send to you because you haven’t been specific enough for them. 

Here is a quick exercise for you:  Find 10 Keywords (Words and/or Phrases) for your business that you will integrate into all of your marketing and sales efforts online and offline.  

For a moment, pretend you are your target market….step into their shoes….experience what they are experience….what challenges are they experiencing?….what problems do they want solved?….what questions do they want answered?

Write these down. 

Since 82% of all consumers are turning to the Internet to research products and services, pretend you are your potential client.  If they were to search on the Internet for help…what might be some of the things they would type in? 

Write these down.  Start to look for words that consistently show up in these answers.  They might not be what you think they are.  For instance….if someone is a parent and they are having challenges with being an effective parent.  The problem they want to solve is:

•             Creating more love with my child
•             Getting my child to listen better
•             Getting my child to talk more
•             Being a better parent
•             Having time to learn to be a good parent

 Questions they want answered:

•             Why is my child doing bad things?
•             Why is my child not listening?
•             How can I be a better parent?
•             Where can I learn to be a better parent?
•             What is the most effective parenting program?

 Things the might search for:

•             Help for parents
•             Parenting Classes
•             Tips for being an effective parent
•             Is my child bad

The keywords would be:

•             Better Parent
•             Child Listening (and any variation of this)

 The more you type, the easier it will be to find keywords.    Once you have a list, you can research the keywords by using some online tools.  Here are a few sites that might help.  Please keep in mind it might be easier to pay for someone to research the information for you and deliver recommendations. 

http://www.KeywordTrak.com 
http://www.Google.com/sktool
http://www.WordTracker.com

Once you have your top 10 keywords begin to use them in everything you do.  Include them in your blog posts, your status updates in all your Social Networks, your website, your articles, your comments on blogs, etc. 

Ó2009 Sabrina Gibson. All rights reserved.