This document provides strategies and tactics for using social media and networking to grow a business. It discusses the importance of having a social media plan aligned with business objectives. It also emphasizes focusing networking efforts on relevance and diversity, using social media for all business functions, being active on multiple platforms, building trust quickly through helpful contributions, and creating value in all interactions. The overarching goal is to build quality relationships that translate into real business results.

1. How To Use Social Networking & SocialMedia To Grow Your Business with Scott Allen Coauthor, The Virtual Handshake andThe Emergence of The Relationship Economy

2. “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four hours sharpening the axe." Abraham Lincoln

3. Do you have a social media plan?

4. Tactics Strategy Philosophy

5. Philosophy

6. People who know how to leverage their networks are called successful. People who just know a lot of people are called socialites. Do you want to be successful or a socialite? The Virtual Handshake

7. What do we really want?

8. The Missing Piecein most networking Aligning Your Activities With YourBusiness Objectives

10. Different Nets for Different Needs

12. Which two keys do you need to work on the most?

13. It takes TIMEto build relationships. The more people you know,the less well you know them.

14. Will people take that step for you? For any given request, your relationship has to be over theACTION THRESHOLD. For people to act on your behalf proactively, the threshold is even higher.

15. Diversity and Relevance are a balancing act. You can’t actively pursue both.

16. People tend to know people like themselves.If you focus on meeting people who are like your ideal customer,you will meet more and more people like your ideal customer.

17. The purpose of your network is not… …to help you find something that’s hard to find.

18. The purpose of your network is… …to filter the signal from the noise and ensure that only the best opportunities get your attention.

19. Strategy

20. Target required level of Strength andmaximize Number at that level. Don’t spread yourself too thin. There’s no point loading the top of the funnel if you’re not developing the contacts you already have.

21. Undertake activities that increase Number, Strength, Character and Competence without additional time cost. Leverage, leverage, leverage! Get maximum mileage out of every activity.

22. Focus on Relevance for immediate results, but build Diversity for long-term value. The person who is your ideal customer now may not be the person who can help you find a new job, plan your wedding, move to a new city, change industries, etc.

23. Use social media for (almost) everything. It’s not just a marketing or sales or recruiting tool. It can support almost every aspect of your business,from product development to customer service.

24. Tactics

25. Be everywhere!

26. The $5,000 Profile Update 20-year real estate investor/developer turned real estate agent “Being on LinkedIn didn’t get me the business.But the fact that I was in there, that my profilewas up-to-date, that I have over 20 really goodrecommendations on my profile — all that putus on the short list.” “At first I completely forgot about updating my LinkedIn profile. But I got a request to forward an introduction and it reminded me that I should probably go update my profile to include my new gig as a realtor.”

27. Have you made a sale, either directly or indirectly as a result of social media, that netted you at least $5,000?

30. Join the conversation…wherever it is.

31. How to act likea real expert inforums & groups

32. Fans and followers are cheap…friends aren’t.

33. Build not just mind share, but brand love. Give your customers a voice. Don’t just listen, act on what they say. Acknowledge and reward participation. Let your customers hijack your brand. Commit to your content production. Everyone on your team is a brand ambassador.

35. Create value everywhere you go.

36. What’s the one thing you learned today that you are going to immediately act on?