7 Great Social Media Profile Tips
One of the most challenging things about writing a profile on a social media site is trying to convey what it is we do without sounding like an advertisement. Here is a list of 7 profile writing tips that will get you past the writer’s block and on your way to successful networking!
1. Work the best parts of your Elevator Speech into your introuction. Remember to keep it interesting and avoid any industry jargon.
2. Describe your specific skills, passions and expertise that will set you apart from your competitors.
3. Have a professional looking profile picture. Only use an avatar, logo or whatever standard default the site has to offer if you have nothing else but make sure to put your photo up as soon as possible.
4. Be friendly, motivating and memorable. Don’t forget to include some personal information about yourself such as a hobby or sport that you enjoy.
5. Naturally incorporate your profile with keywords relevant to your business.
6. Add links to your website, blog and your profiles on other social media sites.
7. Keep your profile short and easy to read, keep paragraphs brief and always remember to proof read!
Remember that your profile is your calling card to others in your field and your target audience so it should feel inviting enough that people will want to connect with you. Some sites such as LinkedIn have a much more business feel to them so your profile should reflect that where as Facebook is much more relaxed and your profile should be more personal.
Why Your Business Shouldn’t Have A Facebook Profile
One of the most common mistakes that businesses make when starting out in Social Media is creating a Facebook Profile instead of a Facebook Page to represent their business.
Facebook Pages are for businesses. Facebook Profiles are for people.
Using a Facebook Profile for your business is against Facebook’s Terms of Use http://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=12814 Facebook has the right to erase the profile and all your connections with it. Granted, it’s rare but it does happen. Are you willing to take that chance?
Because Pages are for businesses and Profiles are for people it may reflect badly on your business for using a Profile. Your business may seem incompetent or uninformed.
Perks to Facebook Pages
- You can only have 5000 friends on a profile but Facebook Page connections (Likes) are unlimited.
- Facebook Pages are highly customizable for branding and promotions but Facebook Profiles are not.
- You can add Facebook Ad campaigns to promote your Page but profiles do not have this option.
- Facebook Pages are indexed by Google which means keywords used in your business description and bio can be found by Google Search.
- Facebook Pages allow you to create customized landing pages for non-members which are great for branding as well as newsletter signup forms.
- Pages have an “Insights” feature. With this Facebook analytics type tool you can monitor your members activities which gives businesses great feedback on how their Facebook Page is performing.
Did you make the mistake of setting up a Profile instead of a Page?
Not all is lost!! Facebook allows you to convert your Profile to a Page. All your Friends will change to Page Likes and all your pictures will be transferred but that’s it! you will lose all other content so it’s a good idea to save that content somewhere else so you can add it to your Page after conversion. Also note that this does not work vice versa, Pages cannot be converted to Profiles.
Please leave any questions or comments below – we’re here to help!
Embrace the Lurker
Lots of businesses using Social Media today are obsessed with public participation and how to get more of it. While that is a huge priority in Social Media Marketing, I often have to sit down with clients and have the “Lurker” talk.
In Internet culture, a lurker is a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing or other interactive system, but rarely or never participates actively. Research indicates that “lurkers make up over 90% of online groups” **Wikipedia
Most businesses are dismayed at the lurker to active user ratio. I was even told by one “I don’t care about the people that don’t participate, I only care about the people who do” <insert error buzzer here>
The Lurker/Participant Ratio
90% of users are Lurkers (people who do not actively participate in Forums/Groups/Pages etc.)
9% of users are casual contributors (people need a question answered or comment specifically to something that is relevant to them)
1% of users are active users (sometimes referred to as power users) contribute approximately 91% of user content
Why do Lurkers Lurk?
We have all “Lurked” in some form or other when we surf the web. After all, have you posted a comment on every site that you have been to that gives the option?
Lurkers enjoy reading conversations and stories that other posters have contributed to the site for entertainment or educational purposes or searching out expert advice. Imagine having a problem with your computer and using Google to look for an answer, when you click on a link to a board where someone else has asked the question and another person has answered it so you do not need to post a question because you have found what you’re looking for. Great examples of these sites are Yahoo Answers and eHow.
Some lurkers do not post on a blog, forum or Facebook Group/Page for more personal reasons such as
- they do not feel competent in the subject being discussed
- they don’t want to be called out or ridiculed for their opinion
- they have poor writing skills (kinda like me)
- they are cyber-shy and don’t want to post publicly
Getting Lurkers to Participate
- Have a discussion or “sticky post” asking people to introduce themselves and make sure to thank every last one of them.
- Create content with participation in mind including some fun and entertaining conversation starters, polls and questions.
- Create a culture of participation. Give out “bonuses”, “prizes” and/or awards for 1st time posters and people who post multiple times.
- Administrators and Moderators of boards, groups and pages should rule with an iron fist when it comes to negative and demeaning comments.
It is important to remember that you will never get all Lurkers to participate. It is human nature so stop fretting! Some people are listeners and some people are talkers; but they are all important!
Difference Between Facebook Profiles and Pages
Profiles are different then Pages and Groups. Profiles are for personal use and/or networking (catching up with old friends, person to person business networking). Think of it this way, your profile represents yourself and your Page represents your business.
When you signed up for Facebook you opened a Facebook account and on your account you have a ‘product’ called a profile, now you want to add another ‘product’ called a Page to your account as well.
The easiest way to go about this is to sign in to the Facebook account you already opened and add a Facebook Page. There would be no visible public connection between your profile and your Facebook Page. Anything that is posted to the Page will appear as coming from the page. Like 2 separate identities.
For Example…
Your signed into Facebook account and you check your ‘Profile’ and discover that it’s your friends birthday. When you post on their wall it will appear to be coming from Jane Doe but when you click the link on your account to check your ‘ACME Bombs’ business Page, you discover that Willie Coyote has posted to your page wall. When you respond it would appear as though you are ‘ACME Bombs’ NOT Jane Doe.
I have created multiple Pages through my account for clients which I monitor and post information to and no one knows who I am 
Confused yet?? Clear as mud? Post your questions below and I’ll do my best to answer them!
Do you need a Facebook Page or a Facebook Group?
All too often when discussing Social Media I find myself cringing as I hear businesses say “Yes, we have a Facebook Group” and then I have the not so pleasant task of explaining that they chose the wrong path.
The basic difference between Pages and Groups is as follows¦
Facebook Pages represent organizations, businesses/products, celebrities, politicians or musicians (for example: Official Cheerios Page). Pages should only be created by an official representative of the organization or person in which the Page is promoting. A Facebook Page is considered its own identity and the Page’s Administrator remains anonymous, anything posted by the Adminstrator on a Page will appear to have come from the Page. You do not have to have a personal profile on Facebook to create a Page.
Facebook Groups can be created by anyone and about anything (for example: We Love Cheerios Group). When a Group is created it’s considered something like an extension of one’s personal profile so administrators are identified by their name and anything that is posted by the Group Admins will be credited to the individual. You need to have a profile on Facebook to create a Group.
Here is a list of some detailed differences
Searchable by Google?
Facebook Pages are indexed by Google which means people will be able to find a Facebook Page by searching the Page name in a Google search. Facebook Groups are not indexed so they can’t be found through Google or any other search engine; they can only be found by using the search in Facebook.
Customization/Apps
Facebook Pages allow you to create customized landing tabs for non-members which are great for branding as well as newsletter signup forms. Facebook Pages with customized landing tabs have a 70% greater chance of being ‘Liked’ then Facebook Pages without a custom landing tab. Unfortunately, Facebook Groups do not have this option.
Sending Messages to Members
Facebook Groups allow you send messages directly into Group member’s inboxes as where Facebook Pages do not. The crappy thing about Pages is that their messages get sent out as ‘Updates’ which sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Once a Group grows to 5000 members it loses the ability to direct message.
Events
Similar to Messages, Events created by Facebook Page administrators cannot be sent directly to member’s inboxes. Instead, they are sent out by way of Page updates.
In contrast, Facebook groups can send event invites to their members. As is the case with mass messages, Facebook group admins are restricted from sending event invites directly to members once the group has over 5,000 members.
The best way to ensure your members are aware of the event is by using Facebook Ads.
Promotion
Both Facebook Pages and Facebook Groups can be promoted through Facebook Ads.
Analytics
One of the key differences between Pages and Groups is the Pages ‘Insights’ feature. With this Facebook analytics type tool you can monitor member’s activities which gives businesses great feedback on how their Facebook Page is performing.
Twitter Tools for Local Tweeps
Yes, the Internet has made it “a small world after all”. It’s possible to find out what’s happening minute by minute in Mongolia but what if you want to start conversations on Twitter with people in your own community?
Here’s a short list of some Twitter Tools that will help small businesses connect with their local market. Read more
Social Media & Email Marketing P B & J
While Social Media is the best thing since sliced bread to promote small business, one of the rules of social media etiquette is ‘Do Not Advertise’ which leaves business owners scratching their heads trying to figure out how advertise their products/services and how to integrate Social Media with their other Internet Marketing efforts. Read more
Are You Lost in Social Media Land?
Scenario
You sit down at your computer with the best intentions to make the most of a 20 minute social media marketing session and an hour later there you are – watching kittens jumping through hoops on Youtube. Evil Evil kittens…now your morning is shot!
You have just found yourself sucked into the time warp of Social Media. Read more
3 Excuses For Small Businesses Not To Use Social Media
I always hear the same excuses for why businesses don’t use Social Media! Sorry, but in the words of Dr. Phil – ‘That dog won’t hunt’. Read more
Casting Call!
ADC Online and Kunu HD are looking for actors to fill the following roles for an upcoming commercial:
JOE: Joe is a tech-savvy retiree in his early to mid 70′s. He is relatively energetic for his age and loves to talk even if no one is listening.
CALVIN: Calvin is also in his mid 70′s, although he is much less tech-savvy. He is not much of a talker, but communicates a lot through facial expressions. Many people often peg him as a ‘grumpy old man’ when they first meet him.
To apply for one of these roles please submit your contact information and head shot by email to: submissions@kunuhd.com. If submitting by email please indicate your preferred role.
