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Reset Your Mindset About Social Media

 

Twitter
Twitter

As an author, small business owner, or entrepreneur, you’ve become acutely aware of the need to be present on social media. Do you find that you are reluctant? Overwhelmed? Think it’s not working? You need to reset your mindset, my friends.

Mindset: Social media is separate from everything else.

Reset: Social media is part of a cohesive whole.

  • Social media works best in synergy with your entire author or business platform. It is part of your marketing, not all of your marketing, so when you are planning your strategy, make sure social media isn’t shouldering the whole burden. It won’t work, and you will feel frustrated.

Mindset: I have to use all the major social media platforms right away.

Reset: I will begin with one social media platform and learn to use it correctly.

  • There is absolutely no need to begin using every platform at the same time. Start with the one where your target audience gathers. Learn about it. Become proficient at it. Then add the next one and do the same thing.

Mindset: Social media is overwhelming.

Reset: Social media can be managed with personal investment and the right tools.

  • It’s true that social media CAN be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. If you are serious about success, you must invest in yourself. That means you take the time to learn how to use your chosen social media platform, whether through self-education, classes, or one-on-one coaching. You must also learn the tools needed to streamline social media, such as HootSuite or TweetDeck, and time management techniques such as planning calendars. Your early investment will make incorporating social media MUCH easier.

Mindset: The only reason I use social media is to sell my stuff.

Reset: I use social media to create relationships, share valuable information, and build a loyal fan base.

  • Folks, we are here to sell our books or products, yes, but the world has changed. Gone are the old days when we talked at our audience with ads asking them to buy something. Now, we have conversations with our audience, building relationships in an authentic way that shows fans we’re real people with interesting stuff to share. And we happen to be authors or business owners, too.

With a few mental resets, you can incorporate social media into your life more easily. It’s worth your time to invest in yourself because in today’s world, authors and entrepreneurs must take care of themselves!

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You Don’t Know Everything – and That’s Okay

When I really started taking social media seriously, I quickly realized that I didn’t know everything there is to know. And there’s a lot to know. I took steps to learn as much as I could about how it all worked, and eventually, others started asking me for help.

From that grew my social media management business, and now I work with a fantastic group of clients. They trust me. I take away their pain. I give them back their time. I follow through. I am consistent. I know things so they don’t have to.

But I don’t know everything. When a client asks something that I don’t know, I say so. I then work diligently to figure out the answer for them. I appreciate these learning opportunities sparked by my clients, and they appreciate my honesty and transparency.

Honesty and transparency are key. If you consistently employ this philosophy, you’ll find people are understanding, even empathetic, because they trust you to follow through. They often become your biggest fan and supporter.

You don’t know everything – and that’s okay.

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Come see me at the Author U Extravaganza in Denver, CO

Join me at the Author U Extravaganza in Denver, Colorado, On May 2-4, 2013.

 

What is it? It’s an organization for serious authors and authors-to-be that helps you learn everything you need to know about building your author platform and selling your book.  Every May they host a fabulous, intensive, content-packed event for anyone serious about success as an author, and this year, our keynote is Guy Kawasaki! That’s a big deal, people.

 

For the second year, Social Media Management Services will have a booth there. I’m giving away fabulous prizes: bookmarks, several copies of my ebook No Excuses Social Media for Authors, and – drum roll please – two coveted spots in my upcoming June 2013 teleseminar series “Take the Mystery and Mayhem out of Social Media: Build and Manage Social Media with Confidence.”

 

Melody Jones presenting on social media at Author University/
Melody Jones presenting on social media at Author University/

Find me, say hi, let’s chat! And if I can find a pic of me there last year, I’ll get it posted. Seems to be lost in the mysterious world of digital photos. However, I did find this one from when I presented dinner and a program to AU members in 2012.