Question

Topic: Social Media

Soc Media Profiles...

Posted by Gina G. Scala on 9/5/2015 at 1:50 PM ET 250 Points
My client is a small business owner with social media profiles on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Houzz. Her business is custom-made slipcovers, bedding, window treatments, pillows, lampshades and some boat interiors. She's shied away from a profile on LinkedIn. Is there a value added to her being there (I am a little torn); should she move away from Google+ and embrace more local networking (getting involved in local chamber of commerce, etc.). She is fairly well-known in our local area (Southern Ocean County, NJ) from her volunteer work. She wants to grow her business about 50 miles north, south and west of Southern Ocean County. She doesn't have a lot of marketing $$$ or time to spare. Her clients are mainly individuals looking to repurpose furniture to their second homes or children's dorms/apartments. Thank you in advance for your help.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 9/5/2015 at 8:54 PM Accepted
    Without knowing the details of the business, it seems to me that resources -- time and money -- are quite limited. And doing a good job with social media requires a large dose of either or both. Doing a lousy job is a total waste. So if you don't have the resources to do a good job, it's probably better not to try.

    What kind of results is the client getting from Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Houzz? How much time/effort/money is she spending on them? Is there any reason to think that spending MORE time on social media (like LinkedIn) will generate more business for her? Or will she let a few things fall off the plate in order to make room for LinkedIn?

    In order to get an attractive ROI from social media, you have to invest in them -- time and/or money. Most entrepreneurs think of social media as being "free," but that's because they don't value their time properly ... or they don't really set priorities and measure the true ROI.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 9/6/2015 at 8:42 AM Accepted
    If your client is looking to connect with interior designers, real estate agents, professional organizers, home staging, and home redesign professionals within her current and proposed areas, yes, I'd say LinkedIn is worth looking into.

    Be sure she connects with people she knows or has contacts with, OR with people who are open to accepting new connections (meaning, people who are LIONs: LinkedIn Open Networkers), and that she approaches people from the point of view of adding value. If more than five people on LinkedIn use their IDK option, (which stands for "I Don't Know this person" when they receive a connection request) LinkedIn will flag the account.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 9/6/2015 at 10:12 AM Accepted
    It all depends who specifically she's trying to connect with: designers? home owners? boat owners? fashion magazines?

    If she's well known in her area, then why not ask her network to recommend people for her to specifically connect to (rather than a whole network, it may only take a few key people to give her business a boost in that region)?
  • Posted by Gina G. Scala on 9/14/2015 at 1:48 PM Author
    Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of you answers.
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