8 Ways to Trainwreck Your Business with InSide919

[Rob Laughter, Social Media Coach]

This was adapted from a blog post about social media in general, but it applies specifically to InSide919, too.
Face it. If you're not addressing how and why you plan to use InSide919 every time you sit down at the keyboard, chances are you're going to derail your efforts. Here are a few ways to ensure you screw up.

1) Promote, promote, promote.

Don't we all love the blatant promoters? You know who you are—you show up to a networking event with the only goal of passing out as many business cards as you can. I've literally had people throw cards at me. Don't be that guy. Start a conversation and build a relationship.

It happens here, too. Some well-meaning businesspeople sign up for InSide919, upload a logo, disregard the rules, and spam. Not cool, friends. Make the most of the relationships you can form here.

2) Put all of your eggs in one basket.

Sure. InSide919 is an awesome asset. You know what? It's not going to support your business alone. Contrary to popular belief, you will have to use other tools on occasin and you will have to use traditional marketing channels to grow your business.

3) Sell a crappy product.

Have a crappy product? That's your problem. Do you want people to talk about your brand? If they do, do you really think they're going to say good things? Have a look at Walmart's Facebook Fan Page. It's turned into an employee complaint forum. That could be you if you've got a crappy product or service.

If you treat someone poorly outside InSide919 (or any network), people will know. You may not see the conversations, but they will be there. There's a sense of implied consent here that says we're open to be contacted, but spam us and you won't be well-recieved.

4) Outsource your accounts to your kid/neighbor/dog/whatever.

We're personal here. We're friendly. Let's chat. If I see your face on your profile, I'd like to know who I'm talking to. Be open, be authentic--friends don't let friends ghostwrite.

5) Automate it.

Go ahead. Go to Google. Find a tool that will automatically send your blog posts to InSide919. Send all of your InSide919 activity to Twitter. Let me know how that works out for you.

It's called "SOCIAL Media," not "Anti-Social Media." You need to be there to participate in the community. Please do so.

6) Use it as though you were talking to your buddies at the bar vs. talking to your customers.



Not so much of a problem on InSide919, but I see this a lot on Twitter. If you're using social media for business, be professional... Comments like these have little place in a professional setting. Be advised, folks, that everyone can see your @replies. If you feel the need to use "colorful" nouns, take it to private messages.

7) Jump in with no plan.

Again, not too InSide919-specific, but it applies here, too. Sometimes a road trip with no map or no place to go can be fun, but not when we're talking about a brand's reputation. Develop a strategy. Follow it. Don't just wander aimlessly around the social landscape.

8) Don't measure.

"Hey, we've got 1,034,285 followers!" Great, how is it affecting sales? "Umm... what?" Enough said. Establish a baseline, set goals, track your results.

There are dozens of ways to trainwreck your brand with social media. Anyone have a real-life example to share?

Need help? Get in touch—we'll take care of you.

Image credit: Corey King's blog

[Michelle Gower]

I noticed that it was only after Pat put up the no-spam guidelines, the tile graphic, and the bold print telling people to read the guidelines before signing up to see if joining 919 was right for them that my spam levels went up.

I now have a zero-tolerance policy on it...if I don't know you enough to trade a dirty joke, and I see 'addressed to me and 27 others', you're blocked. Period. Just how effective is your blatant advertising now?

The more and more people join a place, the more noise gets created. This is natural. But many people who sit and nod their heads in agreement are the 'worst offenders'. Nobody thinks they are guilty.

Oh, and as I myself said in several past blog posts--if the only time you show up is when you want something from others, don't expect everyone to drop everything to focus on your cause. Tis better to give than to receive, especially when it comes to networking.

If you want to build a mailing list off of 919, simply incorporate a MailChimp subscribe form in your profile.

[Jennifer Conaway]

Reminders are always appreciated. Thanks so much for posting!

[Diane Aull]

Another way to trainwreck your social media marketing (here or elsewhere): take it personally every time somebody says or does something you don't like.

I don't have an example from here on Inside919, but I did recently come across a blog from a university (in another state) where an article was posted announcing the school's decision to switch their time & attendance tracking software. Read the very first comment, by someone who claims to be a "senior account executive" for the "losing" vendor...

http://kealakai.byuh.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view...

If it's true this person is employed by that company and this childish and petulant rant is typical of the way he talks to prospects, I'm not surprised the school decided to go with someone else.

If you're going to participate in social media, you need to develop a thick skin and healthy senses of both humor and perspective. :-)

[Rob Laughter, Social Media Coach]

WOW! The top three responses are all from Kronos employees. That's deplorable.

Thanks for the example of what not to do, Diane. I'll be discussing that in class tonight (the topic is blogging)!