What are your burning questions about social media for business?

A couple days ago I received my copy of Paul Chaney's brand new book The Digital Handshake: Seven Proven Strategies to Grow Your Business Using Social Media. Paul has kindly agreed to do a blog interview with me.

Paul Chaney is one my first blogging friends. In fact it was his inspiring example that helped propelled me forward with studying and teaching and coaching people to create great business blogs. Not only is Paul a very smart guy and top notch writer, he's also really, really nice, generous (he mentioned me in the acknowledgments and I am honored!) and humble. On the rare occasions I get to spend time with Paul, usually at marketing conferences, I always feel richer for the connection.

Back to the interview. It occurred to me this is a great opportunity to let you get your questions answered as well. As the subtitle indicates, The Digital Handshake focuses on strategies to grow your business with social media. The book looks at trends, the media, consumer and audience and tactics like blogging, podcasting, media releases and microblogging.

So if you could ask Paul any one question about using social media to grow your business, what would it be? Post your question in the comments below by Tuesday, September 15. Depending on how many I get, I will review, select and compile them into an interview for Paul. The interview is scheduled for publication on September 22, the "official" release date for the book (even though it's already available online and in bookstores). Stay tuned and post your question for Paul now!

Comments

[Jennie]

Social Media and business ... such as hot topic in today's world. So many businesses are wanting to have a place in the social media world and therefore need their employees to populate these sites and keep them current. However, so many businesses are doing this without even thinking about establishing a social media corporate policy. Many times the companies do not appear to speak with one voice or from one perspective because various employees are posting in different avenues with different perspectives. Universities are a great example of where this is often occurring.

Jennie
www.opportunities101.net

[Debra Marrs]

Thanks for this opportunity, Denise.

I've noticed myself "tuning out" the barrage of messages, especially email blasts, about the next great teleseminar, ebook, mega 8 week program, joint venture, and whatever is the biz-hype-me-up du jour.

Frankly, I see people overexposing their target audiences (including current clients) with just too much stuff. I see Chapter 1 in Paul's book is titled Consumer Skepticism Is At An All-Time High. And isn't it a wonder?

Given this overexposure and information overload, what are your suggestions for a percentage mix of content, conversation, and other strategies for keeping your followers interested in your messages?

[Denise Wakeman]

Excellent question, Debra. I'm sure I'm guilty of what you're referring to about too many messages and it's a fine line because as entrepreneurs and service professionals, it's a necessity to continually develop new content and services and remind our customers and prospects that we can serve them. If we stop doing that, business dries up.

[Laurie Sheppard]

Based on the low response of my long-established database, it seemed time to develop an extended community who was interested in my message. That's why I pursued social networking. I still am confused as to how these regular online interactions are supposed to translate to business. Whether it's daily individual communication via that, my blog or weekly or monthly with newsletters and articles, new products, etc.

What are the most effective online strategies for client leads for solopreneurs in small companies?

[twitter.com/timeontaskva]

Denise (and Paul),

My question is more specifically about blogging, and maybe more technical than you are looking for.

When your are publishing your blog posts what is the best practice you follow with regards to tags and categories?

Some people have so many tags and even more categories; I assume to 'get found' during a search. I try to limit myself to two categories and 3-4 tags?

What do you recommend?

Thanks for your time...
Kathy Colaiacovo

[Singapore SEO & Social Media Marketer]

My burning question is how to start a successful social media website like Facebook and Twitter. :)

[Denise Wakeman]

Great question, Kathy. I've written a blog post on Build a Better Blog to give you an answer:
http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2009/09/tags-vs-categories-on-blog-posts.html

[Crystal]

Denise and Paul, what are your opinions on sending people to a landing page vs your website or blog in your social networking profiles? Twitter only lets you have one link. What do you think is the best place for people to be sent to?

[Denise Wakeman]

Crystal, this was done a lot in the early days when marketers were jumping on the the twitter bandwagon. But my sense is that it's generally frowned upon now (though there are no rules!). Typically people want to get to know you before you direct them to a sales page or squeeze page. I send people to a page with my bio so they can learn more about me and there are links to my blogs and freebies. Some people create twitter-specific profile pages to send people to. Sending people to your blog is also a great way for new followers to learn more about who you are and what you do.

[twitter.com/TomTroughton]

Hello,
What is the best way to use Facebook for business? I find Twitter very useful, but I haven't gotten the hang of how to utilize Facebook effectively. Thank you!